Interview with Lisa Houghton-Smith (January 2000)

Lisa Houghton is the current ISKA World Champion and also the WAKO 50Kg Muay Thai Champion. She will be fighting European Champion, Stefania Bianchini, in Milan Italy December 10th.Lisa is trained by her husband, Richard Smith, of Bad Company Gym, (www.badcompany.co.uk Leeds, England. Read this interesting interview reprinted here with the very kind permission of www.muaythaionline.net.

  Find out some of her views on the sport and women within it....

So how long have you been training now?
About 7 and a half years now.

You box as well as don't you? Which do you prefer?
I prefer thaiboxing. I do enjoy boxing but I haven't boxed for nearly a year now.

At the recent BBC awards, how surprised were you when you won an award in a different category from that which you were nominated in?
I was confused, I'd just got up to be interviewed when I heard my name announced. I was very surprised.

What did the other boxers think/know of thaiboxing?
Johnny Nelson though that Thai was harder because many of them have a fear of clashing shins!! A few had tried it or kickboxing, Nigel Benn for example. They all showed a polite interest though they didn't really know much about the fight scene. Boxers seem to believe that "anything else is a hybrid of their purity" (by the way I do still want to box guys!).

What'd you think of the fact that most of your successes have been at thaiboxing but you won an award in a boxing category?
I don't think there was any great significance. It's not a mainstream sport yet and many people link kickboxing with boxing.

How long do you spend training?
1-3 hours a day, 6 days a week.

What'd you do for a living? How do you integrate this with your training regime?

I work as a PE teacher in Bradford. Basically you have to live just to work, train and rest. I don't have a social life in the week.

What about teaching as well?
I don't teach regular muaythai classes. I spend too much time teaching in the day so that when i get to the gym I don't feel like doing anymore. Maybe I'll teach when my fight career is over, I do have a woman's boxing class once a week though.

When was your first fight?
I was against a girl from Sale, I'd been training about six months consistently when I had that fight. She beat me, and she's the only person that's beaten me that I haven't fought a return fight against and won (because she doesn't fight anymore).

What would you say was your hardest fight?
It was a kickboxing fight against Kim Messer. The reason was that it was only my 6th fight and about her 30th. Her original opponent pulled out and I saw it as a good opportunity even though she was half a stone heavier. that's not an excuse because at the end of the day I took the fight, but it was a step up in class. I don't believe in moaning, she hurt my leg and she won. But when I fought her again in a boxing match after more experience I beat her.

Who out there would you like to fight?
I'd like to fight Kim Messer under Muay Thai rules but she doesn't fight under them. I'd like to fight Bianchi again as I was robbed. To be honest I'd like to fight all the fighters that are rated.

Which of your many successes do you value the most highly?
My fight against the Thai at Rangsit stadium in Bangkok because it was a points decision abroad. though in Thailand they are normally very fairly judged.

How do you feel about your upcoming fight in Holland?
Confident. I've heard bits about her but nothing worrying. She hasn't seen me fight at my best. She was at my world title fight with Lolita Candel but that wasn't me at my best.

Do you see a greater percentage of women competeing in the future?
I think generally sports are becoming generally less gender-specific, but it is happening slowly. Sexist attitudes are still there, but it is changing. I can see in the kids that the next generation are more open minded. I don't think it will happen in my fight career but maybe in the next generation.

What other upcoming female British fighters out there are the one's to watch?
Shelly Nesbitt, from Master A's. Pele Nathan's girls are always good. Also Hayley Moss from Dave Jackson's gym.

What's your favourite technique?
Knees in the neck wrestle, I must be the only one who says that!

Oh I forgot to say that I'm getting married, that's another big target of mine to fulfill!
I'd like to say for people who are starting; Don't ever think I can't go all the way to the top. You set small targets, I only ever intended to have three fights. The I thought I'd just try and get an Area title, then a British etc....

Again, many thanks to Muaythionline  for this interview. Please visit this excellent web site.

                                                  Houghton -Smith Profile Page

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