Crystal Morales & Arqangel Promotions Media Day

It’s not uncommon for Crystal Morales to be mistaken for something other than a female boxing world champion.

“Once I was walking into an arena and someone told me ‘the ring girls belong over there’ and I told them I’m a fighter,” said Morales to a group of reporters on Wednesday.

The IFBA lightweight world champion Morales, whose fighting nickname is “La Morenasa,” appeared at the South El Monte Boxing Gym for media day. Morales will be fighting Celine Roman in a non-title bout on Saturday Dec. 21, at the Westin Bonaventure Hotel in downtown L.A.

Morales just drips with pizzazz and relishes the spotlight. The Oxnard prizefighter feels right at home with reporters, photographers and videographers. Interviews are no sweat.

“She doesn’t need to read anything, it just comes natural,” said her father, Manuel Morales, who accompanied her from Oxnard to South El Monte-a 60mile jaunt.

Standing alongside Morales was her promoter Katherine Rodriguez, one of the youngest and most dazzling boxing figures anywhere today. Both posed for photos and the cameras flashed like machine guns.

Rodriguez represents Arqangel Promotions, a company comprised to spearhead women’s boxing into a new era. Both Rodriguez and the company are based in Riverside, an area that has heated up the boxing world. Women’s boxing is another element derived from the area located in the Inland Empire.

Arqangel Promotions also has Las Vegas bantamweight Melinda Cooper and San Antonio’s junior featherweight Celina Salazar in its fold. They plan to sign two more female fighters soon but did not want to release any names at the moment. However, Rodriguez was willing to talk about Morales.

“Crystal is a fighter with a lot of heart and the heart of a champion,” said promoter Rodriguez, 23, who is a former amateur boxer. “We signed her because we believe in her, because she is dedicated to the sport of boxing and determined to be something great in the world of female boxing.”

Morales talked about her previous fights and experience both as a professional and an amateur representing Mexico back in the early 2000s. The 28-year-old female boxer doesn’t hesitate when asked why she chose to box.

“I love boxing,” Morales quickly replies. “I love getting in the ring.”

But, just not as a ring girl.

Morales fights Roman at the Westin Bonaventure Hotel. To request tickets send an email to Arqangelpromotions@gmail.com

All Star Boxing Promotions plans to begin its 10-bout card at 5 p.m. on Saturday.

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