Run your fingers through my soul for once, just once, feel exactly what I feel, believe what I believe perceive as I perceive look, experience, examine and for once; just once, Understand?
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You may have a good friend that knows some of your best stories. However, it is your best friend who has lived all of them with you; from the secrets that nobody knows, to the events you face in front of the world.
Even the one?s that make you cry.
The story of January 28, 2017 is the culmination of a unique odyssey for a little known women?s pro boxer named Lisa Marie Lozano. She lost a 4-round fight that night via decision to Jasmine Clarkson in Austin, Texas to turn 7-8 (2KOs) as a pro.
If you stopped right there, to judge without regard for what?s beyond the surface, you?d miss someone capable of becoming Joan of Arc for boxing. Most importantly, for a kind and decent best friend she was fighting to honor that night.
64 year-old Irma Lozano, her mother, was tragically killed by a cowardly, evil bastard named Abel Torres on September 28, 2016 in Big Spring, Texas. Attempting to intervene during a domestic dispute between her daughter Anastasia and what was an ex-boyfriend, Irma was violently lifted off the ground; then, was forcefully crashed head first into a cinder block.
She died instantly.
?This fight was very important for me. My mom was a huge boxing fan,? began Lisa. ?She lived her dream through me? She had such joy watching me fight. The tragedy for me, is that she overcame physical abuse only to die this way.?
In a gross miscarriage of justice, the D.A.?s office allowed Torres (on parole and later found hiding in a closet) a plea bargain deal of aggravated assault for 5 ? 20 years? This means he probably walks in 10 years.
Betrayal never comes from enemies. Some will teach ourselves to drive cautiously on the road of life, because people will turn on you with no signal. So when the system itself ignored lights of red, Lisa didn?t wait for a green light to just ?go?.
?It?s up to us to bounce back. You can say you?re the greatest person in the world? whether you believe it or not is another story,? Lisa continued. ?My dad passed away 4 years ago on January 28 and purple was my mom?s favorite color. Purple is also the color of domestic violence, as pink is to breast cancer. So it was a special night for me, my parents? My family.?
Lisa?s 8th birthday party was, well, a little different. Beyond a house of balloons and cake were a pair of boxing gloves used to fight another little girl at the behest of her father. Years later, she was inspired by her son, who overcame bullying to become a solid amateur fighter. After her mom?s death, she took two weeks off before transferring anger and hurt into training. She fought. She broke down. Now she can grieve. Mentally exhausted by everything. Her brother?s love and support, in particular, has been invaluable. ?I have a hand full of people that keeps me above water. Without them I would drown;? Lisa would reveal. ?I believe God brought those people in my life to help me through my trying times.?
During our interview, Lisa pointed out that Texas legend Ann Wolfe and luminary Laila Ali continue to inspire her. That 2-time Olympic gold medalist Claressa Shields ?got next?, and that Amanda Serrano is doing ?amazing things? in women?s boxing. About 12 years ago, Lisa trained in MMA for 3 years before taking time off to recover from an injury. Inspired by her son and encouraged by her parents, Lisa turned to her ?first love? boxing and decided to become a professional.
In all of the years since, she has been: a mother, a wife, a survivor of divorce and a fighter; a Ring Card girl and owner of LML Eye Candy; a boxing teacher and co-operator of a combat sports training gym; a broadcast commentator alongside Sean Malone and Roland Gomez with BPMG; and now, partnered with ace confidant Christine N Jahaziel Lopez , has unveiled Global Fight Talk. Global Fight Talk is a new media platform for all boxing and mma.
She made a special point of crediting her coach Tony Mack for all he?s instilled in her. She is truly a woman of renaissance with goals to help innovate the sport of boxing. During about an hour on the phone, here?s some of the topics we broached and a sample of her voice.
