US skating villain knocked out

US skating villain knocked out

Harding (l) could not keep off Browning's blows

The disgraced former figure skating champion, Tonya Harding, has lost her first ever bout in the professional boxing ring.

Harding, 32, made her professional debut against another novice, Samantha Browning, as a show-opener for the equally controversial Mike Tyson bout in Memphis on Saturday.

"This was much, much harder than I ever figured. But it only makes me want to work that much harder," Harding said.

Harding was twice US national figure skating champion, but fell from grace after being involved in an attack on her Olympic Games rival Nancy Kerrigan in 1994.

She was subsequently banned for life from the sport and has tried several other careers but now says she is ready to give her all in the ring.

Thee was a marked social divide between Kerrigan (l) and Harding

Ahead of Saturday's match, Harding said the boxing world would offer a fairer chance than she had as a girl skater from the poor side of town.

"One thing I like about boxing is that I will not have to deal with the same kind of politics I had in skating," she said.

"It's not about your appearance, how your costume looks, what colour it is or how much it costs.

"It's about what you do in the ring and I really like that part of it."

"I'm trying to turn my image around and be a lady. But you can be a lady and an athlete too," she said.

Harding defeated Paula Jones - the woman who accused President Bill Clinton of sexual harassment - in a made-for-television fight.

Power v grace

News reports of her rivalry with Kerrigan before the 1994 Lillehammer Olympics often focused on the social differences between the two: Harding was a petite, blonde, divorced and very powerful jumper whereas Kerrigan was portrayed as a lithe and graceful artist who skated in a white-lace outfit.

A HARDING LIFE

Twice US national skating champion

1991 runner-up in world championships

Admitted impeding inquiry into attack on Olympic rival Kerrigan which was planned by ex-husband

Banned for life from US Figure Skating Association

Later tried acting, singing and adult films

Won bout against Clinton accuser Paula Jones

Kerrigan was clubbed on the knee three months before the Olympics in a plot masterminded, at least in part, by Harding's ex-husband Jeff Gillooly.

Harding denied ordering or knowing of the attack beforehand, but later admitted obstructing the investigation.

Kerrigan recovered and was narrowly beaten to the Olympic gold by the world champion Oksana Baiul.

Browning said her opponent's past was not relevant.

"It ain't like she killed somebody in my family or nothing," she said.

"It's not like that. It's a sport. Better person wins."