Naoko Kumagai vs. Karen Martin:

The Story of A  fraudulent weigh in.

 (and a lesson for  all women fighters)

Kumagai has on more than one occasion,
taken on opponents way over her  natural weight of 115
pounds. 
In  fact, She  once agreed to a fight with 147 pound Yoko Takahashii, provided
Kumagai could wear ultra-light 6 oz gloves as a "handicap" to make up for the weight disparity.
She managed to take  a unanimous decision in this fight, even flooring her opponent once
 despite giving away 32 pounds.

But, she was not so fortunate on March 5, of 2001 at the Double Tree Hotel in Los Angeles,
California at an event sponsored by the "boxing hall of fame" and promoted by one Kenneth Thompson,
 when she fought  a rare pro boxing match against 123 kb Karen Martin.
The fight was stopped in the third round and  a tko was awarded  to Martin  in a bout marred by controversy
and fraud.

Naoko Kumagai arrived in Los  Angeles on a Monday evening , March 1, 2001
for an agreed upon professional boxing match  fight  at 115 pounds against
a "Japanese American boxer" making her pro debut, (as was Kumagai)
according to promoter  Kenneth Thompson of the Boxing "Hall of Fame" .
But, then  two days  later, things went badly awry as  she was
suddenly told to beef up to 118 pounds as her opponent had
cancelled at the last minute and she was now booked
 to face a  somewhat heavier 118 lb opponent.

Kumagai then consumed sufficient food and drink   to bloat herself to 118 lbs.

  But, then  a day later, at the weigh-in the promoter, Kenneth Thompson ,
had yet another surprise. He now wanted her to fight  yet another new
opponent: This time it was undefeated 123 lb Karen Martin.
According to Thompson, her second opponent had now also backed out two days before the fight;\..

Kumagai  initially refused the latest proposed  fight with Martin
 because  of the large weight discrepancy, but then reluctantly
 agreed when the promoter, Mr. Thompson,  told her 
she would "never fight again in the USA  again" if she refused to fight Karen Martin
 at the last minute at 123 lbs..
 
The fight was then  further marred by
controversy as Kumagai   then advised that the 118 pounds was still
not enough weight as Martin weighed 123 lbs and the commissioner
 would rule the fight a "no-contest"
 unless she gained three more pounds to 121 lbs.

 So,  when the commissioner threatened to not sanction, the fight because  of the inordinate |
 weight disparity, Kumagai  was instructed by the promoter, Kenneth Thompson to  leave the weigh-in
and return for a second  weigh-in wearing  multiple  layers of clothing, with shoes and "full pockets."
she  returned wearing  multiple layers of extra heavy clothing wearing the promoters; recommended
heavy shoes with the recommend "full pockets" . And she managed then to weighed in at 121 lbs
 three pounds below Karen Martin's  weight of 123 lbs and a full 6 pounds over her original contract and actual weight of 115 which she actually weighed when she arrived in Los Angeles three days earlier.

The result was predictable. 115 lb  Naoko Kumagai, making her pro debut,  after two amateur fights
in Japan, fought the undefeated 123 lbs Karen Martin the following evening and lost by a TKO.

The full story of  this  unfortunate episode is published here not to embarrass either of the two  fighters;
but, simply to make young and inexperienced new women kick boxers (and boxers) aware of   the shady
practices they may find themselves involved or confronted with in pro boxing.  On the same subject  be sure to also read "The seamy Side of female Boxing by Ken Rodriguez of the Miami Herald.

Caution is always in order. Always have a reputable and experienced BOXING manager to represent your interests if you should decide to switch from kickboxing, and try your hand at professional boxing.

and never let a boxing  promoter coerce you into agreeing to any fight changes that  both you and your trainer  are not totally comfortable with.  And, this is especially so when as Kumagai was, you are  in a foreign country, and don't know the language.   Because you are not likely to be treated as fairly as the local fighter even under the best of circumstances.

 And never, under any circumstances,  agree to weigh in wearing extra clothing, shoes, or garments  with pockets containing heavy items  to "make weight" artificially.  Not only is it  unethical, and possibly illegal; but, it is also very  dangerous, as you could find yourself  badly  mismatched against a much heavier and stronger opponent.

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