Big interview: 'I don’t do boxing to be rich, I just want to be a champion' - Kallia Kourouni

Boxing is regarded by many as the toughest sport in the world and for that reason; it’s a career path few choose to pursue.
Kallia Kourouni. Picture courtesy of Kallia KourouniKallia Kourouni. Picture courtesy of Kallia Kourouni
Kallia Kourouni. Picture courtesy of Kallia Kourouni

For Brighton based Greek super-featherweight boxer Kallia Kourouni, being a fighter is nothing new, having come from very humble beginnings which we discussed in our interview back in December:

Being a female boxer is still frowned upon in many respects and fighters like Kallia still have to constantly battle that stereotype. Alongside fighting the stereotypes, there is another fight Kallia has faced recently, one which she didn’t envisage and one which nearly knocked her out for the count – depression.

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The depression was caused by an accumulation of things, from broken promises, constant lies, a crippling ACL injury and a lack of opportunities. But like the Spartan she is, she’s back on her feet and a relocation to Las Vegas is on the horizon, along with training in the Mayweather gym!

“I’m seeking further opportunities, I’m a fighter, and I’m a champion!” – Kallia elaborates on her move to Las Vegas:

“My new manager Alessandro Gelke asked his management team to find some female boxers to add to their stable. They chose 4 girls (myself included) to go to Vegas and do a training camp. The plan was to go there for the training camp with the potential of us being signed up, dependent on how we did in training and sparring and if our personalities would fit in.”

“Due to the coronavirus, we had to go with Plan B which was for the 4 of us to undertake some interviews with the management team where we were asked about our past, how we work, what our ambitions were. Alessandro and his team decided to give me the opportunity. They told me that I was the total package and had the boxing skills, power, technique and a big personality. There are lots of big personalities in America; the people open their eyes more to the personalities. Of course, my manager wants me to win the fights but to be able to get the fights you need the personality to attract the people. I’m hoping this move can get me more sponsors and opportunities. I will go to America in 3-4 weeks to meet my coach and team at the Mayweather gym. In America, they are from the ghetto, they are survivors.”

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Going alone to America is not something Kallia is phased by, she reminds me that she lives alone in England with no friends and no family because she’s chasing her dreams. “I feel sad, of course I do; it’s a very hard sport. It’s harder outside of the ring when you challenge your loneliness, it can be tough, so, so tough. I’m happy but I’m scared, I don’t want to disappoint again. I came to England from Germany, to chase my dream but my dreams haven’t come true.”

Reflecting on her time in England and what’s she’s going to miss, Kallia does so with the honesty she has always shown. “Nothing, I’m not happy here. I respect England, I respect the English people but they don’t fit with my mentality as a boxer and as a person. Me, I’m a warrior, I’m hungry to fight, I don’t fit the English boxing system.”

Airing her frustration, Kallia elaborates, “Its f**king crazy for the small hall fighters in England. You fight on the same day you weigh in. It’s all to try and save money; they need to start thinking of the fighters and pay the money for the sake of the physical and mental health of the athletes taking part. If I do a weight cut of two days no food or drink, we already have that stress, adding to that is the weigh in and everything else that goes on. How can we be mentally ready to fight?”

“In some of the small hall shows, they have only a referee. It’s crazy, you can have an 8 round fight and the referee does the scorecard. The referee is there to look after you and your opponent. How can they referee at the same time? How can they see how many punches have landed? They are there to look after your health not to judge a fight. How are you protecting me as a fighter when I weigh in on the same day and a referee judges my fight?”

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Admitting that motivation is hard when the support network and opportunities are not there, Kallia explains, “I cannot train for 8 hours a day and go through the stress of selling tickets for a fight, when there’s not an opportunity there for me. You’ve got to beat the best, to be the best, I want the best. If I don’t sell tickets, I don’t make money, it’s crazy. People can punch me in the face for 10 rounds; I go through the blood, sweat and tears of training and fighting and make £400 or £500 if I’m lucky.”

Joining Matchroom was Kallia’s dream when moving to England but unfortunately it’s a dream that will be left unfulfilled. “I like Eddie Hearn, he’s a professional. I don’t know if he knows me but I’d be surprised if he didn’t. Many people tell me, oh you have a brilliant personality, oh you are a great boxer but how can promoters and managers see me if I don’t fight for belts?”

“I respect all the fighters in England but I haven’t had the big opportunities I came here for. Despite my fighting skills, they look more at who sells the tickets in England. I’m Greek, so that doesn’t make it easy for me. England is more business and they are all good athletes but if good athletes don’t sell tickets, they don’t get opportunities. If Eddie Hearn was to call me tomorrow and say “Fight Terri Harper”, I would! Tell me a date, where, kilos, I’d be ready. Some champions are too protected, I respect them all but I don’t think they are all real champions. They don’t want to risk their records. The promoters build their fighter and take safe opponents. I cannot change the system but I can change myself. I respect them but I know I can beat them. I don’t do boxing to be rich; I just want to be a champion.”

“Eddie Hearn opened his eyes for Terri Harper after she won the IBO vacant belt. Terri was already a good athlete but they bought that vacant belt, that’s the truth. Eddie Hearn opened his eyes after she won. Nobody gives a f**k when you don’t have a belt. If I had more sponsors and a belt, people would open their eyes. I train really hard every day; I don’t say to you that I’m the best, I say I want to be the best but how can I be the best without the opportunities?”

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Bobbing and weaving may be a trick of the trade but when your opponent is depression, it produces a punch unavoidable, even for a master of the art.

Kallia explains, “After the surgery following my ACL injury, I wasn’t training. I was just eating, and I wanted to retire. I didn’t want to walk; I just wanted to stay indoors. It got to the point, I just wanted to die. It was my surgery and a build-up of things that led to my depression. I have many scars left from many fake people and many fake promises. The injury nearly finished me; I didn’t want to be here anymore. My division is super-featherweight, I was 58kg, usually I’m 61kg and in one month I went to 74kg. I was near 15kg overweight. Now I’ve dropped 7 kg and just need to drop 7kg or 8kg more for my division. I want to tell the people reading this interview “Break the stereotypes and when you are feeling down, speak out and say you need help. Depression has been my biggest demon, please, please speak out.”

The toughest people can be knocked down, take Kallia as an example. But just like her father was, she’s a champion and getting back up is what champions do. Depression might well be Kallia’s toughest fight but when does she not rise to a challenge?!

Kallia would like to thank Coach John Edwards for being her trainer, manager, friend and father figure and for looking out for Kallia in her times of need. She would also like to thank Rainer Gottwald (Ex Manager), Scott Livingston (Westlab-Epsom), Evangelos Tsiallogiannis, Nick Gkrampanis (Onemed Clinic), Alex Backhouse (Strength and Conditioning) and Alessandro Gelke (New Manager).

A message from the Editor, Gary Shipton:

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