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December 2nd, 2009 | by Oliver Suarez
 The emergence of Manny Pacquiao has helped many boxers of Filipino descent in recent years to be able to show their talent. Now, another Filipino boxer has taken the boxing world by storm. She is Ana “The Hurricane” Julaton, whose pleasing smile and discernible hunger to be the best is reminiscent of the current Pound-for-Pound King.
Despite only having 7 bouts under her belt, Ana is already a title belt holder. She defeated the then favored Kelsey Jeffries early this year for the vacant female IBA Super Bantamweight belt. The win quickly catapulted her from anonymity to one of the more followed Filipino boxers today.
Not one to be complacent, Ana Julaton is now set to face Donna Biggers, who is one of the hardest punchers in the division, for the vacant WBO Super Bantamweight title on Dec. 4 at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, CA.
OS: Can you give us a little info about your amateur background and how you got into the sport of boxing?
AJ: I’m a martial arts teacher at West Wind Karate Schools, which is a traditional school. In the early 2000s, we incorporated boxing to our system and in order for me to teach it, I had to learn it. My first boxing lesson was getting in the ring with a couple guys where we started fighting. About 2 weeks later, I entered the San Francisco Golden Gloves, matched against the top local female amatuer boxer at the time, and lost a split decision. That experience foreshadowed most of my amateur career. Before my tenth amateur bout, I competed at national tournaments and had many experiences in being paired against women who had over 30, 50, even 100 amateur bouts. It was an interesting time as a female boxer because many women stayed in the amatuers, waiting on the opportunity to compete in the 2000, 2004 and 2008 olympics. So women who were new to the sport had to be ready to compete with other athletes with a lot of experience. I learned a lot from this period of my career.
OS: There’s no doubt that since the emergence of Manny Pacquiao, Filipino boxers have gotten more attention. How do you feel about being arguably the third most recognizable Filipino boxer next to Donaire and Pacquiao?
AJ: There is no doubt that many Filipinos from all walks of life have benefited from the success of Filipino boxers and I’m truly thankful to be experiencing this firsthand and am very honored to be recognized. What I appreciate the most is how Filipinos are so supportive in a Filipina’s success, especially with me boxing in a male dominated sport. Filipinos share equal respect to everyone and this is something about our culture that I am very proud of as a Filipina.
OS: You are the new female International Boxing Association Super Bantamweight Champion. How do you feel about being a champion at such a young stage of your career?
AJ: It’s amazing for the fact that I didn’t see myself ever being a boxer and to become a world champion in 5 years still surprises me.
OS: Do you feel that it validated all of your sacrifices?
AJ: Absolutely. Capturing a world title on my fifth professional win against a multi-world champion not only validated my sacrifices, but everyone else who supported me since the beginning. Initially, I boxed just to get the experience to say that I’ve at least tried it in my youth. As I got more involved with the sport, there were bigger and more important fights that were needed in the sport: having an olympic opportunity for women boxers and changing the image of women boxers in the US. All the media events I involved myself with while I was training, and with the help from my team and supporters, it was a collection of tremendous hard work and having belief. Many doubted what all the extra effort would lead up to and when my hand was raised the night I won the belt, it was a sense of relief; a cry of ‘Finally! It happened!’ and it meant the world to me.
OS: Of course, with success comes rising expectations. Do you feel extra pressure about being able to constantly meet those expectations?
AJ: It’s an amazing position to be in and with ‘rising expectations’, it comes with the package. In boxing, I find it can be difficult to stay successful for very long so my attitude is to enjoy it while I still have it. There is no need for me to put extra pressure on myself. One day, all of this will be done.
OS: Before your fight with Jeffries, you suffered a loss against Domingo Oliva How did that loss make you a better fighter?
AJ: That fight was something I don’t regret. I learned a lot from it. I lost a split decision against a fighter who was rated no. 2 in the world in two weight classes above mine and I fought her in an international title match in my rookie year as a professional. From the dynamics of how that fight came together and how I prepared for it, it put many things in perspective for my next fight. Overall, it gave me a clearer sense of how to prepare physically, mentally and emotionally for a title fight.
OS: Also, being one of the more attractive ladies in the sport, do you feel awkward that you have suddenly become a sex symbol in your sport? It must be flattering.
AJ: Thank you for the compliment, but I don’t see myself as a sex symbol of the sport. I’m a fighter like everyone else.
OS: You’ve been called the female version of Manny Pacquiao. How do you compare your fighting style to the Pound-for-Pound King.
AJ: It is such an honor to be called that, but I am not the female version of Manny Pacquiao and there will never be another one like him. He’s a superb athlete and stands alone as pound-for-pound king. We are two completely different individuals and I don’t fight like him. I like to study his movements and technique, but in the division I’m currently in, I’m tall and lean so I have a different style than his, whereas Manny climbed up 7 weight classes and fights a certain way for that. I like to compare my efforts outside of the ring like he does, but where I can be a voice for young girls, women and Filipinas.
OS: You are scheduled to face Donna Biggers for the WBO Super Bantamweight Title this Friday at the HP Pavilion in San Jose. How are you preparing for your fight against one of the biggest punchers in the division? I heard you’ve been sparring with male boxers.
AJ: I’ve been training hard over the past few months and I’m very excited. I’m working with Lauro Doroliat at Sessions Training Ceter in San Francisco for my strength and conditioning and I’m under the boxing guidance of Rick Noble from Watsonville, Ca, who is very experienced and has created many world champions. In all my sparring, I’ve been working with both male and female fighters so everything’s been going great. I’m aware of what type of fighter she is and I’m prepared for it.
OS: If you win this Friday, is there a plan for you to fight WBC Super Bantamweight Champion Marcela Acuna in order to unify the belts?
AJ: Anything is possible, but my main focus is this fight.
OS: Is there anything you want to say to your fans before your fight against Donna Biggers this Friday?
AJ: Thank you for all the support and positive energy over the years and I look forward to seeing everyone this Friday. For tickets, visit www.teamjulaton.com, click on the fight poster and it will direct you to a page that will send partial proceeds to the Typhoon Relief in the Philippines. For group discounts, email hurricaneboxing@gmail.com. Ticketmaster and walk ups DO NOT SUPPORT THIS! We could use all the help we can get, so please pass the word. There’s a fight other than this world title fight and we’d like everyone’s support.
OS: Thanks for the interview and good luck in your fight.
AJ: Thanks for your time and interest. I appreciate those who highlight the women fight game in the US and help elevate the sport. See you this Friday.
This entry was posted on Wednesday, December 2nd, 2009 at 11:59 PM.
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December 3rd, 2009 at 10:42 AM
Anna, I’ll pray for your success in the coming fight with Biggers. Then I would like to see you highlight Manny’s biggest fight with Floyd as the major under card fighting with Acuna.
December 3rd, 2009 at 6:14 PM
MABUHAY PINAY POWER!! We pray for your success.
December 11th, 2009 at 3:37 PM
Thank you for another informative article. Where else would anybody get that kind of info in such a great way of writing.
December 17th, 2009 at 3:50 AM
Нормально, можно cделать маленький сборник.
December 17th, 2009 at 11:11 AM
It seems that I am in the wrong blog
anyway nice blog man!
December 19th, 2009 at 1:28 PM
Попробую, попозже отпишусь.
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