Lifestyle - Lifestyle Feature

POSTED: Sunday, Nov. 16, 2008

Malloy anxious to enter ring for first time

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED OCT. 29, 1993

Dallas Malloy kept a daily diary for The Bellingham Herald leading up to her bout:

OCT. 25, 1993

Five days, only five days. This is what I have been waiting for. I can finally show people what all this commotion has been about.

Only July 4, I got Oct. 30 as the date of my first match. I set up a calendar forward to that day, and put it where I could see it all the time.

Getting here has been such a long battle, it's hard to believe it is only a few days away. But now that it is near, I am so anxious. Just thinking about it now gives me chills …

I've gone through the night a million times in my head. Over and over and over … the lights … the music … the roaring of the crowd. Come Saturday, it will no longer be a dream in my head.

Among all the writing scribbled on our gym walls there is this quote: "Confidence comes from being prepared."

I have worked so hard because on Saturday night I don't want to run out of energy; I don't want to worry about what I am doing. I am doing myself a favor by training hard now, so that on Saturday night I can show my skills, fight and have fun!

My coach has told me about the incredible high of being up in the ring, and that's what I want to experience. I want to get up on that level where I can show what I can do and hear the crowd cheering me on.

I feel good about my sparring right now. I'll never be satisfied with where I am at, but that's part of striving for perfection. My sparring partner, Ernesto Sosa, is just about perfect … I could not wish for a better person to train with. It was a blessing that he discovered our gym hidden in Fairhaven.

If I had could have only one last round to spar for the rest of my life, it would be with Ernesto.

All this publicity … I tell ya … there are so many questions. In some ways, my feelings are indifferent to it. But really, it is a love-hate thing. I have always wanted a high-profile life. I want recognition for being a great fighter and for being in movies – it never crossed my mind that it would start from taking a national organization to court. But that was something I had to do to get where I am.

It's the price you pay … and it's an education. I've really learned to appreciate my time alone. Because in a way, I never am. Walking down the street, people I have never seen in my life might know my favorite colors (they're red and blue, by the way) … That makes me even more alone, being surrounded by people who think they know me because they see me on television or read about me in the paper. Really, they have no idea who I am.

But the balance to all that is when someone gets up the nerve to approach me and tell me they think I am doing the right thing. Thanks.

OCT. 26, 1993

Monday was a long day. ESPN and KVOS were down at the club filming. The ESPN interviewer did the best Marlon Brando impression. He did the entire cab scene from "On the Waterfront."

It wasn't my best day as far as sparring goes, but it was still a great workout. Coach told them they could film just one round of sparring. Then, after the first round, he let them film the next one, too.

Later he told me it was a test to see if I could keep my concentration and stay focused when things weren't going how I wanted. He said I passed the test.

When I was being interviewed, I realized something that I often take for granted. I don't know if I believe in fate, but I often look back on Aug. 6, 1992, almost in disbelief. That's the day I first set foot in the gym. I had no idea anything could turn out so perfectly.

In the beginning, I didn't know the first thing about boxing. It's James Ferguson, my coach, who has taught me all I know. I wouldn't be where I am without him. And it goes beyond just boxing, because with all the knowledge he has, the things he has taught me apply to life as well. Nothing has made me more aware of myself, my mind and body together.

There's nothing else that really tests your limits like boxing. I have learned so much about life and people and testing my abilities. I now realize that a true athlete will go beyond the so-called limits, because limits are things that people set in their mind.

Don't set limits. Set goals. There is no telling how far you can go.

The more I learn about boxing, the more I learn how incredible it is and how lucky I am. I have never felt stronger in my life, mentally and physically. Or more prepared for anything. One of the first things I learned was about toughness, and that lesson will serve me to the day I die.

James is not just a coach. He's also a wonderful friend with whom I have millions of great philosophical conversations. I can talk to him about anything. Sometimes we joke around like brother and sister, other times it's talk between coach and fighter, and sometimes he's more of a father figure. It's great how we relate in so many ways.

OCT. 27, 1993

Well, it was a good day. I spent most of it running around, getting things I need for the big day. It seems like everything I do these days is all for Oct. 30. I talked on the phone with someone with "The Tonight Show" (Starring Jay Leno). I will probably go on the show next week. How fun!

It's funny, things are already being planned for after the fight — interviews and all the rest. I guess it just seems to me right now that there's nothing more important than Oct. 30, which is true.

That night is so important to me, but I realize that the guys in my gym would support me, win or lose, because they're my friends. I train with them, I work side by side with them. I love each and every one of them. They each add to the club. When one of them is gone, something is definitely missing. It's a family down there, and I couldn't feel closer to them if they were my own brothers.

I'm going out there to win that night. That's what I've been training for. I'm going to give it everything I have. People keep asking me if I'm nervous, but I'm not. I'm ready. I've been ready for this for a long time.

But no matter what happens to me, I feel so lucky to know such genuine people, with such great hearts. Even if they go one way and I go another in our lives, then I'll keep the hope that our paths will cross again.

OCT. 28, 1993

I had a great practice tonight. I never knew I could be so ready for anything in my life.

The only problem with our gym is that it is so small. On the one hand, it's OK because there are not many of us and we're so close — literally. But it can be frustrating because it is so cramped. Can you imagine what it is like to train in a ring without any ropes?

And people are calling all the time, wanting to come turn out. But it is so hard when we barely have enough room for 15 or so of us. So we often have to turn people away.

Also, I think if there was more space, we could have more kids turn out. It seems like there just isn't a good role model for kids these days, and how many kids are looking for something to do outside of school.

Kids, especially in middle school and high school, are under more and more pressure. There's temptation everywhere, peer pressure, pressure to succeed and be like society tells them to be. Coach James Ferguson and I both think it's really important and wish that somehow we could help out kids in this community. I think we have a lot to offer.

This is something we're going to work on after the fight. But until then, nothing else matters, and all I have to focus on is training hard to win.

OCT. 29, 1993

Just one more day. The closer Saturday is, the more eager I become. I never knew I could feel this ready.

I'm ready to go the three toughest rounds of my life. I could go more if I had to.

I know that you can never be ready enough, but I feel great. I am aching to get in that ring, with the lights signing down on me and the crowd roaring. I can't wait. This is going to be the best night of my life.

To me, this fight goes beyond just my first amateur boxing match, because this not just important to me to win. It is important because of everything I had to do to get here.

I don't realize I'd have to fight a battle outside the ring before I could get in one, but it's all been worth it because this is the sport I love. And besides, it's the tough times that show you what you're made of. I've learned a lot about myself.

I have not been training this hard and committing myself to this sport this much to go out there and lose. This is the moment I've been waiting for. Nothing is more important to me than that night.

This is my moment in history. Just six small minutes — if that. All at the same time, when it's all over, we'll shake hands and it'll just be another boxing match.

I admire my opponent, Heather Poyner, because I think she's has a lot of guts. I think she will give me a good fight. But from the first bell, I'm going to put every ounce of strength I have into those six solid minutes of rough and tough boxing. This is history. I must win.

It's wonderful how the people of this community have been so supportive of me and what I'm doing. I never expected such a response. I mean, coach (James Ferguson's) car is in terrible to drive in, it always breaks down, and Diehl Ford let us use a car to go to Saturday's fight. I think that's so great.

Another fighter from our gym, Angel Hinojosa, is on the same card that night. And it is so exciting to me that this is the first time that I'm not just going to watch. We've been training hard together and we can finally see our hard work pay off.

Every time I've gone to fights, people ask me "Are you fighting tonight?" And I've always had to say, "No, I can't yet. Ya see, I've got this lawsuit thing" … and now I can finally say, "Yes, I am!"