This ‘Knockout’ Wants Fighting Chance

Mia St. John is more than just a pretty face.

Indeed, St. John, 29, a former actress and swimsuit model who lives in Woodland Hills, holds a black belt in taekwondo and was 27-1 competing in tournaments.

Still, St. John constantly finds herself being pummeled by sexual stereotypes.

Why would someone who looks like you want to fight?

“I get real sick of that,” St. John said. “I want people to know that you don’t have to look like a fighter to be a fighter.”

She doesn’t. But, depending on how well she wards off a jab, she soon might.

Seeking to cash in on the increasing popularity of women’s boxing, St. John, billed as “The Knockout,” will make her professional debut tonight at Fantasy Springs Casino in Indio in a four-round featherweight bout against Amilda Perez of El Paso, Tex. The fight is on the undercard of a nine-bout program headlined by a 10-round main event between lightweights Gabriel Ruelas and James Crayton.

St. John, 5 feet 6 and 127 pounds, began studying martial arts at age 6, and turned to modeling at 19. She has appeared on numerous calendars and in television shows and commercials, but the desire to fight always remained strong.

“I was running from acting classes to karate, and my acting coach finally said, ‘What do you want to do?’ ” St. John said. “I said, ‘I want to fight. Goodbye.’ ”

Few understand. But St. John, a divorced mother of two, said fighting simply is her passion. Her goal is to win three world titles.

“When I first met her, I thought the same thing that everybody else thought,” said Art Lovett, St. John’s manager. “But she is one of the hardest working fighters I’ve ever known.”

As for her appearance, St. John, who began boxing in September and spars mostly against men, said she is not concerned.

“I used to come home with bruises and busted lips,” she said. “Anything on the outside can be repaired. But I do worry about my brain. Hopefully, I won’t get beat up.”