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Plant City's Hallback Ready For A Fight

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By EDDIE DANIELS | The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 4, 2008

TAMPA There is one thing you can say about Xtreme Fighting Championship president John Prisco — he is persistent.

For two years, he has been after Plant City native Chevelle Hallback to switch to mixed martial arts. Hallback, a professional boxer with a 27-5-2 record and 11 knockouts in an 11-year career, finally gave in.

"I went to a couple of training sessions and was like, it's OK, but I didn't feel at that time it was me," Hallback said of her first experience with the sport two years ago. "For about a year he was on me. I mean, this man called me once a month — 'Come on Chevelle, you can be the best out there.' So I win the fight with Jeannine Garside, and that was in June [2008]. I've been trying to get a fight since then to defend my title."

Hallback beat Garside in a split decision in Albuquerque, N.M., to win the International Female Boxing Association lightweight belt. Since then, she has had no luck finding someone to defend the title against.

With no one stepping up in the boxing ring, her thirst for competition made the jump to MMA look more enticing.

"I watched her fight, and I started following her boxing career and always felt she was the best female athlete in boxing," Prisco said.

After four months of training at XFC's facility on Nebraska Avenue with Mike Yanez, who has a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, Hallback will face Melissa Vasquez (4-4) during the XFC's Salute to Our Armed Forces 6: Clash of the Continents on Friday night at the St. Pete Times Forum. Doors open at 6:30, with the opening bout at 8.

The matchup doesn't exactly allow Hallback to ease into the mix.

"Of course, I'm a natural boxer, and the fighter coming in knows that," Hallback said. "So I know the critics are thinking, 'Once she hits the ground, she's going to freeze up.' … I can't wait to watch people's faces and the talk afterwards of 'Wow.'

"They aren't giving me a slouch in my first fight. This girl is 4-4. This is her game. Even though she's coming into my backyard, I'm coming into her sport, so I have to really, really be careful."

It's obvious from the excitement in Hallback's voice that the 37-year-old isn't being pressed into duty because she has to fight. It's a genuine love of competition, and she hopes to dominate in both boxing and MMA — at the same time.

"I've trained hard, I'm well-conditioned for this, I have one of the best trainers in the world training me," Hallback said. "I just have to go in thinking I'm ready for whatever she may bring. I'm ready. I can't hesitate."

Hallback isn't alone in believing she's ready. Prisco is well beyond that mindset.

"Within a year, she'll be ready to fight anybody in MMA," Prisco said without hesitation. "She will be the No. 1 female fighter in MMA within one year."

Her journey begins Friday at the Forum.

Reporter Eddie Daniels can be reached at (813) 948-4214.

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