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EPISODE: Episode 1
Join Holly Donovan on Talkin’ Fight as she interviews SusieQ Ramadan, the former boxing world champion and current trainer. SusieQ has seen it all in her many years in the sport, and in this episode, she shares her inspiring story of determination and resilience through her career. From her early days as an amateur to her professional career and now as a coach, SusieQ offers insight and advice on how to succeed in the combat sports world. Don’t miss this inspiring interview with SusieQ Ramadan!
Transcribed
Foreign fight with me, holly Donovan, and today we are joined by a very special guest.
We have five time boxing champion in three different weight categories, with a CV that is actually quite unbelievable.
We have Susie Q.
Thank you so much for joining us today.
How are you an absolute pleasure, I’m good? How are you I’m very well, thank you and thank you so much for tuning in from Australia.
I know it’s the evening right now.
Yes, it’s 8 30 uh over here, so nice and warm actually tonight, which is good.
Oh lovely, I’m very jealous London is cold.
I can’t move right over so I want to start off by saying.
Well, congratulations! For a start, so I mean looking at your CV and everything that you have done.
You have been consistently in World level fights since what 2009? How? My first question is: how how do you manage to stay at the top of your game constantly and for so long? You know I actually didn’t think about that, but I think I probably the only Australian he’s he’s been following the longest in the as a professional.
So um honestly, you know everything’s about consistency like if you want to get fired.
You want to achieve things um.
You know you saw that I think that’s, the main thing is being consistent and I’m always consistent with my training.
I love it.
You know, I love training, I love fighting.
You know I love boxing, so I think you know being passionate about it is is another reason as well so um.
You know I’ve done really.
Well, I’m not gone with no injuries, so that’s uh.
You know, I think, that’s a you know really important um.
You know if you’re gon na have a long career in Boston um.
You know you know in what boxing is like you know, it’s a it’s all about hit and don’t get hit.
So yeah done well so far, absolutely yeah a couple years out for lockdown.
So I know that you guys were locked up for like a thousand years um.
So when you were finally released back into the world um, you went straight in for a world ranked opponent and then pretty much straight after that.
You took on shanica Johnson in another world title fight, so did you not want a warm-up or like to ease yourself in or anything like that? I think for being at my level a warm-up is someone ranked in the top ten.
Otherwise I mean it’s.
It’S almost like a you know: it’s hard to get motivated if you’re, not fighting science, I’m pretty much old school, so um, you know what the high points and um yeah, I think the fight after that I probably needed more um time.
I mean that was jumping up to my divisions, but yeah um, knowing you know my opinion, she’s a lot bigger than her.
That so I mean I can’t put on weight.
The only time I can put on a kilo is, during that time a month as a female I’ll hold about.
You know a kilo of water around my waist and yeah.
Thank you that was that was.
I was lucky that that’s happened.
You know for that fight because they probably wouldn’t have sanctioned it.
So, but I’m yeah it’s you know it’s been great.
I mean I love it.
That’S that’s.
The main thing for me is the challenges yeah.
Absolutely you definitely don’t make it easy for yourself.
[ Laughter ] is, I think, my whole life just been that way.
You know I’ve had a top upbringing and you know I mean look.
I’Ve been in situations where you know it’s, you know they’re just you know.
I’Ve been held off to each other and I’ve put out on me of the car and you know alive, so you know everything’s gon na happen in my life.
I think it’s made me who I am today and it’s made me that strong person and to take those bigger challenges and have challenges so um the easier it is.
I think the more I mean it’s boring to me.
If it’s easy, sorry the harder it is done, yeah you feel better yeah.
I totally agree with that.
If it’s not hard, it’s not worth doing exactly.
That’S great that you brought up your upbringing as well, because I would like to rewind – and I want to know how you found boxing um and the fact that something that really baffles me is that uh boxing in Australia.
So it wasn’t legal for women to fight until I think it was 2000 in Queensland and then New South Wales wasn’t until 2009.
.
So how? How did you manage to find it and yeah tell me? Oh, I was lucky I was on in Melbourne, so yeah but yeah look.
It was extremely hard at the time um.
You know, especially certain states that obviously New South Wales at the band professional boxing, so I really had to make a statement.
You know I really had to work extremely hard because I had this whole view of like women who can’t fight and it’s you know it’s not good to watch, and you know they don’t have the skills and that sort of stuff.
So I had to make sure that you know um.
I was learning all the boxing skills and the way the old school is it’s almost like um.
You know they want you to get a lot of experience.
A lot of fights I mean, even if you’re um you’re a man you’re an amazing fighter, they won’t throw you in to a world title, even if you’re ready for it.
It’S just that they want you to keep getting as much experience and when you do get to that level like myself and I can be consistent at that level, um so look, it was really hard.
You know, and we just have to knock on everyone’s door, and you know, and and finally you know they allowed me to fight and um everyone loved it, the crowd loved it and I just had to keep being consistent um.
You know with my boxing skills and get better and yeah look at it, and then I think I thought I end up finding them um in um New South Sydney.
It was somewhere around there but yeah or Queensland, I’m not sure, but yeah everything changed.
So I got a flight there as well afterwards, so they they made a complete change after seeing me, I think, and also because we had so many um, we did a lot of work behind the scenes as well.
You know like the foxtel didn’t want to televise women’s boxing, so we you know my Australian title fight at the time they weren’t going to televise it, and then they had so many people just calling you to making complaints about it.
So they changed it like two days before five minutes.
So I mean look.
I remember I remember 2011 before going to Mexico and the training, America, and you know everyone and spoke to like um showtime and all that – and you know they didn’t – want anything to do with women’s boxing, so yeah um yeah.
It was very tough to keep going and um.
I did so yeah.
How did you find opponents? Because, obviously you were one of the first really, I think absolute Pioneer.
So did you find enough people to fight and to practice your skills a lot of miles? Obviously, because there wasn’t many girls around, I think there was only one or two pro girls in Australia.
So in a way I think it worked out well for me because we had to get them in internationally, so um yeah.
So that sort of pushed that you know which will cost more money so pushed women’s boxing a bit more.
I think um so yeah.
It was hard to get a point, but you know considering how hard it was, and you know the lack of females around and all that um and not having the exposure.
And you know the world titles are yeah.
It would be hard to get, but like we managed to do all that, all that so um yeah, I’m truly blessed yeah yeah.
Absolutely.
How did you find your way to the Brizzy gym like what made you walk in? I mean my life just sort of took me there.
It’S um, you know it was you know.
One day I wake up and I said, like I’ve got to really change my life change.
My ways and you know, look uh.
It just went through many challenges in life, and you know from from a hard going up.
You know it was.
It was tough as a kid and then mainly a shy girl and getting bullied and and then turning the extreme opposite and um started around the wrong people and yeah all that sort of stuff.
Then bad relationships – and you know things like that, so it was so much my health was pretty bad as well um, because because all the stuff I went through – and you know I like – I said, I’m lucky to be alive and I wanted to you know I Was driving past there and seeing a bunch of people out there and um, and I just said look: this is something that I reckon more discipline because I played soccer for many years um.
I didn’t take it serious first year um, you know, because I was falling over my feet more than kicking the ball, but I’d done extremely well in the soccer, and I think that’s where I sort of noticed that competition side of me, the community side, yeah um And that note you know where that that drive um to become better and – and you know be able to do something because physically you know I was capable of doing something.
So I wanted to do something that was a bit more challenging and boxing.
I know this thing out there and I think that’s it in the red box to be a millionaire, and how did you manage? I I read that you worked as a PT as well um.
I also read that you worked as a private investigator by the way, very, I think, that’s really cool um.
I was wondering how you managed to make these things balanced.
So how did you do you know a full-time job and box because obviously like back, then I’m guessing the money? Wasn’T there um? Well, the money was definitely there as an investigator.
So um, you know I mean look, it’s obvious.
You know, because I was sort of that’s pretty well known in Melbourne, um, before being a boxer as because of the people.
I am around me and you know all the bad people that you know you think you’re cool at that time.
You know you’re thinking um.
So I think it was all that and then I said I wanted to straighten my life and went into that field and you know I worked as a investigator many years, but you know obviously the past creeps up in your rooms, um yeah, so uh that didn’t Turn out so I sort of had to leave that and um yeah.
I got into pts and stuff.
Obviously, when I started boxing yeah because I enjoyed it, I enjoyed um, you know teaching people and you know getting them fit and all that sort of stuff as well so yeah yeah.
So you just keep going you like having tons to do yeah.
I do like I’m very active right.
I’Ve got a lot of energy and I think um a job for me that sort of hasn’t got that physical side of things.
It’S like um and get bored pretty quick yeah.
I, like that thing, a lot of physical, but you know I mean as a fighter.
I also know um uh recovery, so much it’s really really important.
So I know during Camp times.
Obviously I come back a lot and you know that sort of stuff, so yeah yeah, otherwise I’m always on the go yeah.
So when you’re in Brizzy gym – and you first went there, did you, did you have to fight to get noticed or um? Were there any other females? Was it just you like how? How did that make you feel, and they said: Oh no you’re too small you’re a girl, you could get hurt, you could try and hear anytime.
You want and um.
Yes, I was the first one in last.
One out and um had to prove him wrong.
So you know it’s only months later they said somebody else, yeah, that’s really good.
I must have done something in me that that determination and really willing to learn, because I wanted to learn so much um.
You know because everything I was learning at the gym.
I was practicing at home as well so, and I think I could see that and yeah yeah, which is good.
You can see that dedication, I’ve proven them wrong, yeah, exactly yeah.
I was going to ask you about your community.
So not only are you a female being a boxer but you’re from a Muslim Community, female trying to be a boxer, so how did that play out and how? What was the reaction from the community and how did you? How did you have to deal with that? Yeah, it was very hard, I mean, being I’m Australian, born and raised in Australia and other than you know, being a Muslim as well and being a female.
It was the whole thing about.
No, you should be at home with the kitchen, and you know you should be married with kids and the typical.
You know um sort of thing, but it’s yeah.
I think I think it was more so it wasn’t just the Muslim Community.
It was just just the old school, like just people, just like a lot of the Gods and think that women should fight yeah um but yeah.
So eventually it took a while um.
Obviously it changed people’s mind, especially it was a community and um because they’re very protective over women and they feel that women shouldn’t be getting hurt and stuff like that.
So um but yeah I mean now it’s it’s changed and they’re all you know in for it.
It’S because it’s great, for you know, self-defense confidence.
You know Fitness and all those sorts of things as well, and there are many Muslim competing now as well.
So if things have turned around and it’s just fantastic to see yeah, it really is, I think as well.
I think it’s incredible how long ago you did that as well, because over here in the UK, we’ve got a couple that are coming through and it feels very new and then actually it’s not new.
You did this.
You know you did this 15 years ago and I think that’s incredible that you were like the first yeah and I just yeah.
It’S incredible well done! Thank you! Yeah you’ve done it all.
You did all the hard work so that everyone else then follow.
So I’ve got to ask now like what’s next um, do you fancy coming to the UK? That’S my first question.
I think that you would have a lot of Support over here.
We love Australian fighters.
So would you fancy that y’all definitely love to um and I’ve got some friends over there as well, like I’ve got cousins that live there, that haven’t seen in a while and uh? Okay, look, I’m not just gon na come for a holiday.
I would love to play absolutely.
You know um, but yeah.
I think you know UK now they’re really being with boxing and to be honest with you like women’s boxing is fantastic.
You get to know like there’s so many girls, but you know there’s always pros and cons um with everything, and I think I feel that um, you know, there’s a lot more girls, not just myself but like around the world and in America as well.
You know, girls that have been ranked skills are doing.
Well, I think you know a lot of them.
I mean, I could say, UK sort of like the Mega Box at the moment right so to mix it up and bring them all in and get some great fights happening, definitely be amazing, yeah for sure be really exciting.
Would you consider fighting? I know Ebony Bridges, you’re similar you well, you could be in the same weight category um.
Do you fancy fight with her or maybe was it Shannon O’Connell who got uh? She beat channika Johnson.
I saw so.
Do you fancy either of those yeah? Unfortunately, Johnson, that was Ben and white um to be honest with you Shanika Johnson’s.
She she walks around she’s, very heavy.
You know um, so she does well getting down a super banner and then I’m like um, you know super Banning is big for me and obviously I’m really small bam.
White and strong uh super flyweight’s only a kilo, so I might be quite either super flight or or bad away.
Um yeah I’ll definitely fight him in the bridges I mean you know, and then it’s not about the exposure or any of that um.
I’M not possible about that.
To be honest, you know because my goal is to fight for a Superfly weight, uh World title and that’s what I was aiming for after lockdown and then that um, obviously the other fight happened and all that so um yeah.
So I’m not funny about all that.
But in terms of the fight yeah, well, definitely I mean if you know, I’m I’m all down for any fight.
To be honest, I mean look, we had there could have been an opportunity for Dina um.
You know we were happy about it, but obviously we couldn’t arrange um things um in terms of like, like um in finance.
You know financial side of it and you know, obviously it’s really Denmark, judges and sort of so it has to be.
You know 50 people or worthwhile.
You know what I mean so yeah.
So I’d be happy to fight anyone to be honest, um in ban away or seek the flight um yeah.
So it just um depends what we can get.
She puts her hands up my hand, up I’ll, definitely be there but yeah.
I don’t think she will.
Ah I’d love it though yeah they’re gon na be exciting too, because we’re used to be friends – and you know I think, you’re still holding a gradually.
I think it’s gone dark now.
Sorry, I think, because it’s um it was sunny in Africa yeah.
I could just about it you’re a shadow yeah.
Why do you hold a grudge, or does she hold a grudge or something happen? No, I don’t.
I don’t have a grudge at all like um, you know uh, nothing at all.
I think she does.
I think, she’s still a bit all right shitty about it, though you know um just to do a workout.
You know what I mean we just I mean I don’t want to get into it too much to be honest, um just you know we.
I didn’t feel that she was a friend and it just didn’t work out and I didn’t want to um associate myself.
I got sort of fun, I’m one of these people who um look.
I’Ve been I’ve had so many friends and obviously, when I got into boxing I took a very seriously so I had to pick and choose my friends who I hang around with all those sorts of things I stay away from drama.
Anything.
That’S got to do with John, because I fully I just uh, you know you get to an agree.
You know, because you can’t be bothered with them boxing so much that um, you know, there’s no room for because boxing is a lifestyle and it’s not about the training and all that sort of stuff, but it’s outside as well.
You know what you see, how you sleep, who you hang around with uh all those sorts of things so um yeah, so it’ll be a good fight.
I think, because of that, because yeah I think the Isles would make it as well, because I think you’re, very technical with the power and she’s got the kind of like cardio with crazy power, so I think the Styles would make such a good fight.
Okay, I’m excited about that now.
I think that would be great well if they um they called for it I’ll.
Definitely take it I’ll.
Try.
Oh you’ve gone very dark now, but it’s all right, um I’ll! Let you go um.
Is that all right? Oh sorry, I just got my hand over there at the moment.
Okay, do you know what technology it’s a nightmare? Yeah, because it’s um daylight savings, so we’re still uh.
It was just a lot and I didn’t turn the light on.
So it’s! Okay.
Don’T worry! Don’T worry, thank you so much for talking to me today, like I’ve, really appreciated it, and I can honestly say that it was a privilege like seeing everything that you’ve done being excited about you, and I mean I I’m boxing fan, first and foremost before the presenting And I know that I would love to see you over here.
So maybe I don’t know be be mean to ebony on Twitter because I’m telling you that then they’ll put the fight on.
I can’t wait for your next fight, so thank you so much! Yes, have a good one have a great day.
You too, thank you so much
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