LAS VEGAS, NV – Legendary featherweight pioneer
Christine "Chris" Kreuz will be officially inducted into the
International Women’s Boxing Hall of Fame (IWBHF) on Saturday, October 10, 2026.
The prestigious induction ceremony and dinner will take place at the Orleans
Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, celebrating Kreuz’s historic contributions
to the sport.
Before lacing up boxing gloves,
Christine was an accomplished all-around athlete. She
primarily played softball, and attended the University of
Illinois Chicago on a full, four-year softball scholarship.
During her collegiate career, she competed as a pitcher and
played second.
Christine said about her career,
“I'll start my story from my college years. I went to the
University of Illinois at Chicago on a four-year softball
scholarship. I was recruited as a pitcher and also played second
base. I went to school to be an athletic trainer, and during my
second year of playing I hurt my knee. I was sidelined for half
the year. and at that point something changed and I switched
gears and decided to get a law enforcement degree. My
grandfather was a police officer in the suburb of Chicago, and I
remember always admiring him. He was a sharpshooter and remember
him having won so many metals. Law enforcement seemed to be an
exciting and rewarding profession. I finished with a major in
Criminal Justice and minor in Physical Education. It was at the
end of my college days when I got interested in boxing and I
started my boxing career. I boxed for the next 8-9 years, and
then at 30 years old, I took the police test and started my
career on the Chicago Police Department.”
In 1988, while working for UPS,
she accidentally walked into a nightclub hosting a women's
boxing match. Captivated by the crowd's energy and the sheer
competitive drive of the sport, she immediately sought out a
trainer. When she was introduced to the world of boxing.
she didn't think twice about it. She knew in her heart that it
was her destiny.
Christine began her boxing career
in 1989. Under the guidance of manager Marshall Christopher, she
trained for just three months before winning her first amateur
bout at former Chicago Bears coach Mike Ditka’s downtown
restaurant. She quickly secured the U.S. Women's Amateur
Boxing Association lightweight championship, building an early
6-0 record.
Christina turned professional in
October 1992, competing primarily in the featherweight and
lightweight divisions.
She quickly established herself
as one of the few true pioneers of modern women’s boxing,
fighting at a time when female boxing was often written off as a
"sideshow" or novelty act.
Prior to a mid-career layoff,
Christine traveled overseas to gain fight experience and study
international styles. Upon returning from Japan, Chris won the
World Women's Boxing Association (WWBA) Junior Featherweight
Championship.
After a three-year layoff, she
returned to the ring at age 34. She made her comeback on April
10, 1998, against Marsha Evans in Chicago, Illinois. With a
convincing first-round knockout, the Windy City native looked as
if she had never left the sport.
Christine's professional career spanned from 1992 to 2000,
leaving a lasting legacy that will now be permanently enshrined
in the Hall of Fame.
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October 10, 2026 - Saturday
Orleans Hotel & Casino
Las Vegas, Nevada
VIP TABLES GENERAL
TICKETS
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The International Women's
Boxing Hall of Fame (IWBHF) Induction Ceremony/Dinner will be
held on Saturday, October 10, 2026, at the ORLEANS HOTEL &
CASINO, IN LAS VEGAS, NEVADA in the Mardi-Gra Ballroom, where we
will honor our new inductees and present special awards to
deserving recipients, and More!
You can book your room
On Line or call into:
Phone: 800-675-3267 Group Code: BFHK26C
Cut-Off: September 7, 2026
Link to book hotel room, the
cost of room and Resort fee is included:
Go Here
For more information contact the IWBHF:
Email: wban100@aol.com
Email: iwbhf@aol.com
Website: https://iwbhf.com
