Española Boxer Hopes Odd Pairing Could Lead to Title

Published September 10, 2005

By Mike Hall
Associate Sports Editor

How did a nice girl from Española get mixed up with a boxing manager/promoter from New Yawk City?

Or maybe the more important question is, how is that relationship working out?

If Monday's news conference to officially announce Monica Lovato's World Boxing Council title elimination bout against Yvonne Chavez is any indication, the relationship is fine, thank you.

For the record, Lovato (4-1, 2 KOs) is the girl from Española, though at 27 she hardly could be called a girl. She's ranked No. 3 by the WBC. A win against Albuquerque's Yvonne Chavez (3-4, 2 KOs) on Sept. 17 at Espnaola Valley High School would put her in line for a title match.

And for the record again, the guy from New York city is 39-year-old Grant Elvis Phillips, owner of Grant Boxing Inc. (an equipment maker) who has been involved with five world champions - including Iran Barkley, Richie Sandoval and Paul Vaden.

Monday at Albuquerque's Hooters restaurant Phillips seemed to be giving Lovato a few tips in the art of preflight drum-beating.

After Lovato made a few remarks, Phillips said something off-microphone to his fighter. Lovato came back, terse: "(Chavez) has never been knocked out, but I'll let my hands do the talking in the ring."

Chavez was then given the chance to counter, and this much was heard before a faulty microphone went dead: "I've fought the top contenders. If they can't knock me out"

Throw down.

For certain, Chavez has fought the better opposition. She might have a losing record, but the 29-year-old's opponents have 69 fights between them while Lovato's opponenets have but 13.

Phillips is hoping that makes little difference for his fighter who has won her last two by knockout. Why else would he be spending nearly $500 out of his own pocket to fly halfway across the United States to promote a fighter from Española?

Phillips said he fell for Lovato for the same reason an ever-growing number of fans from Northern New Mexico seemingly have. He said she's a genuinely nice person and a total team player.

Lovato said her first contact with Phillips was via e-mail. She wanted some equipment - a new boxing outfit, and gloves of a color not offered by other companies.

Phillips, whose stepfather, Jimmy Montoya, is the matchmaker for Guilty boxing in Las Vegas, remembers the initial conversation well.

Lovato told him she was expecting money from a sponsor to pay for the equipment, but if Phillips desired, she would send him a personal check. Then when he received the check from the sponsor, he could reimburse her.

"I thought, 'What the hell? Nobody's like that," said Phillips, who's probably more used to the-check-is-in-the-mail buyers.

From that point, the two started talking. She told him about herself, other fighters whom she calls her "teammates" and trainer Al Lovato.

In fact, while the two were talking about a possible partnership, Phillips got "teammate" Joaquin Zamora on a Las Vegas card on May 13 - the night before the Winky Wright-Felix Trinidad showdown.

Lovato and Phillips finally met that weekend, with Phillips explaining he could get her on cards in Las Vegas, and uncercards of Laila Ali bouts. Phillips is a friend of Ali.

But, for now, Phillips said he wanted Lovato to feel like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz.

"There's no place like home," Phillips said. "She can draw three, four thousand in Española."