For her, nothing beats laying low

WITH Muhammad Ali for a father and fashion model Veronica Porsche as her mother, Laila Ali had her pick of tough acts to follow. She initially chose neither, opting for a business degree and her own nail salon. Then one day she saw elite fighter Christy Martin battling it out on TV, and something just clicked. Laila dropped her nail file and picked up the gloves. “It was in my blood,” she explained.

Now the 28-year-old Woodland Hills resident is the premier female boxer in the land, with a 22-0 record (18 knockouts). She had been scheduled to fight Saturday night in South Africa, but that’s been pushed back a few weeks. But whenever it is, she’s already thinking about what she’ll be doing when it’s over.

A light workout

Early Friday evening, even if I don’t have a fight scheduled, I’ll go the gym for some light training just to keep in shape. And then I’d head over to the Belle Visage spa for a deep-tissue massage and a pedicure.

I’ll go to one of my favorite restaurants, King’s Fish House in Calabasas. It really has two parts, one casual and one formal, but I like the more casual side. There’s usually music playing, and they really have a nice big selection of fresh fish, and good desserts too. I like the mahi-mahi there, and then I’d get the apple pie a la mode. Two scoops of vanilla ice cream.

Relaxing at home

On Saturday morning I’d get up at 6 a.m. and go for a scenic bike ride in the Calabasas area, maybe 15 miles round trip. That’s on an ideal weekend for me, because if I was really in training, I’d be running the 15 miles.

After that, I’d go to Roscoe’s House of Chicken ‘n Waffles in Hollywood and have the No. 9 breakfast -- one waffle with chicken wings and a side of greens. I’d go home and relax for a while and watch cable TV, the Home & Garden channel. Or if there’s a fight on, I’ll definitely be watching that.

In the evening, I’ll go to Crustacean in Beverly Hills. I love the Dungeness crab with garlic noodles. For dessert, I’d order creme brulee, or maybe something lighter, like a raspberry sorbet. I usually go straight home, no clubs for me. I guess I might go to a place like the Comedy Store on an ideal weekend, but it would have to be really funny to make me laugh. I’m a pretty serious person.

Dinner and a movie

On Sunday I’d go to the Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf in the neighborhood and order a nonfat, no-sugar-added vanilla latte, then I’d be off to Agape Church in Culver City.

I’d go out to breakfast at Cafe Buna in Marina del Rey. They have a really good turkey scramble, and I’d get a side of grits and fresh-squeezed apple juice. I’d also go shopping in Sherman Oaks. I like Nordstrom, and Max Studio has nice fabrics for summer.

I’d then have some friends over and make an early dinner. Later, we might go to the movies somewhere in the neighborhood, someplace where they have good popcorn. I like romantic comedies, and the last one I saw was “The Break-Up” with Jennifer Aniston. I always have people in my ear about becoming an actress, but I just don’t seem to have a passion for it. But if someone offered me the right role....

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-- Mark Sachs