IFBA Champ Fights THIS Saturday!
IFBA Lightweight Champ Crystal Morales is a real head turner.
With her caramel coloring, a mural of ink tattooed on her arm and a face and figure that garners plenty of male attention, Morales is a knockout. But don’t mistake her feminine ways for any softness in the ring. She turns it up a notch as she enters “beast mode” going into battle.
With impeccable makeup, glittering jewelry and ombre highlights in her hair, Crystal’s appearance doesn’t exactly scream “BOXER.” And yet, she has a ferocity from within that urges her to hit, to fight, to punch. And she loves it.
“I just LOVE to fight!” the glamour girl/slugger tells me during a recent media workout promoting her upcoming fight THIS Saturday, December 21 at the Westin Bonaventure Hotel in Los Angeles. She will take on Ontario’s Celene Roman in “unfinished business” between the two on the “Battle of the Rising Stars” card presented by All Star Promotions’ Ed Holmes and matchmaker Pete Hironaka. Crystal (8-9-1, 1 KO) and Celene (2-1-1) were originally slated to fight in 2012 and now the pair will rumble this Saturday. While their ring records may not impress the critics, don’t underestimate their talent, determination and dedication inside the ropes. Female bouts aren’t always easy to book and Team Morales is planning on having a big crowd watching their favorite champ lace up.
Oxnard’s Morales won the vacant IFBA title in August in her rematch versus Rhonda Luna. This weekend’s bout is a stay-busy six rounder and one last chance for Crystal’s fans to see her in action before 2013 ends. The Morales-Roman clash is a non-title bout but promises to be a good lightweight scrap. In our VIDEO INTERVIEW below, hear Crystal’s thoughts on her upcoming bout, what winning a title meant to her, and how her corner has so supportive throughout her journey.
As I chatted with Morales, known as “La Morenasa” for her skin tone and complexion, it’s clear Crystal wants to break a lot of stereotypes given to female fighters.
Women boxers don’t often get respect or viewers–or large paychecks–in this male-dominated sport. But Morales can crack with the best of them and wants to prove to other young girls and teens that they, too, can become prizefighters. Crystal began boxing when she was a young teen and was a national champ as an amateur. She first gloved up at the famed La Colonia Boxing Gym and currently trains at Ventura’s Knuckleheadz Boxing Gym with main trainer Fernando Cervantes, co-trainer and father Rafael Morales, and cornerwoman Shannon Torres Gilman. “La Morenasa” is promoted by another former amateur boxer, Arqangel Promotions’ Katherine Rodriguez. Kat and Crystal are fresh faces in the pro ranks of fight promotions, a one-two punch. They may look as glamorous as they come but don’t underestimate their hard work or business savvy.
A pro since 2005, Crystal tells me her early mentor was female fighter and WBC champ Mia St. John. Morales was just 15 when she first met Mia in the gym and the two have sparred many times. Crystal was St. John’s sparring partner for Mia’s bout against nemesis Christy Martin (which Mia won). Morales tells me that St. John has been so supportive and encouraging during her professional career. Mia has balanced boxing, motherhood, business endeavors, establishing her own charity and more and this has inspired Crystal, who is a mom to daughter Hailey, age 5.
Greeting the media, I watched as Crystal first appeared in black satin slacks and high heels before dressing out in her boxing gear. The quick switch from bombshell to boxer is seamless for this chica. She handled smiling for the flashbulbs to hittin’ the speed bag with ease.
After her workout (in pink hand wraps, of course!), the fighter and press corp enjoyed a taco bar from fighter/chef Andrew Estrada, Malenny Cabrera and Los Estrada’s Knockout Catering. Andrew is the younger brother of Olympic boxer Shawn Estrada and grew up around boxing gyms. He and Crystal spent a couple of minutes talkin’ boxing while the carne asada sizzled on the grill.
And during this break, I visited more with Crystal, her father/trainer Rafael, and little Hailey. I asked the Mexican-American warrior if she had brothers who boxed and is that how she first came to love the sport? “My dad was a boxer,” she explains. “I have a brother but he doesn’t fight, but he does like to say he’s my ‘bodyguard’!”
“I just love boxing; I love to hit,” she says with a smile and slight shrug. “I guess it’s in my 
blood.”
It may appear a contradiction to hear this pure love of violence from Crystal, a “girly girl” who carries a bright pink handbag packed with cosmetics, blinged-out accessories and Bedazzled goodies spilling forth from her purse. But I relate to her as I, myself, am a female whose favorite color is pink, loves frilly dresses and Hello Kitty but also loves good bloody battles! The bloodier and more violent, the better. I don’t wince at the power punches and thunderous shots just as Crystal thinks nothing of changing from her high heels into boxing boots. A diva in pumps AND a tough puncher? No problemo.
It may sound like a strange balance, but a love of pugilism is just in your blood. Women either love it or hate it. Often, there is no gray area. And chicks like Crystal love it. And so do I. I am certainly not a fighter in the ring as Morales is but I understand how she can flip the switch so effortlessly while not necessarily looking the part of what people think someone in boxing should look like. While some fans don’t enjoy “girl fights,” young females like Crystal Morales and her promoter Katherine Rodriguez have plans to change their minds.
And while she took a brief break for motherhood, “La Morenasa” is determined more than ever to make her mark in boxing. As the reigning champ, she looks to add another victory to her ledger this Saturday.
The ladies in the ring can bang like the rest of them…Just watch and see!
Tickets are $50/ CALL (951) 536-6256
Photos by Michele Chong