Sue Fox Named  in the "Top Ten" Most -Significant Female Boxers of All Time - Ring Magazine - Feb. 2012

HISTORY OF
WOMEN'S BOXING

MAY 2004

(MAY 31) Last night at the Tunnel Events Center, Washington, DC, there was an all-women’s card.  In the main event, Melissa “Honey Girl” Del Valle defeated Trish “TNT” Hill, of Kennesaw, Georgia,  with a unanimous decision in a 10-round (U.B.A.) featherweight world title fight.  According to an insider at the fight, Del Valle clearly dominated the fight, and that she was received well with the people in the D.C. area. Other results:   In a junior middleweight bout, Ann Marie Saccurato and Maria Lindberg fought to a four-round draw; Super Middleweight Aasa Sandell  TKO3 Tabitha Rosario in a scheduled four-rounder; Junior Middleweight Daria Hill  TKO1 Iris Griffin in a four-round bout; Featherweight Lakeysha Williams won a six-round unanimous decision over Shakurah Witherspoon.

Congratulations to Rijker! May 31, 2004

(MAY 31) WBAN asked boxing fans who THEY would like to see chosen as WBAN's June 2004 Fighter of the Month, and the most votes went to Lucia Rijker. Honorable mention, includes, Gwendolyn O'Neil,  Bettina Csabi, Ann Wolfe, Jessica Rakoczy, Mary Jo Sanders, Melinda Cooper, Mia St. John, Nikki Eplion, and Shelly Burton.

All-Women's Boxing card in Germany by Ewan Whyte

(MAY 30) "I'm going to end Regina's career," boasted Daisy Lang from her training camp in Arizona. "It'll be interesting to see what profession she turns to then to earn her living." About as subtle as a head-butt (a coincidence surely¼), Lang's insinuation that Halmich's Playboy spread made her little better than a whore (or was it the S&M undertones of that ‘Schlag mich’ track she did with Umbra Et Imago a few weeks back?) dragged Germany's 'Duel of the Box Queens' into the mud where we always wanted it.  

O'Neil Wins Title in History First in Guyana! May 29, 2004

(MAY 30) Last night at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall, in Georgetown, Guyana, in the main event that featured the first-ever world title in Guyana, Gwendolyn "The Stealth Bomber"  O'Neil, 169, of Georgetown, Guyana,  fought Kathy Rivers, 170, of the United States, for the vacant WIBA Light-Heavyweight world title.  O'Neil won the title with a  10-round unanimous decision over Rivers.  Final judges scores was 98-93, 98-92, and 100-90. O'Neil improved her record to 8-3-1 (6KO), and River is now 13-4-1 (5KO). 

Rubalcava Wins Pro Debut! Photos by Jesus Sanchez May 28, 2004

(MAY 28) Last night in front of more than 1,400 boxing fans, on an Oscar De La Hoya Golden Boy Promotions card, on the undercard, pro debuter and former amateur Julie Rubalcava, 18 years old, Westminster, California, won by a four-round unanimous decision over Isabel Manyseng, San Antonio, Texas, in a  bantamweight bout on the undercard. News sources report that Rubalcava was “impressive”, and that she outboxed manyseng. Final judges scores was 40-36 on all judges scorecards.

(MAY 27) Last night in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Marcela Acuna stopped Daisy Padilla in the first round. This fight was for the WIBA Junior Bantamweight world title fight.  Evidently stung by criticism in December that she had taken five and a half rounds to finish Damaris Pinock Ortega, when she had had the Panamanian at her mercy in the first, Marcela Acuña wasted no time or pity on the lanky Colombian Daisy (‘Demolition’) Padilla in her first title defence. 

(MAY 27) On June 3, 2004, at the Chinook Winds Casino, in Lincoln City, Oregon, on the Goossen-Tutor ShoBox Card, Shelly Burton of Montana, will be fighting Yvonne Reis, 3-3-1, of Florida, in a six-rounder on the undercard. WBAN will be covering this event ringside!

(MAY 26) In what was a barnburner, Lisa "Bad News" Brown, 123,  won by a six-round unanimous decision over Jerri Sitzes, 123,  of Missouri. There was one knockdown in the first round, when at the end of that round, Brown knocked Sitzes to the canvas.  WBAN's insider said it was a "Great GREAT Fight!" Judges scoring was 59-54, 59-53, 59-54. 

Wallberg to fight Stunja!.. By Sonia Grande of Italy May 25, 2004

(MAY 25) On June 11, 2004, in Denmark,  Bettina Palle promotion will feature Forrmer Amateur World Champion Frida Wallberg (3-0-0 1KO) to face Croatian Suzana Stunja (4-0). This will be an important test for young Frida, Stunja is tough opponent.  Both Wallberg and Stunja are ranked in the top with the WEBF.

Two of Europe’s most famous female fighters are heading to a collision and bragging rights for the continent. Former junior bantamweight title-holder Daisy Lang and current WIBF flyweight title-holder Regina Halmich meet on Saturday, May 29,  in Ostseehalle, Kiel, Germany for the vacant WIBF junior bantamweight title.

(MAY 23) Tonight in Tokyo, Japan, in an all-women’s boxing card, the mainliner ended in an easy win for Japan’s Emiko Raika, when she defended her WIBA World Featherweight title against United States Shelby Walker. The fight was stopped in the second round by TKO in a scheduled 10-round bout.

(MAY 22) Tonight at the Grand Casino Coushatta, Kinder, Louisiana,  Wendy Rodriguez, 106,  won the NABA World Flyweight title when she won by a 10-round unanimous decision over Anissa Zamarron, 108.  Final judges scores were 98-92, 96-94, and 97-93.  Also, Linda Tenberg, 129,  won by :37 seconds,  TKO1 over Tiffany Ibanez, 128. Photos will be posted tomorrow!

(MAY 22) On July 3, 2004, at the Stadhalle Hattersheim, in Frankfurt, Germany, there will be a night of action with men and women's boxing.  There will be three women's matches that will include, Ina Menzer, Julia Sahin, and  Alesia Graf.  Their opponents have not been named at this time.

(MAY 21)  Another all-women's boxing card will take place this weekend on May 23, Denver, Colorado.  On the card the following boxers will be featured, Terri Cruz of Denver, vs. Leona Brown; Mia St. John vs.  Melissa Yanas; Martha Orozco vs.  Serena Hayden; and Mercedes Mercury will also be on the card. More to follow...

(MAY 21) This weekend, there will be an all women’s boxing card staged in Japan on May 23rd, where the main event will feature local star and current WIBA World Featherweight champion Emiko Raika against Shelby Walker in Raika's defense of her belt. This is the kind of world title.

(MAY 21)Today the weigh-in was held for tomorrow night's boxing event in Kinder, Louisiana. Weights:  Wendy Rodriguez, 106, vs. Anissa Zamarron, 108, main event fighting for the NABA World Title belt. Also, Linda Tenberg, 129, vs. Tiffany Ibanez, 128.  (Photo of Nora Popillion of the Grand Casino Coushatta poses with the fighters.)

(MAY 20) Tonight in Sault Ste. Marie, in Michigan, Mary Jo Sanders, now 9-0-0 (2KO),  won against Chevelle "Fists of Steel" Hallback in a 10-round IBA Continental title fight!  Sanders earned her first belt in the sport, and will move on soon to fight for a world title!

It’s north versus south when Mary Jo Sanders meets Chevelle Hallback in a battle of junior welterweights Thursday that could be the fight of the year. Sanders (8-0), a non-stop puncher with quickness and stamina out of Michigan, faces Florida’s Hallback who has those same qualities and hopes to carry them to the heavier weight class. Both will meet for the IBA Intercontinental title at the Kewadin Casino in Sault St. Marie, Michigan.

(MAY 18) On June 12, 2004, at the Foxwoods Resort Casino, in Mashantucket, Connecticut, Jane "The Fleetwood Assassin" Couch, from the UK will be fighting Jamie "The Hurricane" Clampitt  of Narragansett, Rhode Island, in a 10-round championship fight, where Clampitt will be defending two of her world title belts (IWBF & NABAW).

(MAY 18) Sunshine Fettkether of the United States arrived in Amsterdam, Holland today, and readies to fight Holland's Lucia Rijker!  The Weigh-ins and press conference will be held tomorrow at 11:00 a.m. their time. Rijker and Fettkether will be fighting May 20 The show is already sold out!  More to come as details become available!

As many of you know I participated in the Women’s International Boxing Federation’s (W.I.B.F.) Featherweight title against Silke Weickenmeier in Stuttgart Germany on February 14, 2004. I defeated Silke in the ring when she did not answer the bell for the seventh round, and I was awarded the W.I.B.F World Featherweight Title.  There is much controversy in sports over the use if performance enhancing drugs, and the W.I.B.F. and other sanctioning bodies are interested in this topic. 

(MAY 17) On May 22, 2004, in Kinder, Louisiana, there is an excellent matchup between Wendy Rodriguez of Los Angeles vs. Anissa Zamarron of Texas!  These two will face each other in a 10-round NABA World title bout at 108 Lbs.!  Janis Guidry and Patricia Butaud of J & P Photography will be covering this event ringside! 

(MAY 17) Today, Sunshine Fettkether of the United States, is set to leave from the United States to Holland. She will be fighting Lucia Rijker of Holland, on May 20, 2004,  in Amsterdam, Holland, The two will be fighting 10 rounds, but it will be a non-title bout. WBAN will keep boxing fans updated on any news coming from this event!

(MAY 13) On June 12, 2004, in Budapest, Hungary, there will be two women's matches on the card that will feature Viktória Milo and Bettina Csábi.  Their opponents have not been named at this time. The women will be fighting six or eight round non-title bouts.

(MAY 12) Ralph Waldo Emerson, to my knowledge, was not a big boxing fan. Likewise, I'm fairly sure he never heard of Christy Martin. However, one of Mr. Emerson's better lines fits Martin's career arc quite well: "Do not go where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path, and leave a trail." Before Christy Martin embarked on her boxing career, there was no clear path for women in the ring. Since Christy Martin embarked on her boxing career, almost every woman fighter has followed the trail that Martin left. Christy Martin was to Women's boxing what Noah's flood was to precipitation; Martin engulfed the sport, she was the "face" of the sport, the fighter that everyone, no matter their interest or knowledge level, identified with the sport of Women's boxing.

(MAY 12) On May 20, 2004, at the Kewadin Casino, in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, Mary Jo Sanders, 8-0-0 (2KO), will be facing tough opponent, Chevelle Hallback, 19-3-1 (8 KO), for in a 10-round fight for the IBA Intercontinental Junior Welterweight Title. This is going to be a barnburner of a match!

(MAY 10) The date is moving closer to the Rijker-Fettkether face off, when on  May 20, 2004,  in Amsterdam, Holland, Sunshine Fettkether will be taking on Lucia Rijker of Holland, in a 10-round non-title fight.  WBAN was in contact with Team Sunshine today, and they said that Team Sunshine will leave for Holland on May 17, 2004.  Sue TL Fox

(MAY 8) Tonight, at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum, in Biloxi, Mississippi, in the main event, Ann Wolfe KO'd Vonda Ward, 1:06 seconds of the first round!  Ward was carried out on a stretcher after being on the mat for 10 minutes...Wolfe threw a beautiful overhand right that ended the fight in less than a round!  More to come soon..

(MAY 8) On the undercard tonight at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum, in Biloxi, Mississippi, Mia "The Knockout" St. John, stopped Lana Alexander in the fourth round of a scheduled six-rounder. WBAN will have more photos posted in an additional gallery, with photos at the fight. WBAN posted a weigh-in gallery (#167).

(MAY 8) Tonight, at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum, in Biloxi, Mississippi, in the main event, Vonda Ward, Ohio, and undefeated, will fight Ann Wolfe in a 10-round IBA 175 lb. championship.  Mia St. John will be on the undercard, and will be fighting Lana Alexander!

(MAY 8) On May 6, at the Marriott Hotel, Irvine, California, in a scheduled four-round bout on the undercard, Valanna McGee, now 4-2-1 (0KO), of Sacramento, California, and Rolanda Andrews, 6-7-1 (3KO), of Atlanta, Georgia, fought for two rounds, when McGee received a cut over the left eye, and the fight was stopped.  The decision was a technical draw for the two.

(MAY 8)  Last night at the Convention Center, in Austin, Texas, Linda Tenberg, 125, of Austin, Texas won a four-round unanimous decision over Kim Colbert, 131, in a scheduled four-round featherweight bout on the undercard.

(MAY 6) Melissa "Honey Girl" Del Valle may be the ultimate "road game" fighter, being the only woman boxer who's gone into two of the more intimidating "road" venues. Melissa went eight rounds with Isra Girgrah in Washington, DC in a bout promoted by....Isra Girgrah; in other words Del Valle was fighting the woman who was paying the judges. Melissa also fought ten rounds with Jenifer Alcorn in Lemoore, CA, a venue from which Alcorn rarely strayed and which was probably the ultimate "home court" in Women's boxing.  Full Story

(MAY 6) On May 23, in Denver, CO, there will be an All-Women's Card.  The card is promoted by Airtight Boxing, and the following boxers will be featured: Terri Cruz vs Leona Brown Mia St. John vs Melissa Yanas;  Mercedes Mercury vs TBA;Martha Orozco vs Serena Hayden. Other fights to be announced soon.

(MAY 6) On June 12, 2004, in Connecticut and promoted by Absoloot Boxing, Laila Ali will be defending her IBA Super-Middleweight title!  Ali will be facing Nikki Eplion, 14-1-2 (8KO). In a Press Release, by the Ali Team, Ali said that she plans to relinquish her titles, and move up to 175 lbs., to fight the winner of the Ann Wolfe-Vonda Ward fight that will take place on May 8th.  Ali went on to say, "There isn’t anyone left for me at 168lbs other than Leticia Robinson who is undefeated," said Laila. "However the fight was already offered to her and her people turned it down. I can’t hold on to titles that I can’t defend against real competition. So I have decided to let them go. I will move up to 175 and fight either Vonda or Ann. It does not matter which one. The outcome will be the same in either fight. I will win by knockout. They both claim that they have wanted me for so long so I am sure the winner will be happy to face me next. So whoever wins this Saturday in next in line for the BEATDOWN. Once I am champ and have cleaned out the light heavyweight division, I will come back down to 168 and take my titles back from whoever has them if she is real challenge for me. If there is no one there for me, I hang up the gloves."

(MAY 5) On May 20, in Amsterdam, Holland, Sunshine Fettkether will be taking on Lucia Rijker of Holland, in a 10-round non-title fight. Yes...yes... Boxing fans are saying, will this fight really happen in light of Rijker canceling out on her last fight in April...Well according to WBAN's insider, Fettkether has airline tickets, so that IS a good sign!

(MAY 5) Young Frida Wallberg, of Sweden, and former amateur world Champion, quickly climbed the World and European Professional ratings.  In the May 2004 WEBA ratings, Wallberg is now listed #1 in the jr. lightweight division. With the European belt,

(MAY 5) On May 13, 2004, in San Diego, CA, Wendy Rodriguez is scheduled to fight a six-rounder. The challenge from Team Rodriguez has been given to Mary Duron, where there seems to be a "grudge match" in the making.  Team Rodriguez told WBAN, "This is up to Duron's Team...they said that Wendy was so protected, lets see who ranks out!" ©photo by J.P. Yim

(MAY 4) On May 22, 2004, Eliza Olson will be fighting in Kinder, Louisiana, a 10-round title fight for the NABA Junior Welterweight belt.  No opponent has been named at this time, but WBAN would not doubt that Sumya Anani,  the ranked #`1 with the IFBA, and WIBA in the Junior Welterweight division would take on the task!

(MAY 4) An interesting tidbit of news!  According to the Boxeo Latino website, after the fight tape was studied by the CBDF (Federal Boxing Commission of Mexico) of the match on the April 17, 2004 fight between the champion, Delia “Japonesita” López, and the challenger, Gloria “Dinamita” Ríos, in the Sala de Armas de la Magdalena Mixihuca, in which the judges gave as a draw, have ordered an immediate rematch.  It did not indicate in this news source to who probably should have won.

(MAY 3) On May 28, 2004,  Cindy "Checkmate" Serrano, 4-0-0 (3KO) of Queens,  New York,  will be fighting Shakura Witherspoon, 10-34-1 (3KO), of Williamsport, Pennsylvania, at the Mohegan sun in Connecticut.  Serrano will then fight Lynn Smith, 0-2-0 (0KO)  a week later at the Blue Horizon in Philly!

(MAY 1) Last night at the Hammond Civic Center, in Hammond, Indiana,  on an ESPN2 “Friday Night Fights” card,  the televised women’s six-round bout featured Junior Lightweights Kristy Rose Follmar, 23, 5’8”, 129, from Muncie, Indiana, who stepped up the competition when she took on the relentless Liz Drew, 32, 5’7”, 131.5.

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