Glove Story

By Franz Lidz

When the youngest of Muhammad Ali's seven daughters was born, in 1977, a newspaper ran her photo under the headline, NEXT CHAMP? Some 22 years later, Laila Ali set about answering that question, making her pro boxing debut in October at an upstate New York casino, where she knocked out a plump patsy named April Fowler in 31 seconds. A month later she won her second fight by technical knockout over Shadina Pennybaker, a 28-year-old accounting student.

Like her famous father, the 5'10" Ali has quick feet, a stiff jab and a preternatural self-confidence. "I'm the one you all gonna watch," Madame Butterfly proclaimed before the October fight. "I'm the one you all gonna follow."

Never an athlete as a child, Laila went astray shortly after her parents divorced, in 1986, once spending three months in juvenile detention for shoplifting. "When people find out you're the daughter of Muhammad Ali, they try to take advantage of you," she says. "But I never backed down from a fight."

Last year Laila decided to try her hands at the sweet science after watching a Christy Martin fight on TV. "I was pushing 200 pounds," recalls Laila, who owns a nail salon in Marina del Rey, Calif. "It seemed like a good way to get into decent shape." She now tips the scales at a buff 168. "I'm a big, healthy girl," says Ali. "I may not be a complete fighter, but I'm getting there."

So far the only things polished about Ali are her nails. "They're a shade called Silver Frost," she says. And they're short. "Nails take a lot of punishment in the ring. Boxing can be murder on your manicure."

Short News

By Carmen Renee Thompson

Click here for a gym buddy

Short of rousting you out of bed at 6 a.m., the new Web site eFit.com does just about everything to help you stick to your workout routine. Plug in specifics about yourself, and eFit's experts will devise a customized nutritional and/or exercise program for you. Other cool features include a gym locator; recipes; gear and apparel reviews; and video demos of exercises. You can even team up with other eFit members to form your own mutual-inspiration society.

Are female athletes making the grade?

The graduation rate of Division I female basketball players has dropped for a third straight year, reports the NCAA. Sixty-two percent of the 1992-93 freshman class earned their diplomas at the end of six years, a drop of 4% from the previous year's class (the rate is still 3% higher than that of the general female student population). The rate for black female basketball players dipped from 55% to 49% (8% higher than that of the general black female student population). NCAA president Cedric Dempsey said the situation will be closely monitored. In the meantime, a committee has made recommendations such as optional summer school for entering freshman hoops players and mandatory life-skills classes for all student basketball players.

The Snickers Rx

Chocaholics, rejoice: The sweet treat may actually be good for you. The National Institute of Public Health in the Netherlands recently reported that chocolate contains a substantial amount of catechins, substances with antioxidant properties thought to aid in fighting cancer and heart disease. Dark-chocolate fans may have an edge: The dark stuff has 53.5 milligrams of catechins per 100 grams; the milky variety, just 15.9.

A woman's work(out) is never done

New studies show that women may be better equipped to go the distance than men. Research on lab rats at the McMaster University Medical Center in Hamilton, Ont., found that the females experienced less muscle damage after exercise and recovered faster. Scientists theorize that the benefit may come from estrogen, which is believed to protect muscle fibers against tearing and minimize inflammation. Human studies have been inconsistent so far.

Surfing for sports bras

With a motto like We support every body, chances are the Web site X-chrom.com has a sports bra for you. Fill out a questionnaire indicating preferences (long torso, small rib cage), and you'll get a menu of styles. Bras are rated on the RVM (restricted vertical movement) scale, so you can tailor your choice to your activity. You can also shop by brand (from Champion to DKNY) or by category (all-day wear, added structure). Bonus: X-chrom donates 1% of its profitsto groups such as the Women's Sports Foundation and A Sporting Chance Foundation, dedicated to promoting opportunities for women and girls in sports.

 
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