Another “Million Dollar Baby”?

De La Cruz trains while preparing for new arrival!

Adrenaline pumping, fists flying, and heart racing, pro fighter Katarina De La Cruz had her first major battle at age 15.

But that “bout” wasn’t exactly at a kid-friendly amateur show. In an empty lot, Kat fought off one girl, then another, then three more girls before finally defending herself against two boys–her initiation into a gang while just a teen. “I fought five girls and two guys in five minutes! But I wasn’t scared.” remembers the pretty pugilist of being “jumped in” to the gang life she eventually spent six years in.

After managing to break away from the gang, the street fighter then found herself in jail. Behind bars, the scrappy young lady continued to train and honed her boxing skills while in her cell. “I was training in jail,” she confirms. “I had to go to jail for speeding tickets. But I would still work out; I would hit my bunkee’s bed to train!”

Seeing raw talent in the passionate girl, Katarina was saved through the sport of boxing. “Spooky from Team Valdez took me off the streets,” De La Cruz explains. “He saw potential in me and I began boxing in the amateurs. I went to the Chicago Golden Gloves and won a silver medal.”

She then began kickboxing with the famed Benny Urquidez, “I trained with Benny “The Jet” for six years,” Kat says. “I went to Japan for a kickboxing match against a nine-time champion. I fought to a draw. It was a great destination–a journey.”

But because it was a pro match, upon her return to the U.S. she couldn’t fight in the amateurs anymore. This lack of amateur experience has hindered her pro boxing career. Her first pro fight ended in a draw; she lost her next three bouts with her last fight a defeat against Cynthia Talmadge.

And now she is facing one more road bump in her career.

Actually, make that a “baby bump.”

From pitter pat punches to the pitter pat of little feet?

In less than two weeks, Katarina will be giving birth to a fourth child, a baby girl. She has three children, Anthony, Olé and Aiszellyn, from a previous relationship and raises the family as a single mom.

I know what you’re thinking…instead of getting knockouts, she got knocked up!

But what’s surprised everyone is that with her doctor’s guidance, De La Cruz has continued to train, spar and box throughout her pregnancy. Obviously, the sparring took place in her early months, and any opponents were extremely cautious about any body blows.

Leading up to her due date, the slender athlete continued to swim and train regularly three hours a day, five times a week with her coach Ben Lira, out of his South El Monte gym. The trainer, who was inducted into the California Boxing Hall of Fame last year, has a no-nonsense approach to training and has worked with hundreds of amateur and top pro talents including Israel Vazquez, John Molina, Martin Castillo, Nick Martinez, and Lupe Aquino. Lira and Katarina have been working together for a year and a half. Katarina had previously trained in Joe Goossen’s gym, “I worked out with the guys there too. I loved it, they were great. But Ben and I work very well together too, we’re a lot alike.”

I visited with the boxer and trainer recently, before her workouts ceased in preparation for the new arrival of her little girl whom she plans to name Rafaella.

With her doctor’s approval, the determined De La Cruz continued to run four miles six days a week, then cutting back to two miles every other day. “I can’t jumprope,” she states. “But I can still spar. I’ve sparred with four different girls.”

Was she ever fearful that aggressions in the ring could harm her baby in any way?

“I wore a monitor on my belly and wrist to watch my heartbeat. But everything’s going smooth, I’m in the best condition,” says the exotic beauty. “The girls were told not to hit the abdomen, and they’ve all been extremely professional.” Her six-pack abs have been replaced by a growing, swollen belly, but she still looks fit and strong inside the ropes.

Watching Lira and Katarina interact, it’s clear they’ve forged a close father-daughter relationship between them. She shows me a frame she presented to her coach with photos of the two training in the gym while pregnant. But the veteran trainer does not coddle his pupil. “Ben is intense. He’s very strict–I love it,” admits De La Cruz. “He wants perfection with the technical skills in boxing. Ben’s the ‘sour’ in the sweet science–it’s the best of both worlds!”

“She does whatever she has to do to make it work. Her dedication and determination to achieve her goals is way above average. It’s outstanding,” Coach Lira says of his student’s work ethic. “Anything negative I say to her, it just sparks her up. If I tell her she’s not focusing, she sparks up and goes beyond that. Sometimes I have to slow her down, she’ll go that far!”

The boxing trainer and manager began working with girls back in 1992 and remembers the challenge of trying to get women’s boxing on the map, “That’s a dream we had in 1992 when we went to the Finland Cup with Linda Carrillo. I have encouraged a women-only tournament since then. And now they’ll be able to go to the Olympics.”

De La Cruz shows promise and after the birth of her baby aims to fight again in November. Now that she can’t work out she says it’s “torture” not being in the gym. “And the baby kicks a lot especially around the time I usually train. My doctor said it’s because she’s used to the blood flow when I was working out,” she adds.

Before she found out she was pregnant, Katarina had plans to spar with Alfredo “Perro” Angulo, but that will have to be rescheduled until after the baby is born. “The first time he couldn’t make it and the second time I learned I was pregnant. But he had said, ‘Yes, I’ll give her two rounds.’ I really wanted the opportunity to spar with him; he had joked with me, ‘I’m gonna teach you some stuff!’

“We thought it would be fun, you know ‘The Kat’ and ‘The Dog’ sparring,” she laughs, ready to pounce on “Perro” in the ring.

“The Kat” has been fierce while training through her pregnancy and has only gained 30 pounds on her 5’6″ frame. “I haven’t had too many cravings,” the mom-to-be says. “I’ve been sticking to my strict fight diet…although I have craved McDonald’s a few times!”

The super flyweight is undeterred and true to her nickname of “Kat,” is using her nine lives to reinvent herself. From gang member, to Golden Gloves champ, to hip hop artist, model and future TV star, De La Cruz is used to fighting for survival and battling to succeed. This humble young lady certainly looks sexy and glamorous in her modeling portfolio, but she also owns up to in the past being homeless on the streets with three kids to feed. “Yes, we were homeless for a while,” she says quietly. “But I’ve survived on the streets before.”

The feminine boxer has come along way since those days roaming the streets. With her upbeat and sunny personality, you’d never guess she was ever a hardcore gangbanger. Katarina spent years with that L.A. gang and has never forgotten where she came from. Marked on her wrist is a tattoo that remains from her gang affiliation. She glances at the ink, rubs it lightly, not being able to erase those early years and the pain she felt back then. She peppers her speech with frequent mentions of “how blessed, grateful and appreciative” she feels. The stunning De La Cruz has built a Teflon resolve through the years, but her kind and warm nature still manages to shine through it all.

How did the baby mama go from juvenile delinquent to part-time model, International kickboxer and pro fighter?

The road was long and rocky, but she has proven to be one tough mama. And one very lucky woman. Every time things looked bleak, fate intervened and the Latina was given opportunities to succeed. “It’s really been a journey,” she sighs, in what has to be a huge understatement. “But I want to let people know that there are ways to excel and change your life.”

De La Cruz is open and engaging, hoping to encourage others to strive to succeed even when things don’t go as planned. In her free time, she gives back to the community, assisting at amateur shows and making appearances at charity events. Awaiting the birth of her baby while spending the time with her other three kids, she is hoping to give birth next week. “I hope my water breaks on Tuesday–it’s my birthday! I’d love for my baby to share a birthday with me. What a gift!”

And now there are even plans for the mother and boxer to have her own reality show. Her son, Anthony jokes that they can call it “QuatroMom.” Take that, OctoMom!

Does she think her newest child could be a champion herself someday?

You never know. Katarina has already dubbed the baby, “Supergirl.”

Since the International Olympic Committee will be including women’s boxing in 2012, De La Cruz may one day add “Olympian Mom” to her list of accomplishments.

Lira and De La Cruz had their last gym session three weeks ago–just a few weeks before her due date–and he laughs, “She didn’t even want to stop then! She won’t give up, she’s an achiever!”

The well-respected L.A. trainer and boxing director of the Teamsters Youth Boxing is also amazed at how well the female slugger is handling the new baby and her boxing career. “She hasn’t really slowed down as she went further and further into her pregnancy. Her conditioning didn’t slow down; it’s unreal,” he marvels.

Lira also feels she can inspire other females along the way.” This is a big awareness for other women going through pregnancies, career and everyday routines: Nothing can keep you down. Nothing is impossible!”

That is the same message that Katarina used to get through the toughest, most bleak periods of her life.

Nothing ever kept her down. Nothing is impossible.

Photos by Michele Chong/Photos courtesy of Katarina De La Cruz