Interview with Laura Skinner (June 2002)

Laura is one of the world's top female fighters and current ISKA World Champion. She currently resides in Queensland. Australia and is trained by Team Ultimate. She will fight ANYONE her weight.

What made you take up muaythai?
I started Thai cause I wanted...needed to learn self defence.

So how long have you been training now?
I have been training and fighting for 8 years. It all started in 1994.

When was your first fight?
My first fight was in October 1994 Kickboxing 3x2 against Tammy Flentjar.I remember she kicked me in the legs a few times and I couldn't walk for 3 days. It was worth it just to win!!

You've fought boxing as well, which do you prefer?
I really like them both...but I hurt my shoulder when I was in Las Vegas and that was the end of my boxing career. I can't fight any longer then 5 rounds boxing.

You have quite a high KO record don't you?
When I fight I like to be aggressive, intimidating, strong, hard and fast. This must mean lots of KO's for me!!

Can you tell us about your fight with Japanese Champion Aya Mitsui who was undefeated at the time?
I was once undefeated too at 8-0, we all can lose that is how I saw it. Aya was a very strong girl who had wicked high kicks!!! I would have really liked a rematch but....never happened.

Didn't you also fight Noriki Yoshizawa?, who else from Japan have you fought?

Noriki and Aya are the only girls I have fought form Japan. I would like to fight Naoko Kumagai and Sachiyo Shibata.

How did you win your ISKA world title?
I fought Noriki Yoshizawa in Darwin Australia August 00. I was 5x2 ISKA Flyweight world title. It was a nice hard fight that went the distance. Like most Japanese she kicked very hard to the legs and body. Had some wicked bruises after that one!!

What would you say is your hardest fight to date?
The hardest fight was in Las Vegas boxing Lisa Foster. I was Losing bad my face a mess blood everywhere. Some how I got some good body shots in the 3rd and it was all over. Thank god. Lisa is now a world boxing champ!! Sharon Anyos was the hardest Thai fight...she was so big and strong. This is one of my losses.

Any other notable fights stick in memory?
My 3rd fight I was undercard to some big boxing fights. There was about 3000 people there. To this day it is still one of the biggest crowds I have fought in front of. The best was fighting at the Tokyo Dome in Japan!!

Haven't you had to give away weight to get fights recently?
I really try not to do this. My last fight was at 56kg as this was all Julie Wood could get down to. I made sure I had the best time eating anything I wanted!!! I weighed 55.8kg and didn't really like it. Julie is a strong woman at that weight and broke my nose in the 1st round.

Who out there would you like to fight?
I think mostly I would like to fight Illonka Elmont from Holland. She sounds like she has got some good moves. I would also like to fight Lisa Houghton-Smith. Anybody really at 51kg I'm not fussy.

What other Australian women should we look out for?
We have a lot of good female fighters here in Australia. Amy Birch, Holly Fernley, Julie Livet, Joanne Falzon, Shannon Beaver, Louise O'Donnell and many more.

What do you think of the Thai's superstitions with regards to women getting into the ring?
I don't understand this, as long as we can fight there I'm happy.

What are your plans for the future?
I will be fighting at the WMTC world championships in Bangkok at the end of July. I will also rematch Julie Wood at 53kg in New Zealand at the end of the year.

Is there anything you would like to say in closing?
Thanks Dan for wanting to interview me!