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INTERVIEW with Marlowe McCray by Tom DeNapoli for Womenkickboxing.com August 2002 INTRODUCTION Marlowe McCray is a
very focused young fighter that I expect will be a champion some day.
She is married to and managed by martial
arts sensation Melchor Menor. TD1: Tell me about about your first fight in the ring? MM1:
My first fight experience was definitely a learning experience.
Melchor Menor, who was not my trainer at the time, was looking for a
woman kickboxer to add to his team for an upcoming event in TD1(a) When you watch that first fight on video, what are you most proud of and what makes you cringe…and who was that FIRST opponent? MM1(a) I don’t really enjoy watching my fight videos. I have a different reaction every time I watch them. If I watch my video right after the fight I am very critical. After a few months pass I can either see humor in errors I made or focus on the positives of the fight. My first fight was against Vanessa Hale from Master Toddy’s, that video belongs on Funniest Home Videos!! ______________________________________________ TD2: What is your typical training routine…what do you like to do or dislike and whom do you usually spar with? MM2: Training is a huge release for me. Sounds crazy but that’s what I do to relax. If I haven’t trained for a few days, I don’t even like being around me. My training week consists of 2 days with my boxing trainer, Glenn Salud, and 3 days with my Coach, Melchor Menor. I usually start out with Jumping rope and shadow boxing for a few rounds then pad work (6-8 rds). Three times a week, after pad work, I spar for 3-5 rounds with my trainers. Unfortunately there are few women for me to spar with in this area so I usually spar with my trainers. I do 3 rounds of bag work after that, then my sit-ups and light weights. I run every morning about 3-5 miles and pick it up when I am training for a fight. The intensity changes when I am training for a fight but even on my off time that is my routine. I have had offers for fights two days before an event so I like to stay prepared. _________________________________________________ TD3: Your coach Melchor Menor is one of the truly dynamic fighters of all time. I noticed a “Melchor” styled leg attack that had devastating results on your opponents. Is he teaching you some of his best techniques? MM3: Melchor Menor style, presence and technique in the ring is something I have always strived for. In the past Melchor’s leg kicks were his signature technique, something I have struggled to match. In training and sparring I tend to use more punch combinations than punch kick combinations. It’s funny though because all my TKO’s have been from leg kicks, which always surprises Melchor too. TD3a: If I had to describe your best ring tricks, I would say, Marlowe closes the distance with her hands to set up her kicks. I thought you were pretty slick but I also thought a good counter puncher would jump right over your punches and get inside before your kick…(comment) MM3a: I am very good in finding my opponents weakness quickly. In a lot of my fights my opponents have had very little leg defense so that is what I focused on. For instance, one of my opponents turned out to be southpaw (something I learned after the bell rang), I immediately started throwing left round house kicks, something I had never thrown before. By the 2nd round my opponent could no longer stand. If my opponent were to catch on to my strategy I don’t think I would have any problem changing it immediately. ____________________________________________________ TD4: You can’t teach someone “will” but you can inspire it…where does YOUR WILL TO WIN come from? Can you talk a little bit about positive imaging? By that I mean, do you ever imagine yourself landing certain combinations or do you see yourself shaking off any blow? MM4: 4. A few days before the fight I like to imagine all the negative things that could happen in the ring. I put myself in the situation and then come up with ways to “fight” out of it. For example if I get knocked down, I imagine getting the 8 count regaining my senses and when the referee calls ‘fight”, I knock my opponent out cold. I do this to stay in reality, in my mind I am invincible before a fight but that doesn’t mean my opponent can’t get in a few good shots. Having put myself in the negative scenarios along with the positive puts me in a very clam state before a fight. TD4a:
I’m guessing that you don’t get to scout opponents but if you did
see tape of them, do look for “tells”…little habits that an
opponent may do before they do execute a certain technique or how to you
plan? MM4a: To tell you the truth I have very little say when preparing for an opponent. My trainers usually have an idea of my opponents fighting style and they might have me work a little more on a certain technique usually we focus on my fight not theirs. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ TD5 You seem pretty intense, almost no emotion during your fights. Tell me a little bit about “ring emotion” and how that affects your style? MM5: 5. I tend to be a bully in the ring, something my trainers have tried to work with. I don’t have any emotions in the ring except for an aggressive feeling, which tends to heighten when my opponent is hurt. I am truly in the zone when I am in there; my only thought really is to put my opponent down. Even when I win or put them down, I just walk to my corner with no emotion. It’s not that I’m not excited, it just takes me awhile to get out of that mode. We actually get a good laugh out of it when we watch my fight tapes. TD5a:
Do you
run into a lot of counters? I have to imagine that your training partner
sees openings and can slow you down…or do they take it easy because
you are usually sparring with more experienced men? MM5a: I know that my trainers will never “take it easy” on me in the ring. By no means do they try to hurt me either. They give me a great fight in the ring and never let up on me. I think one of the main reasons I’m still doing this is I am determined to win at least one round against MelchorJ and revenge, he is the only person that has ever knocked me out. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TD6: I know you like contact and enjoy true competition but what is your ultimate goal and what stops along the way do you know you have to achieve to reach that goal? MM6: My goal in kickboxing is to turn pro and hopefully win a world title. The road has been a rough one. This year alone I have had five no shows or cancellations. With only one or two fights a year it’s hard to keep myself going. My trainer had hoped that this would be a good year to get more experience before turning pro but it’s fallen a little short. My plan is to still turn pro next year and hopefully increase my chances of fighting. TD6a: How do you make matches at the amateur level? And do promoters invite you or do the two trainers just agree that you and whoever would make a good match? MM6a: Amateur fights are set up the same way as pro fights. The only difference is there are no contracts and no pay. Promoters call and set everything up. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ TD7: When you turn pro, you will need a NICK-NAME…every fighter needs one…the best ones are natural…for instance Sugar Ray Leonard was crowned with his name because his combinations flowed so “sweetly” and he could use either hand, up or down much like his ring predecessor Sugar Ray Robinson…your nick name is important in that fans can gravitate toward you more easily IF you have a “handle” ( nick name) that they like and that matches your fighting skill…respond to these 3 names that I felt when I watched your fights… Marlowe “Pit-Bull” McCray, Marlowe “Ice-Cold” McCray, Marlowe “Mean Machine” McCray MM7: I have never been fond of nicknames. Melchor tried to think one up for me years ago but I didn’t like any of them. I have changed my mind though; if I had to choose one I would like “Ice Cold” McCray. It makes me smile when I say itJ Pit-Bull sounds too vicious, don’t want to scare anyone away. Mean Machine sounds too mean. I’m not mean, just determined. ____________________________________________________ TD8: Describe your basic style and what kind of rules you like to fight under? MM8: I think my style of fighting changes, depending on opponent and rules. When I fight Muay Thai rules, I tend to focus on the knees and kicks a lot and don’t move around the ring as much as if I were fighting a boxer. I have competed a number of years in Martial Arts, so I can even go to the extreme of fighting Full Contact with more of a side stance if needed (not preferred though). If I had to classify myself I would say I was a forward fighter. ----- TD9: Name some fighters out they that you know would give you a great fight and that you would enjoy matching up with? MM9:
I would enjoy fighting anyone. I just want to fight. There are two girls
I am looking forward to hopefully fighting in the near future, Keri
Corothers ( TD9a:
I have heard that Keri is really improving by leaps and bounds…how to
you see yourself getting inside on a tall, aggressive, lefty like Keri
Crothers? MM9a: Of course you never know what’s going to work for you until you’re in there, but I think footwork would play a big part in the fight. _____________________________________________ TD10:
Do you foresee women kick fighting in the MM10:
Women Kickboxing seems to be very competitive overseas.
The TD11: What do you like to do when you are not training? Describe a perfect Marlowe Out Of The Gym Weekend? MM11:
My husband and I don’t have a lot of down time since one or both of us
are always training for a fight. When
we do though we love to travel. Our family is spread out, TD 12: When you are training mentally, do you ever start to say “NOBODY CAN BEAT ME”… MM12: Honestly I don’t think I would fight anymore if I thought, “no one could beat me”. I really enjoy the competition and the fight. I get no joy out of fighting someone that is not capable of giving it back. It makes the win all the better when you really had to fight for it. TD12a:
Hypothetically, a promoter matches you with somebody that you know is
NOT a good match, the promoter offers you a decent purse…do you take
it? MM12a: I do not have any say in who I fight or how much. Melchor is very strict when it comes to his fighters. ___________________________________________ TD 13: Lets pretend, you will be stuck on an desert island, you get 5 “things” to take along, what does Marlowe McCray take on that island that she knows she has to have to survive besides food and water? MM13: If I was stranded on a deserted island and could only take five things it would be my husband, my dog, my gloves, thai pads, and sun tan oil. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TD 14: Who do you like to watch fight, why do you like them and what did you learn from watching them? MM14: I don’t necessarily have a favorite fighter that I like to watch but I enjoy watching bouts with two equally experienced opponents with different strengths. For instance I really looked forward to the Rivera and Nava fight. I knew Rivera was more Thai style and Nava was a boxer and was curious to see if either one changed it up or stayed in their style to get the upper hand. TD14a:
I did NOT see Jackie and Angela. But it was billed as outside VS.
inside, kick VS. hand. How did you see that fight and what did you
learn? MM14a: I really can’t comment on this fight unless I see it again. I know that it wasn’t one of Angela’s best fights and I don’t remember Jackie ever throwing a knee or a roundhouse kick, something I would have liked to see for a Muay Thai Championship Title match. _--------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TD15: What can a promoter expect when they sign a contract to feature Marlowe Mc Cray on their fight card? MM15:
A promoter can always expect my 100% and relentless attitude in the
ring. I always show up too,
lol. I would like to say “THANKS” to Dan, www.womenkickboxing.com.
This site and everyone that participates in it has opened up a lot of
opportunities for me and other women kickboxers.
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