(AUG 17)  The date was November 9, 1996, and a chance for women's boxing to shine this night. The fight was a televised Pay-Per-View featuring Bethany Payne vs. Christy Martin.  As Payne entered the ring they announced and posted on the "tale of the tape"  that Payne donned an impressive 15-1 record.  Where that bogus record came from for Payne---is anyone's guess.  But it didn't take long to see this female did not have any idea how to actually box.

In a Miami Herald article that WBAN posted in 1999, writer Ken Rodriguez, who wrote an article about the seamier side of women's boxing, had Payne included in this disturbing report.  Link

Ken Rodriguez wrote the following in that 1999 article: 

"A mysterious woman from Atlanta appeared in the MGM Grand boxing ring in Las Vegas two years ago, a shadowy figure amid sparkling lights. She was tall and thin and went by the moniker Foxy Brown, and that should have given fans a clue.  On paper, Bethany ''Foxy Brown'' Payne looked like a champ. Fifteen victories in 16 fights, the ring announcer said. But the woman inside the ropes, awaiting the biggest female fight in history, was a former prostitute, a stripper who had never fought before. Within minutes, Payne was hammered by Christy Martin, reigning queen of women's boxing, and disappeared into a haze of smoke and neon."

"The Martin-Payne match, hyped as a major prelude to the first Evander Holyfield-Mike Tyson fight on Nov. 9, 1996, lasted one round. A record pay-per-view audience of 1.6 million homes witnessed the first round technical knockout. Women's boxing, its popularity rising on the grit and glamor of Christy Martin, is propped up by a host of Bethany Paynes, opponents who can't fight a lick. Some are hookers, many are exotic dancers, most are looking to make quick money, " added Rodriguez.

Rodriguez said, "Christy Martin made $75,000 for beating Payne. According to Fight Fax, Inc., keeper of all professional boxing records, Payne had never before fought in a sanctioned bout. Mezaughn Kemp, Payne's trainer, pulled Payne off Atlanta's streets to make $6,000."

Payne had trained for a whole "2 1/2 weeks" before fighting Martin. 

This is one "Flash From the Past" fight that any and everyone would like to forget ever happened on a big televised card!  Video of Fight