GULFPORT - As the remains of tropical storm Bill faded, a storm of a different type began to brew on the beaches of the Gulf Coast Tuesday.
Laila Ali and Christy Martin, set to meet in what is being billed as the biggest fight in women's professional boxing history, set the tone for the bout early as the press conference announcing the match-up had to be abruptly stopped when a full scale brawl broke out.

The two will meet on Aug. 23 in the Mississippi Coast Coliseum for the IBA Super Middleweight championship. Ali is the daughter of boxing icon Muhammad Ali, and Martin almost single-handedly helped put women's boxing on the sports map in the early 1990s. The press conference took place at the Grand Casino.

"She ain't her daddy, she's Laila and she has to beat me to prove she's the greatest in women's boxing," Martin said, minutes before the two began trading jabs and sending tables and chairs flying. "She has to beat me to prove herself, or why else would she be fighting me. We came here in the middle of a storm last night, but that ain't nothing compared to what's gonna happen next month in the Coast Coliseum."

Martin (45-2-2), who has more wins than any female in pro boxing history, spoke first and continued to mouth off when Ali took the podium. The confrontation came to a head when Martin stood up in true pre-fight hoopla and pushed Ali. The punches then began to fly.

"I don't have to fight her, but she challenged me and I don't ever back down from a challenge," Ali (15-0), who has won three world titles in the past 18 months, said. "She doesn't respect me or like me and she will probably never like me but she will respect me once I knock her out."

Martin, the only female boxer to grace the cover of Sports Illustrated magazine, is stepping up quite a bit in weight class for the fight. Martin stands 5-foot-4 and weighs about 145, while Ali is almost 5-foot-10 and tips the scales at close to 170 pounds.

"I have nothing to lose. It's a win-win situation for me," Martin said. "This is one of the first times ever I can remember being considered the underdog in a fight. I will respond."

The importance of the fight to the sport was echoed by promoter Yahya McClain, who is also Ali's husband.

"This is huge and I don't know if people realize how big this fight truly will be," McClain said. "This is the pinnacle of women's professional boxing, the biggest fight ever and it will take place right here in Mississippi."

Tickets for the match go on sale today, and range from $15 to $250. For more information contact the Mississippi Coast Coliseum box office at 228-594-3707.

"She will respect me once I knock her out.''

- Laila Ali, female boxer

I hope she kills her.  

meanie  

i am going for the under-dog...  

I hope Martin ripz Ali's trunkz and Sports Bra off...

Wait, wait... yeah... On second thought, lets do THAT, ... and THEN Ali knocks the bitch out.  

Ali's daughter is cute, and she keeps saying the other girl's been hit in the face too much, LOL so I imagine Ali.  

yeah ali fo sure!  

the other woman's pics look like they were taken in the 80s.. haha

ali has fantastic arms !!  

for sure !!