(OCT 4) PHILADELPHIA, PA----- In recognition and celebration of Gibbs’ legendary and inspirational athletic career, a group of sports historians from the Philadelphia area is planning a 6 FOOT BRONZE STATUE of Gibbs to be unveiled in 2020. The Sculptor is Jennifer Frudakis-Petry of the famed Frudakis family of sculptors, whose clay model of the statue appears to the right.

A true BLACK HISTORY SPORTS LEGEND who was once known as “The Most Dangerous Woman in the World,” Gibbs is the first and still only African-American female to win a world championship in kickboxing. Her achievements in fighting/martial arts are as follows:

— Former 3X World Champion Kickboxer; 16-0 career record with 15 knockouts. Also known as “Lady Jack Johnson” and “The First Lady of Blackness”
— Top Contender in Women’s Professional Boxing, 9-2 record
— Former 3X World Champion in Tae Kwon Do  

For her lifelong record-setting athletic career, Gibbs has received the following recent accolades:

-2020 -  will receive the American Martial Arts Alliance highest honor "The AMAA Who's Who Legends Award" for her contributions to the Martial Arts, at a ceremony in Las Vegas.  Gibbs was nominated by Martial Arts legend Bob Wall for this honor.

—2019 - inducted into the Cabrini University Athletic Hall of Fame; recognized by Cabrini officials as Cabrini’s greatest athlete, male or female, of all time.
— 2019 - inducted into the Pennsylvania State Athletic Hall of Fame; and the Delaware County Athletic Hall of Fame
— 2018 - named as one of Philadelphia’s Greatest Women’s Athletes and Coaches; VIP guest for the Orange County, CA Black History Month parade.
— 2017 - honored by the Sports Legends of Delaware County Museum; called the greatest female athlete in county history; the museum accepted her ISKA World Title Belt for display.
— 2017 Martial Arts Legends Ceremony (Los Angeles) - Gibbs was honored by kickboxing legend Benny “The Jet” Urquidez, trainer David Krapes, actor Danny Trejo and others, and received an honorary ISKA World Championship belt for her achievements.
— 2016 - named as one of the Top Ten Greatest African American Female Athletes of All Time, alongside Serena Williams and Wilma Rudolph
— 2014 - recognized by Tom Joyner on BlackAmericaWeb for her achievements.

Gibbs, born and raised in the Philadelphia area, has a historic and multi-dimensional resume of athletic achievements: in addition to her Kickboxing; Boxing; and Tae Kwon Do successes, she was: a Professional Women’s Basketball Player in Europe; a First Team Kodak All-American in Basketball for Cabrini University; and a High School All-American in both basketball and track and field in high school. She began training in martial arts as a young girl to defend against bullies, and competed throughout her school years, remaining undefeated in her matches and tournaments.

Photo Credit:  Facebook

On September 20, 2019, Gibbs was inducted into the athletic Hall of Fame for Cabrini University in Radnor, PA, where she smashed every women’s basketball record in a amazing career. During the ceremony, Gibbs was recognized as Cabrini’s Greatest Athlete of All Time, male or female. It is astounding to consider that she competed for only 3 seasons, and her following records still stand:

— Career Points - 2,395 Career Assists 680
— Career Steals - 318
— holds the top 3 positions for single year scoring records (824, 788, 783)
and single year assist records (240, 230, 210)

Gibbs was named a First Team Kodak All-American in basketball, and invited to try out for the U.S. Women’s Olympic basketball team.

It is further mind-bending to consider that during her stellar collegiate basketball career, Gibbs continued to train and compete in martial arts, and in the off-season, won 3 world titles in Tae-Kwon Do!

After Cabrini, Gibbs was recruited to play for the European Women’s Basketball League, where she averaged 30 points a game and took her Etzella Luxembourg team to the European Championship.

Basketball…Track and Field…Karate…Tae Kwon Do…Kickboxing…Boxing…all in a day’s work for this one-of-a-kind athletic genius!

From basketball to kickboxing — While in Europe for basketball, Gibbs decided to leave and pursue a career in professional kickboxing, inspired by a televised fight featuring legendary kickboxer Benny “The Jet” Urquidez. Gibbs was determined to meet and train with Urquidez, and went to Los Angeles to do just that! She amassed a 16-0 record with 15 knockouts, and 3 World Championships!

Photo Credit:  Sue TL Fox

Women’s Boxing With an undefeated kickboxing record and “The Most Dangerous Woman in the World” title, boxing promoters came knocking on Gibbs’ door. It was then that she decided to embark on a new challenge, and accepted their offer to compete in the world of boxing in 1997. Gibbs quickly rose through the ranks, winning her first four fights. Then, due to unfortunate scheduling, Gibbs entered the title fight against Leah Mellinger while in an exhausting schedule shooting the movie “Knockout” — and suffered the first loss of her fight career. The loss inspired Gibbs to intensify her training and resume her quest to the top. She returned with an impressive win over Hannah Fox and a draw against Sumya Anani. In her rematch against Anani in 2003, Gibbs re-injured her hand, forcing her withdrawal from the fight, and leading to her decision to retire.

Up to this point, Gibbs’ life had been defined by constant motion and achievement, and she wasn’t about to slow down after her Retirement from Boxing. Since that time, she has kept very busy both inside and outside the ring, including:

Writer, Director, Producer of short film “Bus Fare,” and producer of several projects in development including a film project based on her life story and a tv reality series.
Motivational Speaker and Self-Defense Workshop Leader
3. Producer, “Philadelphia’s Greatest Women Athletes and Coaches Awards” event, August 2018
4. Author of her autobiography The Fredia Gibbs Story - Meet the Most Dangerous Woman in the World. (available on Amazon); another book project in the works.
5. Writer, Producer and Host of Radio Show “The World of Sports with Cheetah”; conducted numerous interviews of celebrity athletes
6. TV correspondent for ESPN
7. Trainer of professional boxers, including Mia St. John
8. Owner and operator of a boxing gym where she trained athletes and celebrities

THE LEGACY OF FREDIA GIBBS….

Gibbs is certainly considered a trailblazer for women in sports and her contribution to the fighting sports is unquestioned. Her speed, skill, athleticism and confidence brought fans, media and respect to women in the fight world. The female fighters of today stand squarely on her shoulders!

The statue of Fredia Gibbs will serve as inspiration to many for generations to come. Fredia’s motto is “Be a Champion of Life!”