" NOW I'M DANCING .... IN PAIN "

She is the most famous

female boxer ever seen if

only because of her own

very very famous father

Laila Ali staked out a successful  career for herself in the Ring the last half dozen years. Ali's career  record 24-0. Right now meaning Tuesday night when this Box is being  written Ali is contesting in a very different sport. A form of Ballroom  Dancing on the wildly successful ABC show "Dancing with the Stars."

The season series finale is / was  Tuesday night

Laila Ali and her partner are competing

for the series championship

There are 3 couples competing  in this very last episode, the last 3 still standing. Ali and partner  Maksim Chmerkovskiy ( don't bother pronouncing it ) are the Underdogs in  the Finals. One couple by today Wednesday ( when you are reading the Box  presumably ) will be crowned the Champions ! 

While we hope Ali wins we aren't  waiting to find out to do the Box. The outcome is only somewhat relevant  to  the Story. The news is Laila's announcement featured in the current  issue of Newsweek that she is QUITTING the Ring.

What is relevant to both endeavors  is that Laila has announced she will be having knee surgery after the last  episode of Dancing as a Star. It is unlikely these high powered dancing  routines week after week after week have improved her condition. Indeed  Ali will get more for her money having the knee surgery AFTER all  that heavyweight dancing week after week. Actually the back stage reports  are that Ali has been suffering mightily for all the Dancing.

Now so that we can go watch Ali 

dance up a Storm we will quote

heavily from Newsweek's article

( they like the free plug )

About appearing on Dancing ....

" When the "Dancing With the Stars"  producers approached me for this season, I thought it would be a lot of  fun, since I was already a fan of the show. For one, it's a competition,  so it brings out the competitor in me. But I also get the chance to be  a glamorous woman. I knew the millions of viewers watching would see a  different side of me."

" I expected the show to be a lot  of work, but I didn't realize the dancing was going to be so complicated.  We have only five days to learn a new dance—sometimes fewer due to other  professional obligations—and those days go by so quickly. On top of that,  as a woman I need to wear heels. "

" After the first week, my feet  were killing me, and my legs and knees were so sore! I enter every competition  with the intention of winning, but, unlike boxing, I realize that there  are a lot of factors beyond my control. Still, I have done my very best  and have learned to dance like the pros, which should serve me well at  my upcoming wedding. "

And what about life after Dancing  .....

" So what is next for me after the  final round of the show? I've been offered a lot of things to do to help  me transition from boxing: movies, modeling, etc. The one thing I know  is that whatever I choose to do, I must be and will be passionate about  it. And my passion? A healthy lifestyle, which includes fitness, nutritious  cooking and a positive outlook on life."

And more ....

" I want to follow in the footsteps  of Martha Stewart and Rachael Ray. Yes, that's right: the boxer wants to  be the next Martha Stewart. It has always been a dream of mine to have  my own show, which could include cooking, fitness and other household components.  In fact, I just came out with a fitness/cardio DVD with Sugar Ray Leonard.  My show would feature healthy food with fresh ingredients that taste great.  My family is from Louisiana, so I do home-style food with a healthy twist!  Anything unnecessary, like butter, I take out of the recipe."

So now you know first Boxing then

Dancing next Cooking and

Good luck Laila what

ever you do !

Whenever you want to reach us with comments
or better yet an idea for a topic for the Box .......
blackbox@blackathlete.net

HOW ARE THE KNEES LAILA ??