Laila Ali, in training for a boxing match against Shelly Burton that will be part of the Wladimir Klitschko-Calvin Brock undercard in New York City’s Madison Square Garden onNovember 11, 2006, participated in a media conference call on Wednesday. Laila  began, “Hello everyone. I’m calling from Las Vegas. I started training with Floyd Mayweather, Sr. I’m very happy. I’m excited to be fighting at the Garden. All fighters would dream of fighting there. I can’t wait to get in that ring and put on a good show. It’s unfortunate that HBO does not show female fighting, so you won’t be able to see me unless you come to the Garden.”

 

Burton, who holds a record of 8-2, was not Laila’s first choice, but another fighter pulled out and she jumped at the opportunity. “Shelly is what I call a tough fighter. She’s true to the sport. She took the fight right away. Shelly is very talented. She’s going to come to fight. She has good boxing skills and thinks she’s going to win. Of course she’s not, because I don’t lose. That’s not what I do. But it will be exciting up until the point where I stop her. Shelly has amateur experience. That’s how it is in women’s boxing. Some fighters are more experienced than others. But I don’t have any amateur fights. She’s actually a better fighter than the girl I originally chose. The girl I originally chose is bigger.”

 

Laila then addressed rumors about potential fights with Ann Wolfe or Leticia Robinson. According to Laila, Ann Wolfe has continuously called her out in public but turned her down in private. “I don’t think there’s any progress with Ann Wolfe. Ann Wolfe has continued to call me out and say this, that and the other, but every time we call her to make the fight happen, she’s saying that she was going through problems with her promoter and wanted to wait until next year. I’m very irritated with Ann Wolfe. People keep asking me but I can only fight these girls if they come in there with me. Leticia Robinson I haven’t built up – that’s why everyone knows who Ann Wolfe is. I’d always be building her up, talking about her because we were supposed to fight 4 times. I have to build fighters up so people know who they are.

 

 “Training with Floyd Mayweather Sr., I’ve definitely grown in defensive areas,” Laila continued. “You need more than 8 weeks to learn. I need more time. Anybody that’s been following my career will be able to see a difference, though.”