Columnist Dean Juipe: Daughters cheapen dads’ names

Dean Juipe

Friday, March 31, 2000 | 10:27 a.m.

Dean Juipe's column appears Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. His boxing notebook appears Thursday. Reach him at juipe@lasvegassun.com or 259-4084.

It was sufficiently detestable when Laila Ali decided to follow her father's footsteps into pro boxing.

But since her first fight, last October, the situation has only deteriorated further.

Now three other daughters of once-proud fighters have begun boxing careers, lending a carnival atmosphere to a once-grand sport.

Joining the 22-year-old Ali are: Jacquelyn Frazier-Lyde, 38, whose father is Joe Frazier; Freda Foreman, 23, whose father is George Foreman; and Irechelle Duran, 22, whose father is Roberto Duran. Of the fathers, only Joe Frazier approves of his daughter's fistic inclinations.

"She thinks she can pick up some easy money," Roberto Duran said of his daughter as he allegedly kicked her out of his house after she broke the news to him. Irechelle is said to still be training for her pro debut.

Freda Foreman will make hers Saturday at Regent Las Vegas when she takes on another novice, Laquanda Landers.

"All my other (four) daughters could always out-box her," George Foreman said of Freda. "I'm afraid if she does well, the others will want to try it."

Freda -- as her name is listed on her boxing license, as opposed to the Freeda spelling that is in her biographic material -- is a big gal at 5-11 and 180 pounds. A single mother of a 4-year-old daughter, she's allowing herself to be exploited in exchange for a few bucks and 15 minutes of notoriety.

"He definitely doesn't like it," she said of her father's attitude toward her fighting. "But the demand is there."

Is it? Maybe there's a demand from promoters for higher profile female fighters, but what we're getting with these four offspring of famous fathers is women who have only been on the periphery of the sport without having been trained as combatants.

Ali is 4-0 against downright awful competition, including a waitress, a student, a housewife and, most recently, a Canadian with a 1-7 record. "I know in my heart my dad would be happier if I didn't box," she admits, ignoring his wishes nonetheless.

The aging Frazier-Lyde is 1-0, having beaten a terrified woman whose only defense was to run until the referee intervened. "I want to fight Laila Ali," she said of her incentive to take one on the chin in spite of having three children who could use a full-time mother with her faculties intact.

It's obvious where this is heading: A round-robin tournament of sorts in which boxing fans "relive" great fights like Ali-Frazier, Ali-Foreman and Frazier-Foreman -- albeit with the real warriors replaced by their distaff, ability-challenged kids.

Laila and Jacquelyn have even picked up on their fathers' rivalry and speak of the other in insulting terms. "She can't fight a lick (but) the Fraziers need the money," Laila said, when asked why she thinks Jacquelyn has begun fighting just a few years short of menopause.

Likewise, Freda Foreman said she quit her job with United Parcel Service with an eye toward fighting Laila Ali "because the opportunity is there."

She'll probably get her wish.

"She's another piece of the puzzle from the great Ali-Frazier-Foreman years of boxing," her promoter, Dan Goossen, rationalizes. "Is it a gimmick? I guarantee you with the gloves on it's all business."

As he spoke, visions of dollar signs danced in his head.