Georgia Boxing Championship July 15th at The Buckhead Theatre; Nicole Woods featured‏

Nicole Woods fights for a living and for a good cause.

Woods, ranked No. 4 in the light welterweight division with a 12-6-1 record, divides her time between boxing professionally and fighting fires in Fulton County.

“Being a firefighter gives you one of the best schedules to have if you fight,” said Woods, who has been responding to emergencies for more than a year.

The 32-year-old Brooklyn, New York native has been boxing much longer (seven years) than she has been fighting fires and even though the two professions are similar, in a sense, Woods got drawn to each in a different manner.

“After college, I still wanted to pursue something athletically,” said Woods, who attended South Carolina State on a basketball scholarship. “I was watching boxing on television and figured ‘hey let me go and give that a try.’ Because I was already athletic, I kind of picked it up pretty quickly and I’ve been doing it every since.”

However, putting out hazardous fires began by way of a personal recommendation.

“I was working as a human resource manager but I was just bored,” said Woods, who also has a master’s degree. “A girl that boxed with me was a firefighter said ‘you would love it, you should try it.’ So initially I was like ‘no’ then I was like ‘let me give it a try.’ I did and I love it.”

Competing in the ring has also been beneficial to Woods since it has allowed her to travel to Uruguay, Germany and Argentina.

“Nicole is not like a lot of fighters,” Barry Richardson said. “She goes into hostile territory.”

“…At the end of the day I want to be able to say I went and I fought with all my heart and I’m the best in the world not just because I stayed in one place and I was safe,” Woods said. “I want to be able to beat you in your house because I’m just that good.”

Five to six days a week, Woods has been training with Richardson at Metro Fitness in East Point. This month, she will begin sparring three days a week to continue to prepare for a bout on July 15 at the Buckhead Theatre, which is being promoted by Shea Bailey and Greg Barckoff.

Woods also thanked her sponsors Vixente Boxing Apparel, Mix 1, Belts and Money, and AA Boxing.

EL Boxing Empress See you at the Fights and Thank You for your time.EL Boxing Empress Online @ Twitter http://www.twitter.com/Keishamorrisey ©®™ 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 All photos other than specified by "EL Boxing Empress" Keisha Morrisey- Empire Morrisey Photo-Studios, KCKMT for Bloodline Boxing Communications Entertainment and Starlite Boxing's Sweetscience Magnews-Online Publication all rights reserved

SIZZLING SUMMER SHOWDOWN-RODRIGUEZ TO TAKE ON WOLAK-IN MUST SEE FIGHT-ON ESPN'S FRIDAY NIGHT FIGHTS‏

On July 15th, Joe DeGuardia's Star Boxing presents a highly anticipated ESPN "Friday Night Fights" card at New York City's famed Roseland Ballroom with a sensational main event, featuring exciting former welterweight world title challenger, Delvin Rodriguez (25-5-2, 14KO's) looking to throw himself into the mix of top jr. middleweight contenders when he takes on top rated, Pawel "Raging Bull" Wolak (29-1, 19KO's) in a can't miss, all-action showdown.

"This fight has all the makings to be a fight of the year candidate," stated Joe DeGuardia, CEO and President of Star Boxing, Rodriguez's promoter. "You have two guys who continuously produce fireworks each and every time they step into the ring, going up against one another in what is arguably the most important fight of their respective careers. These are the type of fights that as a true fight fan you just know you can't miss."


"I'm excited to get back into the ring and show that I am a force to be reckoned with in the jr. middleweight division," said Rodriguez. "I have a new team behind me and I feel better than I ever have before. On July 15th, Pawel Wolak and the entire world will see a stronger, faster, and more exciting Delvin Rodriguez."

"I want to thank Delvin Rodriquez for taking the fight," stated Wolak. "It is going to be a hard fight with lots of action. I expect Delvin will give me everything he's got and I will be prepared. The fans will get their money worth like they do with every fight of mine. I am looking forward to continuing towards my goal of winning a world title by end of 2011."

The bout between Rodriguez and Wolak, who is rated as the WBO #3, WBA #6, IBF #8, WBC #11 jr. middleweight in the world, has huge implications for both fighters. Wolak, who is currently riding an eight fight win streak, including his most impressive victory to date in his last bout, when he dominated and made former WBA jr. middleweight champion Yuri Foreman retire on his stool after six rounds, is looking to cash in on his recent success, and earn his shot at a world title. While Rodriguez on the other hand, who has become a fan-favorite, drawing some of the highest ratings on ESPN's "Friday Night Fights" over the years, knows a win over the red-hot Wolak will throw him right into the mix with the top jr. middleweights in the world, and put him back on the path to challenging for another world title.

The Rodriguez-Wolak bout is scheduled for ten rounds and is promoted by Star Boxing in association with Top Rank.

EL Boxing Empress See you at the Fights and Thank You for your time. EL Boxing Empress Online @ Twitter http://www.twitter.com/Keishamorrisey ©®™ 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 All photos other than specified by "EL Boxing Empress" Keisha Morrisey- Empire Morrisey Photo-Studios, KCKMT for Bloodline Boxing Communications Entertainment and Starlite Boxing's Sweetscience Magnews-Online Publication all rights reserved