FT. LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA -Terri Moss, who began her professional boxing career at an age when others are often contemplating "hanging up the gloves," and who culminated an eighteen bout, ninety round career five years later with a WIBF title, will be inducted into the International Women's Boxing Hall of Fame on July 11 in Fort Lauderdale, FL. Moss will join modern era boxers Laila Ali, Laura Serrano, Jeannine Garside, Ann Wolfe and Deirdre Gogarty along with Sparkle Lee, the first professional female referee to be licensed in New York and New Jersey and Phyllis Kugler, a pioneer in the sport of female boxing in the 1950s. The ceremony, inducting the second class of the IWBHF, will be in the Crystal Ballroom (3:30-6:30 PM) of the Hyatt Regency Pier Sixty-Six hotel and will be held in conjunction with the National Women's Golden Gloves tournament.

"In a word, I was surprised, particularly when I heard the list of the other inductees. To be included in the top 15 athletes in the sport to be so honored (seven in Year I, eight in Year II) is an unbelievable honor and I'm looking forward to being with everyone at the ceremony in July." That's Terri Moss speaking by phone last week from Atlanta about her initial reaction to her selection to the IWBHF. "I had my first pro bout when I was 36 (February 2002), my second bout was six months later and my third pro bout two weeks after that, all against experienced fighters, (a combined record of 14-4-1), all unanimous decisions, all losses. Answering the obvious question, Moss snapped, "Absolutely not! Quitting was never an option, I was hooked on the sport and I was going to see it through, I wanted more and I wanted it quickly. She got it. Two weeks later, Moss was matched with Nina Ahlin (8-2-1) and won a four round split decision. Thus, in the first seven months of Terri Moss' professional boxing career, she had four bouts against boxers with a combined 22-6-2 record, winning the fourth bout against the boxer with the best record of the quartet. Given that start in the ring, it is small wonder that Moss has little patience for current up-and-coming female boxing prospects who build glistening records against "carefully" selected opponents.

Moss concedes that all her bouts were not the caliber of the first four, but she's also quick to point out that she fought, in the United States and overseas, most of the top fighters in the female minimumweight and straweight classes: Vaia Zaganas (6-1), Maria Rosa (16-0) in Spain, Hollie Dunaway (12-3) and Krisztina Belinszky (16-4-2) in Hungary. Asked about her toughest opponent, Moss' answer is unequivocal , "Without doubt, Mary Ortega, she was as tough as they come." In May, 2007, Terri Moss made her final professional bout a winning one, beating Stephanie Dobbs in a ten round split decision for both the WIBF minimumweight title and the WIBA strawweight crown.

But the story of Terri Moss and the sport of Women's boxing goes well beyond the ropes of a boxing ring. Next to the dictionary definition of "giving back" an illustration of Terri Moss would fit appropriately. Moss barely missed a beat, following her retirement from the ring, transitioning to training boxers, starting first with a gym in Decatur, GA and, in 2013 moving into her current owned and operated gym, Buckhead Fight Club in Atlanta. The nearly 15,000 square foot facility has an Olympic sized ring and features only up-to-date training equipment. The club also serves as the venue for Moss' periodic "White Collar Boxing" corporate fight nights and her popular amateur boxing shows. Both programs have gained wide notoriety in the boxing community, to the point where the cards now attract boxers not only from the surrounding states, but from as far away as New York. Moss muses, "In the back of my mind, I think about promoting professional shows, but that's down the road." Given Moss' continued passion for and knowledge of the sport, Women's boxing would be a major beneficiary of: Terri Moss, promoter. Not surprisingly, Howard Goldberg, President of the WBF, has already recognized Moss' potential in this area and Moss has begun working, in the U.S. with that sanctioning body.

Terri Moss may have been surprised when she received word that she had been elected to the IWBHF. But a closer look at her record, in and out of the ring, her continuing relationship, fervency and support for Women's boxing, a sport that would benefit significantly were the more just like her, goes far toward erasing any surprise that Terri Moss will be exactly the right person in exactly the right place when, on July 11 in Fort Lauderdale, FL she is presented her plaque and enters the International Women's Boxing Hall of Fame.

More on Event:

Joining the inductees in Florida on July 11 will be a standout group of boxing personalities including three members of the first class of the IWBHF: Christy Martin, Bonnie Canino and Barbara Buttrick. Also in attendance will be current highly ranked boxers, Shelly Vincent, Chevelle Hallback, Laura Ramsey, Noemi Bosques,  and KO Kali Reis along with former boxer Yvonne Reis, retired kickboxer and founder of the Beautiful Brawlers Blanca Gutierrez, who both continue to be active in the sport. Also on hand will be Malissa Smith, author of the definitive "History of Women's Boxing",  and amateur boxer who created the award winning, "Fight Like A Girl," Martha Dodson, Ringside Physician, USA Boxing and Glen Johnson, former middleweight contender, Buddy McGirt, and more!

Presiding over the ceremony as MC will be the renowned West Coast ring announcer Jake Gutierrez who has worked with, among others, Top Rank Boxing, Golden Boy Promotions and Gary Shaw Promotions, who has appeared on HBO, Showtime, ESPN, BBC, TSN, Telemundo, Univision, and various Pay Per View and Satellite Networks. In addition to extensive work in the US, Gutierrez has taken his talents to Mexico, Canada, Great Britain and the Philippines.

Schedule of Event

2:15 - 4:00 p.m.: Meet and Greet (with a Cash Bar) including the photograph and autograph session with inductees / celebrities present. We will have available for purchase IWBHF Official posters, IWBHF Official programs, 2015 IWBHF T-shirts, Everlast Gloves for autograph purposes.

4:00 - 6:30 p.m.: IWBHF Induction Ceremony. There will be a plated dinner for guests. The event will be world-wide live webcasted, with host Jake Gutierrez of Las Vegas, Nevada, who has appeared on HBO, Showtime, ESPN, BBC, TSN, Telemundo, Univision, and various Pay Per View and Satellite Networks.

7:00 p.m.: The Finals of the Women's National Golden Gloves 2015 - Guests will see many of our top rated USA amateur female boxers fighting in the finals at this time.

Hyatt Regency Parking:
$10 overnight self, $15.00 overnight valet. Day self parking is $3.00 for the first hour and $1.00 for each additional hour.