December 2007

Lightweight Crystal "Choo Choo" Delgado

When you consider what probably occupies the minds of most 17-year-old girls, things like boys, prom dates, clothes and gossip come most easily to mind. Not say say that Crystal Delgado may not spend her share of time thinking about those things, but she clearly has some other things to occupy her mind as well. Unlike most 17-year-old girls, Crystal "Choo Choo" Delgado of Houston is a professional boxer, with a record of 2-0. Her father Phil owns the 225 Boxing Club in Pasadena. We spoke with her prior to her unanimous decision over Maria Rodriguez in Houston on November 29th.


HBS - Tell us about your first pro fight.

CD - My first pro fight I fought a beast. (Delgado won a majority decision over Elizabeth Tavarez in Fort Worth on 8-17-07.) She was a pretty big woman, buff and had glands. I was a little intimidated because she had muscle and I was kind of chubby but muscle doesn't do everything because I ended up beating her.

HBS - A four-round fight?

CD - Yes a four-round fight, I cut her eyebrow, accidental headbutt, but I kept on hitting it and I ended up winning the fight.

HBS - You've had a pretty long amateur career. Tell us a little bit about that.

CD - In the beginning of my amateur career I won my first fight and then I started going on a losing streak but I dind't let that get me down. I have my faith in God and he got me through. I had about 43 amateur fights. I've been to nationals. I've been ranked number one, ranked number two, and I've just been stuck up there and I've been fighting the best girls and never fought a loser.

HBS - How old were you when you first got into the gym and started boxing?

CD - I started at 11 years old. My younger sister started boxing before me, and she was getting all the attention so I got into it and found out it's something I really love.

HBS - How do you handle getting hit in the nose and maybe hurt a little bit, and for other girls out there getting into the sport, then how and why do you keep going after that?

CD - I encourage girls to fight. I keep going. A lot of coaches put down girls because of course they don't believe girls should be boxing. They believe it's a male sport and that just drives me more to prove them wrong, that girls can do anything that guys can do. To not get hit in the face and get punched, learn how to block. Learn how to fight like a guy (laughs).

HBS - What is it that you enjoy about the sport?

CD - The adrenaline rush and the feeling of landing a punch and knowing that it affected the girl.

HBS - What do you know about Maria Rodriguez?

CD - Nothing, really. I don't really care if I know nothing about her or I know a lot about her. I"m just going to go out there and fight like it's a title fight every time.

HBS - How long do you plan on continuing this?

CD - A couple of years. It's going to help me pay for college so for awhile (laughs), until I'm in my twenties, 25, then start my other career.

HBS - What do you want to study?

CD - Web design and interactive media.

HBS - Now I see you're reading the bible here, which some people might see as a little bit contradictory before a fight, but then again maybe not. So you're a pretty religious person then?

CD - Yes, the Bible is my boxing manual. God helps me get through everything. I put all my faith in Him. He gives me my strength. If He wants me to win, He'll let me win. If He doesn't feel like I should win, then so be it. I will not doubt the Lord. All my faith and confidence is through Him, and I believe He's going to help me in this fight.

HBS - I see you're reading the Book of Jeremiah. What are you learning from this?

CD - I'm not sure, I just open the Bible and I read. If I understand it I understand it. Everything in the Bible helps me with my fights.

HBS - How would you describe your style?

CD - I'm a pressure fighter. If I get hurt I don't care. I keep going and I have never quit. Never quit.

HBS - You still get butterflies after all these years?

CD - Not really. Nervousness and scared is not the way of the Lord. The Lord will never make you feel scared so I'm not nervous, not nervous at all.