BERMUDA boxing champion Teresa Perozzi could have gone the easy route so many champions take when defending their title by taking on a lowly prospect. But that is not the way the North American Boxing Council (NABC) title holder wants to do it. "I didn't want to take a guaranteed opponent ? I wanted a challenge and I also want to see where I am at ? win, lose or draw. I know one thing ? it should be a good fight, very challenging," said Perozzi who takes on the tough American Roselin Morales next Saturday night (July 22) at Clearwater Beach.

And although Perozzi has been dismayed by the unfulfilled promises of a new training facility following her title win last year in Trinidad, she has not let that interrupt her training for the big fight next weekend.

In fact last week Perozzi managed to get New York-based fighter Liz Mooney and her trainer Rick Sweeney of Sweeney's Boxing of Albany, New York, to come in for some vigorous sparring. The money to bring in the pair was paid by Perozzi's sponsors, CAPITAL G Limited.

"It was the best training of my life really. Right now I am lacking proper facilities and also the opportunity of sparring with women. Although I do get good sparring with the guys, which I am grateful for, I do need to spar with women fighters," said Perozzi.

The two women trained and sparred at the Police Gym and Chucky Renaud's Controversy Gym. "Chucky has a little ring and a heavy bag which the Police Gym doesn't," explained Perozzi.

"I met both Liz and Rick in Trinidad when I was fighting down there ? Liz fought in the fight before mine and we kept in touch ? it was a dream to bring in someone like her."

Working with Perozzi is her trainer Quinn Malllory as well as her corner man Andre Outerbridge.

"The training with Liz felt very different from what I normally do. It felt like I was fighting every day of the week. I could handle her punches but she made me realise where I was open and we could stand toe to toe and fight whereas with the guys it is not like that. I really noticed my fitness level and cardio improve ? and that was just in a week. They showed me what I was lacking. Before they came I thought I was working hard enough but they showed me that I must work even harder. It was a whole another level."

And when she went back to sparring with the guys after the visit she said: "It was the first time since I trained with her and they all noticed that there was a big difference ? a big improvement."

Perozzi also runs to help with her boxing. "I run on the beach and the dunes which really helps my leg strength and I also run in road races and I am starting to really enjoy it now. I run with someone who does a lot of road races and I find that it motivates me and I see my times improving all the time. Also I have to run a lot because I like to eat!"

However leading up to the fight next weekend Perozzi has been putting in some time on the track "to help with my speed work".

Of her opponent, Roselin Morales, the Bermuda fighter doesn't know too much about her.

"I know she is very good but I have not seen any footage on her which it probably not a great idea when you are putting your belt on the line. But unfortunately not many women's fights are televised. But I hear she is very tough and she defeated someone (Monica Nunez) who won a points decision over me so that was one of the motivating factors of why I want to beat her. She is also ranked number three in the world and if I beat her that will certainly help my ranking."

Morales is 5'9" and 160 pounds. She is 35 years old and was born in Allentown, Pennsylvania.

Morales along with her father and two other siblings all practised the martial arts and by the time she was 16 years old she had achieved a yellow belt.

She left the martial arts in high school to run track and field for Liberty and Freedom High Schools in Bethlehem,