Since turning professional in 2017, Opera singer Claire Hafner knew she had what it took to compete in the ring.

Her disciple paved the way to derailing unbeaten Sonya Fox in only her 4th pro bout.

Hafner followed that up with a strong victory over former champion Carlette Ewell.

Late in 2019, Hafner left the comforts of North America to compete in New Zealand against  Geovana Peres in WBO’s inaugural Light Heavyweight female world championship.

Factors played into that result, but did not discourage “Classy” Claire.

Jay Kemp from Womenofboxing.com met up with Hafner at the Press Conferences ahead of her recent fight in Chicago.

How are you enjoying the Chicagoland area?

“The thing I love about Chicago is deep dish pizza! But I can’t eat it, because I'm on a weight cut.”

How do you prepare for an opponent?

“Every time I go into the ring, I am expecting A game, 100 per cent. There are people who can get into the ring about a month before their fight, and be amazing. There are people who box their entire life, yet don’t have an edge on any specific day."

Do you think your battles with Carlette Ewell and Sonya Fox were more of a battle than your WBO Light Heavyweight Championship with Geovana Peres in 2019?

“The Georvana Peres fight was tough because she headbutted me in Round 1. It was a shitty move. Geovana was not my hardest fight that I have had. Every fight I go into, I expect it to be my hardest fight. In hind-sight, I am expecting this to be my hardest fight. Its new territory for both of us – new weight class for me, she has been away for 10 years.

“It is such an honour to share the ring with women with such experience. When I fought Carlette Ewell and Sonya Fox, they fought a lot. It is great to be able to respect and be respected by these women.”

I have meet so many women around this sport and you fall into a similar category as many others, so I have to ask… You are an opera singer. This sport does not fit your other life personality. So, why boxing?

“So there are a lot of similarities. It's a lot of disciple. I did 20 years of opera, so coming into boxing (I was already) disciplined in how I train and how I eat and what I do and where I go. It’s a lot of travel. With opera and boxing, it's a solo performance sport. I love it.

“A lot of people can get the first 60 per cent down and you are really good, but it’s that last 40 per cent of finesse and intelligence and ring smarts that takes forever to perfect. It’s just the disciple in grinding away. The singing for 20 years has given me a phenomenal lung capacity for this athletic endeavour.”

That is what is necessary in all sports. I have been involved in many sports, coaching many team sports. Being real honest, I have never thrown a punch.

“[Laughing and joking] Do you want to start? Let’s go!”

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-This story was republished with permission from Women of Boxing.