Mia St. John's Life and Career
About Mia St. John
She was born in San Francisco and now
lives in Calabasas, California with her two children, Julian, 9, and Paris, 7.
She is divorced from Kristoff St. John, a star on The Young and the Restless.
St. John graduated from at California
State University at Northridge with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology.
Mia St. John spent 5 years
(1991-1996) posing for posters and calenders as a means of supporting her dream
of representing her country in the Olympics in Tae Kwon Do. She got her start in
boxing when she was modeling, and she sent her photo into Don King---he
immediately signed her.
She works out six days a week at two gyms in the Los Angeles area. At
5'6" and a bounce-a-quarter-off-her-stomach firm 126 pounds, St. John
relishes the physical aspects of training, including sparring, cardiovascular
work and weight training.
She earns as much as $20,000 per
fight
When she was 12 years old, she saw a
movie that changed her life. Unlike most little girls her age, that movie was Rocky.
"I loved what the movie stood for. I wanted to be Rocky," added
St. John.
At age 15, an aspiring pugilist was
born. While attending a high school football game, Mia reached her limit after
being harassed by another girl. "The Knockout" hauled off and punched
the other girl in the nose, sending blood everywhere and scoring her first
unofficial KO.
She played basketball and softball
throughout her youth. Mia began fighting at the age of six when she took up Tae
Kwon Do, eventually earning a black belt and posting an impressive record of
27-1 in amateur competitions.
Her trainer said “What we're
working on now is eliminating her bad habits from tae kwon do -- for instance,
she has a tendency to crouch -- and making her more of a boxer-puncher."
Quotes from Mia St.
John
“I decided to do Playboy now
[because] I wanted to show people that just because I'm an athlete, just because
I'm a fighter, doesn't mean I can't be a woman and can't be feminine."
“I thought, Screw that. I'm going to find a way to make a
living off my fighting."
"It's been hard for me because
I've had to learn how to box on national TV with millions of people
watching,"
"Switching to boxing, the big
difference is that I went from using my legs to using my upper body. I was
always scrawny up top -- my legs are still the best developed part of my body --
so I had to start lifting weights and learn to shift my balance."
"It's hard to keep my attention because I like to move and run and be active. I've got to learn to think when I'm in the ring."
"I don't think we'll ever really
know why fighters become fighters. I think the common thing between most
fighters is that we come from different backgrounds than the norm. A lot of us
come from dysfunctional families and have had hard lives. Feeling powerless my
whole life, as a child and as an adolescent, I always found comfort being in the
ring and showing my power. It's a way to channel my aggressions."
"Women fight so much more
offensively because our defense isn't as developed as the men," she says.
"So, we're often fighting toe-to-toe and beating the crap out of each
other. It makes for a more exciting fight."
Mia St’ John’s
Career Highlights
Her first documented fight occurred on February 14, 1997, with an opponent by
the name of Angela Villian. The fight occurred in Indio, California, and
it was a quick KO in the first round for Mia.
04/19/97, she then fought Dawn
Graham (116 lbs), in Phoenix, Arizona, she KO'd Graham in the first round;
05/08/97 Dawn Wimer, Bantamweight division, took place in Nashville, Tennessee, KO in the first round;
06/21/97, opponent Contina Federink, bantamweight division, took place in Tampa, Florida, she won TKO, 3rd round;
9/28/97, opponent Dolores Lira, bantamweight division, took place in Irvine, California, she won by a unanimous decision;
5/30/98 Kris Vado, bantamweight, Los Angeles, California, she won bringing her record to 6-0
9/18/98, opponent, Brenda Felter, Thomas and Mack Center, Las Vegas, Felter is from New Mexico, who replaced Amanda Skelton on this card is now a 0-3 fighter. Fought Mia twice in four weeks. Mia won by a split decision, bringing Mia’s record to 8-0 with 5 Kos.
12/12/98, opponent, Brandy Mae Vaughan (123), Mia weighed in at (126) Featherweight division, held in Indio, California, Win for Mia, KO 2nd round.
2/13/99, opponent, Amanda Skelton (124) Mia weighed in at (127), featherweight division, Thomas and Mack Center, Las Vegas, Nevada, Mia won by a UD, score cards 40-36
5/8/99, mystery why this fighter used three names- Kris Vado/ Christie Carter, Kris Sepulvada. Nevada Boxing Commission said her true name was Sepulvada. Event took place at the Hilton Hotel, in Las Vegas, Nevada. Mia won by a TKO, 2nd round, bringing her record to 11-0.
6/26/99, opponent, Mary Ann Haik (133), Mia's weight was (132), event took place at Mandalay Bay Event Center, Las Vegas, Mia won by a UD, and brought her record to 12-0.
9/18/99, opponent, Kelley Downey (126), Mia weighed in at (125), event took place at the Mandalay Bay Event Center, Las Vegas, Mia won by a TKO in the 4th round, that brought her record to 13-0. This was definitely the best show of skills that Mia displayed in boxing, and the fight was very exciting.
12/11/99
Mia defeated Sharon Sirls with a first round KO December 11th with the event
that was put on by a promoter in China
January 22, 2000, Televised on Univision, at the Del Mar Racetrack in San Diego, California. Mia moved her record to 15-0 when she wins by a unanimous decision against Kelly Whaley.
February
26, 2000 Madison Square Garden, New York. Mia St. John vs. Kristin Allen.
Four-round featherweight bout. St. John won by a majority decision.
On May 19, 2000, at the Playboy Mansion, in Beverly Hills, California, Mia St. John fought newcomer Francesco Alcanter, who is now (2-3) of Kansas City and defeated her 40-36 by all three judges with a unanimous decision.
June 17, 2000 – California Mia defeated Linda Robinson UD 4-round decision.