Скачать или смотреть MEXICO: OFFICIALS BAN 2 WOMEN'S BOXING MATCHES

(8 Mar 1998) Spanish/Nat

Mexico City officials banned two women's boxing matches scheduled for this weekend, citing a 50-year-old regulation intended to protect the reproductive organs of women.

Though the Mexico City Professional Boxing Commission had ruled last year to allow the fights, city officials upheld the 1947 ban.

The move has angered both women boxers and the sports' promoters.

Mexico City's decision to ban matches in the capital was met with boos from spectators and journalists.

As an added insult the banned matches were to take place on the eve of the International Day of the Woman.

Boxing for women has become a popular sport in Mexico - it's usually a place where they can escape from discrimination.

SOUNDBITE: (Spanish)
"We're all friends because no one lacks respect here, we all greet each other, I've found friendships here that I really hadn't found - they help me to strive, they motivate me to go ahead - that's what we're lacking, too, that people don't look down on us and say -`you're a woman so go away' - no - here it's not like that, here they encourage us and push us forward, forward"
SUPER CAPTION: Beatriz Gloria Rios Lopez, boxer

The ban does not stretch across the whole of Mexico, but will affect women's boxing activities in the capital.

So far women boxers in Mexico City have taken little notice of the ban and say they will carry on boxing regardless.

This is impossible for those women who are competing at a professional level as their matches have simply been cancelled.

Not just Mexican women will be affected by the ban - Christy Martin, of Orlando, Florida, the World Boxing Council women's lightweight champion, also was to have fought Daniella Somers of Belgium at Saturday night's event.

SOUNDBITE: (Spanish)
"I know they don't allow it but even so I practise and I will continue practising even though it's not allowed. I don't know why they don't allow it when there plenty of more dangerous sports which are practised by women and they are allowed.
SUPER CAPTION: Rosalba Fuentes Arteaga, boxer

Mexico's favourite Laura Serrano was bitterly disappointed when it was announced that the fight she was to have taken part in on Saturday would be cancelled.

Serrano was to have fought Atlanta boxer Isra Girgrah in a warm-up fight ahead of the men's super lightweight title fight between Julio Cesar Chavez and Miguel Angel Gonzalez.

SOUNDBITE: (Spanish)
"Not at all, boxing is a sport for men and women, what's important here is not the sex, the important thing is that you like it and that you have an aptitude to do it."
SUPER CAPTION: Laura Serrana - professional boxer

Serrano has said the ban stands in the way of her career and she plans to try to overturn the ruling starting legal proceedings next week.

American boxing promoter Don King also declared his resolve to get the ban overturned saying the fight against Mexico City authorities had only just begun.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"Well I'm very hurt that they don't let the women fight. It's a rule not a law and I'm hopeful the Mexican people will unite in trying to remove the rule to give women equal rights. I'm fighting for women's rights in Mexico, not women's rights to fight. If they get their rights then they can do what they want to do with them. But I am an a advocate of the fundamental and organic right of the human being - woman and man.
SUPER CAPTION: Don King, boxing promoter

A sellout crowd of 50-thousand watched the men's fight at the Plaza Mexico bull ring.

Miguel Angel Gonzalez fought veteran Julio Cesar Chavez to a draw.

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