Heather Corrigan won the WEBA Open title with a 12th-round kayo of Valerie Henning on May 2, 1997 and has since defended it successfully eleven straight times, the last being a 3rd-round kayo of long-term rival Henning on January 17, 1998.

Corrigan's WEBA record is now 19-4-1 with an amazing 15 wins by knockout. She has more wins and more kayoes than any other WEBA fighter.  Her only loss in her last dozen fights came to the very boxer she faces again in Sydney ... Bolivia's Balio Frez.

Frez's WEBA record ... 12-9-0 with 2 kayoes ... is deceptive as it has come in streaks.  In her last six fights, she is 6-0 with 2 kayoes.  Balio got off to a rocky start in the WEBA, going 0-2 against Dena DelaCruz and Faye Anders. Then she pulled herself together and won four in a row, but not against the WEBA's most difficult competition. The winning streak that first pushed Balio high in the standings came against fighters who have all struggled: Lisa Boyle (now in the B League after going 1-9 in the A), Terri Koval (now 8-13), Logan Thomas (now 3-7-1), and Angela Baker (now 3-12-3).

Frez's true ranking became a question mark as she went on to lose four in a row to more dangerous opponents: Devon Ling, Tammy Quinton, Rose Mora, and Tracy Saunders. With her record at 4-6, and with four straight losses, Balio entered the WEBA's "boxer retraining program".  

She emerged from retraining to score a 10-round unanimous decision over Diane McFee, but then suffered back-to-back defeats ... a hard fought and close decision to Valerie Henning in Mexico City, then a disastrous kayo in a brawl with Silke Leong in Calgary. A rematch with Terri Koval was a confidence builder as Frez took a 10-round unanimous decision. But in Honolulu, facing a brash newcomer in Krissy Roberts, Balio got into another brawl and was kayoed in the 6th round.

It would have been easy to count Frez out at this point, with a 6-9 record and kayoed by a newcomer in only her second fight. But Balio Frez is made of tough stuff. As she picked herself up off the canvas in Honolulu, her next hot streak was about to begin!

It started in the WEBA welterweight tournament. No eyebrows were raised when Frez defeated the winless Kat Franken by an 8-round unanimous decision.  Perhaps a few were raised when she bested Rose Mora by a 10-round unanimous decision. But then Frez shocked the WEBA world with a 12-round unanimous decision over Corrigan on December 13 in Tulsa, Oklahoma.  Frez frustrated the highly favored Corrigan with her boxing skills in the opening rounds, then held off the WEBA Open Champion's comeback in the late rounds. The WEBA Poll later declared this to be the biggest upset of the year.  

Balio went on to take the WEBA welterweight title by split decision in a 15-round donnybrook with Sonia Koloff on December 29, after a brutal fight in which Balio's nose was broken by the Russian slugger.  The number one question in the WEBA was now: "is Frez for real?"

Frez went into training again, and came back looking for rematches with fighters she had lost to previously.  She showed that she has found a kayo punch by putting Tammy Quinton down for the count in the 10th in San Antonio and stopping Silke Leong in the 12th in Chicago. The second Leong fight was Frez's first defence of the welterweight title. Her improvement was obvious, as she dominated a fighter who had kayoed her in their previous battle.  

There are perhaps two clouds over Frez's welterweight title now, labeled "Heather Corrigan" and "Krissy Roberts". Roberts battered and taunted Frez before knocking her out in Honolulu ... but since has been kayoed herself by Corrigan, and by Erin O'Rourke.  The rematch with Corrigan looms as the main unfinished business of the welterweight division.

Frez is similarly the one cloud over Corrigan's world title!  She is the only fighter to defeat Corrigan since last May, and the only one against whom Corrigan has a losing record.  

So we now approach a true showdown between these two ... the first all-or-nothing title bout in the WEBA.

Each fighter arrives in Sydney with one WEBA belt. Barring a draw (in which case each would keep her title), one will leave Australia with all the hardware, and the other will go home empty-handed! If Frez wins, she also takes the winner's purse plus a $10,000 bonus for the world title and a $3,000 bonus for defending her welterweight title. If Corrigan wins, she takes the winner's purse plus $5,000 for defending her world title and $5,000 for winning the welterweight title.

Does Frez have the skills to box her way to another win over the hard-hitting Open champion? Or will the hard-charging Corrigan be the one to bring the high-flying Frez back down to Earth?

Corrigan is on record as saying that she hardly ever gets a clean shot at Frez, who is skilled at slipping punches but stands up well to the hard ones that do land. Frez has shown she can hang tough, and lately, go for the kayo too. Corrigan has always been tough, but has been vulnerable to good boxers. Three of Heather's four WEBA losses have come to accomplished boxers (including her previous match with Frez).  

Will the Australian fans see Corrigan score her 20th win and take home all the WEBA marbles?  Or could Balio's newly-found kayo power keep this fight off the scorecards and leave Heather without a title belt for the first time since last May?

In previewing other WEBA title fights, we've looked at opponents the two fighters recently had in common.  One unusual aspect of this fight is that there really aren't any ... Frez suffered the disastrous loss to Krissy Roberts, who also gave Corrigan fits before Heather kayoed her in the 5th.  But apart from Krissy, the paths of these two fighters haven't crossed much recently ... except in Tulsa, where Frez upset Corrigan big-time.

The WEBA Poll is where you can call in your prediction for the fight. Remember that these predictions in no way influence the outcome of the fights!  They are just an opinion poll whose results will be announced on fight night.

Interview with Team Frez

Devon Ling makes her way quickly out of Sydney's colorful and famous Chinatown ... her tummy full and her mind aswim after that number six saki ... looking a million dollars in silk as she and her companion wander through the delights of Darling Harbour, ready to cross the footbridge to the newly appointed Sydney Casino.

The Casino is where the Women Warriors of the WEBA will soon descend on an unsuspecting Australia to bring a unique and firebrand type of boxing skill to a willing audience.

Devon is escorted this evening by Sydney Bas, manager-trainer of the challenger Balio Frez, his boxer and friend, who will put it all on the line facing a rampant and extremely potent long standing World Champion in "Hellcat" Heather Corrigan.

Devon (tottering a little): Are we nearly there yet, Syd?

Bas: Very nearly, Miss Ling. The walk on this warm summer evening, in the fresh air, will do us both good.

Devon: I loved those massive honey king prawns tonight and the Tasmanian lobster entree, hic, ... and the saki.

Bas: Yeah, me too.

Devon (somewhat encouragingly): You are a quiet one, Syd.

Bas: Yes, Miss Ling.

Devon: Are we nearly there?

Bas: You have already asked that Miss Ling. See those lights beyond the ferry, the multi level towers? That's Star City, home of the new Sydney Casino.

Devon: Is it any good?

Bas: It's a casino, Miss Ling!

Devon: Huh???

Bas: When we get there I'll book you in properly and will see you again very soon at the fights, I hope.

Devon: Well, after a little nightcap first, and once again please call me Devon.

Bas: Devon, as lovely as you look here in the moonlight, and you do look very lovely believe me, you are many thousands of miles from home. You are light on your feet (thinks, "... and head") and really a good night's sleep now will do you the world of good. The big day's coming up, remember. And there's plenty to drink later.

Devon (a little woozy now): Well what about dear Balio, can shhhe possibly do it in this fight, can she take that Title from Heather? In fact, can it ever be done?

Bas: Anything can be done under the right circumstances and conditions Devon, but who can tell if those conditions will be met here in Australia. Perhaps a southern hemisphere fight will be to our advantage. Fights can always be pre-planned well in advance, as we will try to do for Balio, and we realise we do hold a provocative points win over Heather in the 12-rounder a month or so ago, but quite often plans can go right out the window once the thumping begins. Have a look at the very talented Val Henning's recent Title Fight with the World Champ and you'll understand what I mean.

Devon (limply now): Yeeessshhh?

Bas: The point being is that we are still under-prepared for where we are positioned at present but opportunities can come fast. After the 3-in-a-row Welterweight Tournament we found ourselves thrust into the limelight and a bit too early for my liking, as Balio's trainer. But as her manager we will take our chances in the ring now, as arranged.

Devon: You ssshhhound very conservative Syd, but as you shhay you have a points victory already on the board in Tulshha.

Bas: We went into that fight a big, big underdog, Devon. And that can sometimes play to your advantage. We feel Heather may have taken Balio a bit too lightly in the opening rounds in that fight and then got quickly behind on points. How Heather began against Val recently though shows us that the early fire has returned. This will be physically a very dangerous fight for Balio, make no mistakes about that. But we have done what we can in the timeframe provided. Balio will acquit herself superbly, have no fear there, but our boxer is still cutting up far too much on the face which we will need to address when we get further breaks from the ring.

Devon: So shhheee could do it then, Shhyd?

Bas: Well, obviously she "could" Devon, why not? Balio can box and duck and weave and punch but mainly she can "box", so she will give Heather a good test, and stand front on with her opponent, as always.

Devon: Can we go up and see Balio, pleeaasshh?

Bas: Devon, I think the best place for you now is in bed, asleep (then, spotting a wistful twinkle in Devon's eye) ... and as your part-time minder for this planned interview tonight I have prudently pre-arranged for our Casino Reception Manageress to escort you to your very peaceful room. You did have plenty of tape in your recorder tonight, didn't you?

Devon (almost collapsing now): Tape shree-corder???

Bas: Oh my ....

Thanks to Balio's manager for this interview - WebWeaver

Devon Ling Interviews The Stars

Devon Ling fronts up to a famous Aussie local tradition, the "Morning With the Stars" chicken and champagne breakfast at the Sydney Harbour Casino ... and is immediately confronted by a cascade of past and current Australian fighters only too pleased to remind Devon that Australia indeed has a huge and well founded boxing heritage.

Devon sees plastered on the walls images of America's own Jack Johnson's World Heavyweight Title Challenge here in Sydney, Australia in 1908 when challenging against Canada's then World Champion Tommy Burns (Burns 175lbs, Johnson 200lbs). The result was never in doubt to Johnson and was stopped in the 14th by the Ref. Devon also notices the plaque commemorating the ill-fated Australian champion Les Darcy who died in America, of a broken heart they say, after being ostracised by Australia's local press when as a teenager he took his unique boxing skills to America during a conscription period for the First World War. Australian legend suggests, Devon reads, that he was "hounded to death" for not going to the Great War and choosing to box.

Devon is introduced first to ever smiling ex world champ Lionel Rose who claimed his World Title in the 60's from Japan's amazing Hall Of Famer, Fighting Harada. This fight was listened to by millions of Ausralians live, she hears, on their mantle radios well before fights were televised directly into this country from around the globe. Also with Lionel is the wheelchair bound (after a debilitating freak accident with a moving vehicle), the elusive and incredibly agile defensive boxer, the ex-world champion Johnny Famechon, signing his recent book for an admiring crowd. Devon also meets fight-promoter "Break-Even" Bill Mordey who launched the inimitable Jeff Fenech's incredible rise as a three division World Champion before Jeff's hugely emotional "lost" win against the ageless Azumah Nelson. Bill tells Devon that Australian fight fans were openly weeping at the devastating travesty of justice on that day in Vegas. Devon finally meets Jeff himself who has proved a bigger man in his defeats than in many of his awesome victories.

Devon (to Jeff Fenech): Why did they call your original promoter '"Break-Even Bill, Jeff"?

Jeff: After every fight, when we asked Bill how much money he made, he would always say "well, we might be able do it again, as I broke even on the night". (Sure, Bill).

Devon spies a local crowd favourite and a current title contender Kostya Tszyu with his lovely wife and child mingling with the crowd and always with an effervescent and winning smile.

To the back of the room Devon is directed to the blond haired Barry "Boy" Michaels, an ex champ himself, who finally hung up the gloves after losing in an incredible slaughter-fest at the hands of Ireland's truly sensational Barry McGuigan.

Also at the back of the hall is ex-light heavyweight world champion, acknowledged as having one of the toughest chins in the business, Jeff Harding doing a quick spar with both Balio and Heather to the crowd's delight. What Australian fight fan could ever forget Jeff's incredible title bout with the resilient Dennis Andries in the States.

Sitting subdued in a corner chatting with locals is the powerhouse African, John "The Beast" Mugabi still fighting, now out of South-East Queensland Australia, and remembered best for his amazing stand-up front on slug-out with the "Marvellous One", Marvin Hagler for Marvin's middleweight crown.

And finally, looking an absolute man-mountain and with a brilliant head of hair still, the ageless "Aussie" Joe Bugner, once the darling of the UK set as a young lad, who made himself a timeless legend forever by going the full distance with the immortal Muhammad Ali.

Devon is so overwhelmed (or was it the saki again?) as she finally comprehends that there is here in Australia the richest of boxing history available.

These legends of boxing all file past her now, one by one, to take a gander themselves at the ex-world WEBA champ, the erudite Devon Ling, here to seek expert opinions finally on the upcoming Title Bout between the extraordinarily dangerous "Hellcat" Heather Corrigan and Bolivia's rising young star, Balio "Fitzi" Frez.

Devon (in her element): And now, gentlemen, your opinions, please!

Johnny Famechon: I think the boxer, Balio Frez, can go the distance again tonight and take the long held Title away from the amazing Heather Corrigan.

Lionel Rose: No way, Johnny, Heather's a gun and she'll find Fitzi's weaknesses about Round 4 and close the shop early for the night.

Jeff Fenech: Balio's got a great chin, Devon, but not for fifteen. Heather by intimidation first, and then by KO. (Waving to the crowd) I love youse all!

Barry Michaels: You just gotta think Corrigan for sure, but I've got a soft spot for Balio, her boxing ability that is. ("For her boxing ability, .... yeah sure, Barry" a loudmouthed ocker yells from deep in the crowd).

Bill Mordey: I'd like to handle any further matchup between these two ladies, if I may.

Kostya Tszyu: Miss Frez can do well here tonight if she sticks to her typical game plan.

John Mugabi: Balio will stand with Heather, much to her manager's regret, like I did. Close, but Corrigan, too strong over fifteen.

Jeff Harding: I like a gal with a strong chin. Balio, for me!

Joe Bugner: Corrigan easily (and, smiling warmly) plus I'd like to fight the winner for a million dollar purse.

Devon (in raptures): Thank you gentlemen of Australia. Now, who'll buy me that first drink?

Thanks to Balio's manager for these interview - WebWeaver

Interview with Team Corrigan

"Mike, did you have any idea when you took this picture in your back yard that your daughter would be a world champion boxer five years later?"  

The question is from Australia's own world champion kickboxer, Amanda "The Cannon" Buchanan, who's sitting in a hotel lounge with Heather's ex-boxer father, Mike.  The Corrigans are encamped in The Observatory, an elegant hotel full of antiques, paintings and tapestries in downtown Sydney, not far from the site of the Hellcat's coming two-title showdown with Balio Frez.  

Amanda has been sent to interview the Corrigans, as Devon Ling is mysteriously missing. Mike Corrigan also worried that Heather might start a fight with Devon if Ling interviewed her before the big bout, as Devon had been needling the Hellcat in all their recent meetings.  

Mike has been showing Amanda some pictures from the Corrigan family album as a change from the usual press shots of Heather in the ring.

Mike: Well, Heather was always a tomboy. I thought she'd be good at any sport she put her mind to, 'cos she's so competitive. But of course she's gone much further as a boxer than I ever dreamed she would. She's setting records every time she steps into the ring, which was more than I ever did. I was just a journeyman, but she's a real champion.

Amanda: You were the one who got her started, though?

Mike: Yes, I gave her the first pair of gloves ...  and her first lessons. I taught all my boys to box. I didn't know what to think when Heather wanted to try! I thought she just didn't want to be left out of something I was doing with the boys. But she's such a competitor! She wanted to learn how to really fight, not just fool around. Her Mum wasn't too happy about it. But I figured it doesn't hurt a pretty girl to know how to defend herself. I knew she was gonna break a few boys' hearts and it wouldn't hurt if she could break a few boys' noses too. Then she picked it up real fast and enjoyed it so much. It sort of got away from us. She held her own against her brothers until they just got too big and strong for her. But even then she wouldn't quit if she sparred with them. I could see she really meant it. She was tough inside and she also listened to what I was telling her, more than the boys did sometimes. So when she wanted to register as an amateur boxer I said "fine, you be serious about it and I'll be right behind you." She soon found that other girls didn't hit her anywhere near as hard as my boys had done.  So she tended to just go right at them and knock them silly to win her fights.  But I had to smile as that's the way I used to fight.  It was strange seeing so much of myself in her, but I got used to it.  

Amanda: I hear she was quite a handful as a teenager!

Mike: Handful? No, not really. Fearless, a bit hot headed, but not stupid. She never had any run-ins with the law or did any drugs or stuff like that. She was a good kid, serious about sports and being fit and doing her best. She kept her aggressive side in her sports, basketball and volleyball, then the boxing. But she's mostly kept it where it should be, in competition.  We called her our little Hellcat 'cos she was always so tenacious. And she liked it 'cos it's her initials too, H.C., you see.  Like calling you the Cannon, it fits.

Amanda (smiles): You've gone to all her fights, do you get worried about her at all?

Mike: I get upset when she gets hurt, she's still my little girl in there.  But she's usually doing a number on the other girl right back. So I'm more often just yelling my lungs out, not really worrying about her. Her Mum worries herself sick and can't bear to watch, but she's the first to want to know how she did! The first Henning fight was a shocker, when Heather was so badly cut after being way ahead. It was a fight she should never have lost, she had Valerie about to go down, and a better trained fighter would never have taken desperate shots like that from Henning. That's when we first started to think about finding a coach who'd work on her defense more. Now I only get worried when she's fighting women like McFee, who could do some serious damage with their illegal tactics. Geez, the way that woman was working on Tina's eye in their last fight, she should be banned! So I'd worry if Heather fought someone like her again, about her getting a bad injury from something way outside the rules. And I'll admit, I was worried when Heather took so much punishment in the early rounds against Tanya Popova in Moscow. I felt that she was out of control and losing that fight badly. I wanted Lily to throw in the towel. But Heather proved me wrong. She's got guts and I was proud of how she battled back and finally won that fight! But we had the docs check her over extra carefully after it. So I'm happy to see Lily turning her into more of a skill type boxer these days. Heather's tough, she's got some good Irish genes in her, but it's better to see her winning fights with her skills than just on her strength and her heart.

(Amanda turns to Heather's trainer, Lily Rodriguez.)

Amanda: Lily, what's the strategy for this fight with Balio Frez?

Lily: We need a big start from Heather. She's had trouble getting warmed up and finding her stride in some of her fights.  We need to understand that and work on it more with her. But there's more to it than that with Frez. In many ways Heather's first fight with Frez was like the Johnson fight. Balio was just never there when Heather went after her, and she wore Heather down just chasing after her. Punches that you miss with can tire you out almost as much as ones your opponent lands. Balio's going try to do that again, and Heather has to catch her with some good shots early on. She needs to anticipate how Balio's going to be moving and connect hard early in the fight. If she can just do that, I am confident she will win. Balio may have the ability to outbox Heather, but not to go toe to toe with her. The thing with some technical boxers is, if you go right at them and overwhelm them they get flustered and start trying to brawl. You make them fight your fight, and then you beat them. That's how Heather handled Valerie last time out. One thing that makes Frez tricky is that she usually keeps her cool. Not always. She lost it against Leong the first time, and against Roberts. And she got clobbered by both of them.  Balio's got a good chin but she's not made of iron, and Heather can put her away.  But Balio always has a good fight plan, she executes it well, and most of the time she sticks to it. Whoever sets the style of this fight will win it.  If it's 15 rounds of boxing, Balio may have the edge.  But if we can make Balio stand there and fight toe to toe, it's going to be Heather's fight.  

Amanda: So this time you don't want Heather to box, you want to see her brawling?

Lily:  I don't like to say "brawl", it's the opposite of what I teach.  But Heather does need to keep the pressure on from the very start, to get Balio flustered and out of her rhythm.   She can't expect to go in there and just outbox Balio, 'cos this girl may be a better technician than Heather is right now.  No, we want a fight like the last one with Henning, where Heather shook Val up enough early on to open the holes in Val's defense while Heather still had plenty of power in her punches.  In that fight it was a case of her nailing Val coming in, and it worked like a charm. But Balio's defense is like a dam.  While everything's together, she can hold off a big puncher like Heather. Heather has to make that first crack, then go through it like a flood.  If she can do that, the fight could be over quickly.  If she can't, and it goes long, then it could be close ... still one that Heather can win, though. She's been in plenty of long fights now and we know she has the endurance for that.  In fact, we need to see how Balio stands up over the full 15. 

(Amanda gets a call on her cellphone.)

Amanda: Oh oh, I gotta go.  Seems Devon has got herself into some kind of trouble with some Aussie boxers in a bar and the Prez wants me to deke on over to the Casino to give him a hand.

Your turn: the WEBA Poll

Here's your chance to predict how Frez vs. Corrigan II will play out ... remember that these polls are just for fun, and have no influence on the actual outcome of our WEBA fights.  The results will be announced by email on fight night as part of the "pay-per-view"!

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