With the recent success of Kathy Duva and Main Events Promotion on the new NBC Sports Network, I decided to reach out to an aspiring prominent female promoter by the name of Michelle Rosado out of Phoenix, Arizona, who runs a promotional company named Faced II Face Events. A full-time engineer by day, Michelle is devoted to being a full-time promoter the rest of her time. I reached out to her to talk about her passion for the sport, her inspirations, and to learn more about her business dealings in the boxing world. This talented young lady is all business and ready to make her impact felt. Here's what she had to say.
VS: Thanks for taking the interview. For starters, how did you get started in the boxing industry as a promoter?
MR: It all started at a very young age. I used to watch boxing with my dad. Then about 2 years ago, I met a fighter who was looking to turn pro. I started managing him and learning the business. It was tough trying to get him fights, and dealing with the promoters was always quite interesting. I got to see a lot of things behind the scenes and I just knew there had to be a better way to put on boxing events, treat fighters fairly and with respect, and give the fans their money's worth.
VS: Why the switch from manager to promoter?
MR: I dealt with shows cancelling, purses changed, opponent switched, venues relocated last minute, and politics. It was frustrating. That is when I decided to produce and promote boxing events. This allowed me to help numerous fighters in Arizona stay active. I feel that we need to keep our local talent here, build them, and make Arizona the boxing state it once was.
VS: Any difficulty being a woman in a male dominant sport?
MR: Boxing has been a man-dominated business for many years. At times, it can be a bit challenging. People will judge me, make up stories, and want to see me fail just because I do things my way and I am a woman. I just stay positive, focused, and I've learned to ignore the negativity because I know who I am. I'm very passionate about what I do and I do things a little different, and that is okay. Eventually, people will catch on to the point that I just want to produce quality boxing events in Arizona.
VS: Before this interview, you told me Jackie Kallen was your mentor. Great mentor to have. Do women like Kathy Duva also serve as an inspiration to you?
MR: Absolutely. Kathy has promoted some big pay-per-view fights, and she has been in business for over 20 years. She earned her stripes in the boxing game and people take her seriously. She represents her fighters well, sticks to her guns, and most of all, she is a hustler. I respect that about her.
VS: What can the boxing world gain from the contribution of female power and women like yourself and Kathy Duva?
MR: Women today are working harder than ever and are the CEOs at top corporations. We bring work ethic like no other, and a new mindset to the boxing world.
VS: Is part of your intention to gain the attention of the female fan?
MR: It has become my goal to feature at least one, as I like to call it "Raging Babe" girl bout at my events. It is so necessary for the sport. Women boxing has finally been included in the 2012 Olympics and hopefully that will help boost the popularity and allow the fans to take female boxers more seriously.
VS: Have you struck gold yet in Arizona with your promotion?
MR: We've put on 3 events in 2011. The boxing community was craving it. We packed the house each show and re-energized boxing fans in the state of Arizona. It was amazing and the fans and fighters deserved it.
VS: Any plans on expansion in the near future?
MR: In time, maybe we'll broaden our horizons into surrounding cities and larger venues, but it has to make sense. I am all about doing good business, producing quality events, and using passion to get the job done. It is my #1 tool.
VS: Give me some insight on the Face II Face Events roster?
MR: There is a lot of great talent in Arizona. Currently, I manage Emilio Colon-Garcia, aka "Milo-Time". He is 4-0. He has an electrifying fanbase already and he has become quite the local favorite here in Arizona. I also love that he is humble and he listens. I got his back 100%. He is a rising star.
VS: What separates you from your competition?
MR: I have a small, but very solid team. Just like a fighter, I know that I cannot climb in a ring alone. My corner is loyal and they are my support system. I work and grind hard every single night. I am very persistent, organized, and pretty strict. To get the word out, we may do radio, flyers, posters, teasers, email campaigns, interviews, meet and greets, social media, print, pressers, etc. Months of planning and countless hours go into all this. It is not easy.
VS: Finally, to the fans, what is the immediate future for Face II Face Events?
MR: We have a date May 4th, Tucson, Arizona at the Diamond Center - Desert Diamond Casino. It is a great night for boxing and for the City of Tucson. I want to continue providing boxing fans and the fighters in Arizona with quality boxing events and I want to continue discovering new talent along the way.
VS: You can follow Michelle @M_RagingBabe and check out her website www.facetofaceevents.net. Thanks for your time Michelle.
MR: My pleasure. Palante!