Diana Prazak eager to replicate championship credentials in BKB

 
DIANA Prazak has always been about breaking boundaries.

 
From her heart-warming journey that lead her from being an overweight chain smoker to becoming a legitimate female prize fighter and arguably Australia’s finest female pugilist.

 
However, this time around the former two-time world titleholder is looking to win a title in a different form of boxing, Big Knockout Boxing.

 
BKB, as it is better known as, places two boxers in an arched dome, labelled ‘The Pit’ where they fight for five rounds of two minutes duration, unless a title is on the line. Title fights in BKB are contested over seven rounds.

 
Tomorrow afternoon (AEDT), Prazak (13-3, 9 KOs) will face former two-time WBA world champion Layla McCarter (36-13-5, 8 KOs) for the right of becoming the first BKB female titleholder.

 
Despite the confusion over the sports format, the Australian insists that the core functions are still the same.

 
“BKB is boxing, and I am a boxer,” said Prazak in an interview with Aus-Boxing.

 
“This is an opportunity to fight on a the big stage for all of America to see,”

 
“The first time a woman’s boxing fight will be shown on pay-per-view. I want to go in there and show just how worthy woman fighters are to be shown on the same cards as our male counterparts,”

 
The card will be headlined by Philadelphia favourite Gabriel Rosado, who defends his BKB strap against big-punching Brooklynite Curtis Stevens.

 
Prazak, 35, admits that she was initially sceptical about the concept, but was eager to challenge herself upon inspection of ‘The Pit’, her new squared circle.

 
“When we were first approached about the fight I was sceptical,” Prazak continued. “But after moving around in the pit though I was actually surprised at how big it actually was,”

 
“In saying that though, there are no corners and there is nowhere to run. Layla though is a smart and experienced champion and a veteran of our sport,”

 
“I’m expecting more than just a tough fight from her – it’s going to be a tough and smart fight,”

 
McCarter, 35, was last seen in a boxing ring last year, defeating Melissa Hernandez in an eight round shutout decision. However, Prazak also hasn’t been in the ring since last November, losing in a spirited challenge to Delfine Persoon in Belgium.

 
With her layoff well and truly behind her, Prazak is now focusing on the task at hand, which is not only McCarter, but the arena itself.

 
“The biggest change is the lack of ropes and the shorter amount of rounds,” Prazak added. “I’m known for my slow starts and big finishes,”

 
“This time round we wont have the time to grow in the fight – it needs to be hard and fast from the first bell.”

 
“If there’s one thing I don’t need any help in it’s motivation,” said Prazak in closing. “I am a champion because I refuse to give up,”

 
“My fight has changed though – it’s not just the physical fight anymore – but the inequality between female and male athletes.”

 
 
Photo: Getty Images North America