PZ: How did you did you first get into boxing and MMA?
MH: I came up with the idea in 2009 to get like minded models together who had an interested in boxing or fighting to come together. I started training in January 2010 and after nine months had my first fight, but then I damaged my rotator cuff and had to take five months out. I started up again last year in February, and my most recent fight was on the 9th November. I took up Jiu Jitsu in February this year and had my first fight in September.
PZ: Does anybody else in your family fight?
MH: Nobody else in my family fights. My mum actually hates it!
PZ: You own ‘Models Fight UK’. Is this your primary focus or something you would like to build up whilst still competing in bouts yourself?
MH: It’s something that I would like to build whilst competing. I wanted like to showcase the fact that you can actually be a pretty model and a good fighter.
PZ: Your Twitter account says you are a model, presenter, love to help animal rights and charities and you’re a veggie! Expand a little bit about these points and Monica outside the ring.
MH: I do a lot of animal rights campaigning, and have taken part in quite a few naked demonstrations. It’s a different way to campaign, but certainly gets peoples attention to the cause! I do a fair bit of time with charity work, and in general like socialising with my friends. When I’m training though none of that happens and I live a very healthy lifestyle.
PZ: Isn’t there a distinct risk that you can pick up an injury through fighting that could affect your modelling career?
MH: I’ve picked up many injuries already. I’ve had my eyes damaged a number of times, torn my pec, broken my ribs and torn my shoulder. Each injury takes a few months to repair, and some injuries have been so bad that I’ve needed help to dress in the morning. This in turn has cost me money sometimes because I’ve had to turn away jobs due to these injuries.
PZ: If you had to jump off the fence and choose one as a trade for the next ten years, would it be fighting or modelling?
MH: Fighting. I absolutely love it. If I have to be honest I’m coming to the end of my career as a model. I’m in my 30’s now and this is the route I’d like to take. I’m getting offered fights on a regular basis, but with my recent injuries I’m limited to what I can do.
PZ: Tell us about your recent boxing match at the Troxy on the 9th November….
MH: I agreed to the match earlier in the year. I was originally supposed to be a ring girl for this promotion, but the lady who runs Bad Boy Promotions, Chrissy Morton asked me if I wanted to compete and I said ‘yes’! She said there would be a belt on the line, so I said definitely yes.
PZ: Would you consider yourself a boxer or an MMA specialist?
MH: A boxer, simply because I have doing that discipline longer. However, I would like to earn my grades in Jiu Jitsu and progress with that martial art also.
PZ: Tell us about the training camp building up to the fight at the Troxy.
MH: I had six days of training before this fight! This was mainly due to recovering from injuries.
PZ: The stance for boxing is substantially different to MMA in terms of shoulder placements, foot/weight distribution etc. How difficult do you find it switching from one to the other?
MH: Not that difficult, simply because they are completely different disciplines.
PZ: Where do you train?
MH: I fight at Gracie Garcia gym in Camden, and with the boxing I train at the TKO Gym.
PZ: When do you next promote your own event through Models Fight UK ?
MH: The next promotion will be in 2013. It will be a fantastic promotion and I will ensure through hard work that it’s the best to date. Last year was massive and is available to view on DVD, but I’m hoping to get some of the big names within the industry involved for next year.
PZ: Tell the readers one thing about yourself that not many people know.
MH: I eat kiwi fruit with the skin on!
PZ: If you could spar three rounds with any past boxing legend, male or female, who would it be?
MH: Not sure about past boxing legends, but I would like to fight Jodie Marsh!
PZ: Many thanks for your time.
MH: No problem.