Jackie Kallen: White Collar Boxing

By Jackie Kallen

What could be more entertaining than seeing two attorneys duke it out? Or how about a surgeon fighting a dentist or a corporate CEO facing off against an automotive exec? Former women’s champ Terri Moss has put together a series of events that answers that question.

Known as one of the oldest females to ever win a world championship, Moss is the founder of Atlanta Corporate Fight Night. It was her brainchild and she put together a program that has caught on in the Atlanta area. Xavier Biggs, brother of Tyrell, trains the male competitors while Moss trains the females.

Terri was one of those women who entered a boxing gym at age 34 to lose weight and get into shape. It was 2001 and there were not too many amateur women for her to fight. So she went straight to the pros. She amassed 18 fights and a 50/50 record but she fought for five titles during her six years in the ring. She didn’t turn pro until 36 and had trouble getting fights at her age.

“A lot of commissions would not allow me to fight because of my age. It was a tough road. But it was worth it. I loved it. I finally had to give it up because I could no longer get fights.”

She came up with the idea of producing an event where non-athletes undergo the same training and experiences that real boxers do. She put on her first show in October 2010 and has done five shows so far.

“They are regular amateur novice bouts and the fighters love it. They feel like real boxers. It has been very successful. They train like real fighters, have to make weight, and go through the same routine that all boxers go through.”

The combatants undergo a rigorous training regiment until they are ready to glove up and enter the ring. She has both men and women competing and they are all ages.

“Our youngest fighter was 18 and our oldest was 56. The fighters who are over 36 have to fight other older fighters, but there is a wide range. As long as the fighters are within 10 years of each other, it’s allowed.”

Moss loves the fact that she attracts an audience that would not usually attend a boxing event. They are friends and families of the fighters and they come from all walks of life. Most of them have never seen a live boxing show. Ticket prices vary between $25-$500 and a portion always goes to charity.

With my new gym opening this fall in Detroit, I am in negotiations with Moss to bring her program to the Motor City. I know there are a lot of men and women here who would love to train for ten weeks and then jump into the ring to show the world how tough they really are.

Terri Moss is a credit to the sport and she hopes her corporate fight nights will soon be held in many other cities across the country.

Jackie Kallen is a boxing manager who has been in the business for over three decades. Her life inspired the Meg Ryan film “Against the Ropes” and she was a part of the NBC series “The Contender.” www.JackieKallen.com, www.facebook.com/JackieKallen