Aug 21, 2019
Ira Pastor, ideaXme longevity and aging ambassador and founder of Bioquark, interviews Jackie Kallen, “The First Lady of Boxing” pictured here with Hollywood actor Sylvester Stallone and boxer "Sugar" Ray Leonard, regarded by many as one of greatest boxers of all time, having won world titles in five weight divisions.
Ira Pastor Comments:
Today, Ms. Jackie Kallen, “The First Lady of Boxing” joins me on the ideaXme show. She is one of boxing's first, and considered by many the most successful, female managers in the history of the sport.
Jackie grew up in Detroit, Michigan and her career started in show business journalism where she was responsible for interviewing major celebrities, such as the Rolling Stones, Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley and countless others.
In 1977 she was assigned to interview a boxing prospect from the famous Kronk gym in Detroit, Michigan: Thomas “The Hitman” Hearns, who became a 5-time world title holder.
Ms. Kallen became fascinated with sports and began working as a sports journalist, specializing in boxing.
She spent a decade as Hearns' publicist throughout a period of his most famous fights, including those with Sugar Ray Leonard, Roberto Duran, Marvin Hagler, as well as many others.
She made her managerial debut in 1988 and managed her first world champion in 1991, when James “Lights Out" Toney knocked out then-rising star Michael Nunn in eleven rounds to win the IBF World Middleweight title. He eventually went on to win several other titles in various weight classes after that.
She also managed Bronco McKart, who won the WBO world Jr. Middleweight title in 1996.
Ms. Kallen currently lives in the Detroit area and continues to manage professional boxers.
Her life was the inspiration for the 2004 film "Against the Ropes", starring Meg Ryan as Kallen, in which she had a brief speaking role as a reporter. She also worked as a consultant for Mark Burnett's reality TV series, "The Contender."
She’s also an author of two books: “Hit Me With Your Best Shot: A Fight Plan for Dealing With All of Life's Hard Knocks” and “Between the Ropes.”
She also does a lot of public speaking on topics as diverse as sexism, discrimination, and life-threatening illness, and is involved with many women’s health initiatives.
On this show we will hear about:
Jackie's rise, as a woman, through the male dominated sport and business of boxing. The importance of charity work in both her, and her fighters, careers and lives. Her thoughts on the importance of women in leadership roles. Her public speaking in the areas of women’s health, sexism, and discrimination. She’ll give us her thoughts regarding the future of women’s boxing. Finally, we’ll hear her boxing match message of bravery.
Photograph credit: NBC TV and Galaxy Productions.
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