New Mexico Boxing

Saccurato here to sock it out

“It’s just like the title of the card says,” states Ann Marie Saccurato, matter-of-factly.

“’Destiny’—I’m here to make history and follow my destiny.”

Anyone who’s seen top local draw Holly Holm blast her way to the upper half of the top ten pound-for-pound list of women’s boxing—scoring big wins over Christy Martin, Mia St. John and half a dozen other contenders from 140 to 154—would argue that Saccurato hasn’t quite read the script.

“Destiny” denotes the next chapter in Holm’s career—not that of an out-of-state challenger most hometown fans assume will come up short, like the previous handful of Holm foes.

The challenger from upstate New York, though current WBC lightweight champion, outweighed, outsized and outliked—at least in Albuquerque, New Mexico—could care less about odds in Thursday’s night first-ever undisputed welterweight title fight for women’s boxing.

Headlining the first cable TV all-women’s card, televised on FOX Sports’ Best Damn Sports Show Period, Holm, 16-1-2 (4 KOs), the current WBA welter champ and IFBA jr. middle, will look to add the WBC, IFBA and WIBA welter belts to her trophy case, in addition to the IBA and GBU titles, when she takes on Saccurato, 12-1-2 (5 KOs) at a catch weight of 144—sort of a super-junior-welterweight, or a super-super-lightweight maximum.

“I know I’m coming in as an underdog,” says Saccurato. “I know she’s the promoter’s fighter. I know she has unbelievable hometown support. But I’m confident.

“Very confident.”

Saccurato is no stranger to beating the odds. In her last outing, for the WBC lightweight title, she defeated Jelena Mrdjenovich (18-2) by split decision, in the former champ’s hometown of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

“I’ve seen Holly Holm fight,” says Saccurato. “She’s a great fighter. But this fight, underdog or not, is a great situation for me. I’ve brought my game plans and I plan to execute them. I’m prepared.”

Just how the shorter, less-reaching Saccurato plans to execute, she’d rather not say—we’ll see in the opening rounds—but her preparation for Holm is no secret.

“I’ve got the best trainer in the world—Juan Carlos Santana. I’ve fought bigger opponents before, from Victoria Cisneros to Liz Mooney, and I feel strong at this weight, having fought most of my fights in the ‘40s.”

Saccurato has been preparing since mid-January, sparring with the likes of Jill Emery and a handful of male fighters from her training headquarters in White Plains.

Sea level or not, she’s also been preparing for any problems the high altitude of Albuquerque might hold for her.

Since January, she’s spent 8-10 hours a day in a tent erected in her bedroom, sleeping at a level set at 12,000-feet altitude by high-tech equipment.

“Altitude has no effect on me,” she says. “Studies show that it’s more effective to sleep high altitude than train high altitude.”

Since Saccurato arrived in Albuquerque Sunday night, she says it’s proven true.

“I haven’t come all this way to lose—you’ll see Thursday night. This fight will show the depth of the sport.”

Saccurato’s promoter, Arnie Rosenthal, likes the chances of his fighter, who “spits in the face of adversity.” Fighting Holm in Albuquerque, he says, is nothing compared to the obstacles Saccurato has already overcome.

In 1995, Saccurato suffered a severe nerve damage, a punctured lung and broken bones ranging from pelvis, hip, both legs, an arm and ribs, in a near-death car accident. At the time, Saccurato was playing volleyball. She was told, if she lasted the night, that is, that she’d never walk again, but she beat the odds and returned to volleyball one year later.

It was in ’99 that she found boxing. Since 2002 she has been fighting professionally, mainly on the East Coast until her big risk in Canada last year against Mrdjenovich.

“This is another risk, but I like the odds. I’m ready for Holm."

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