(AUG 11) Did you know that Trailblazer Pioneer multi-world champion Margaret Sideroff, won a world title against one of the very best in the sport Eva Jones Young on February 26, 1999!  Let’s roll the clock back even further in 1999!

On this date in history, Canadian underdog Margaret "Mean" Sidoroff pulled off a massive upset by defeating the reigning champion, Eva "Sweet Magic" Jones-Young, in a grueling 10-round split decision to win the IWBF World Bantamweight Championship.

 The bout took place in the tropical winter setting of St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. Jones-Young put her IWBHF World title Bantamweight title on the line.

Experience Disparity: Sidoroff was just 3-0 as a professional. In contrast, Jones-Young was a highly seasoned champion with an established 11-1-1 pro record.  In our WBAN archive of historical data,  we had the following documentation as quoted in the following:

Unlike boxers who look for a string of "sure things" close to home to build their early career records, Margaret seized a big opportunity on February 26, 1999, when she stepped into the ring in St. Thomas, Virgin Islands to take on then 11-1-1 Eva Jones-Young for the IWBF bantamweight title. Margaret was fighting one weight class above her usual weight (and 10 lbs lighter at fight time than a strong, seasoned opponent). Margaret piled on the pressure in the late going to earn a hard-fought split decision over a grueling ten rounds.

On March 1, 1999,  Margaret wrote to on the "Women's Boxing Page" forum,  the following:

 "If only you all could have seen the fight! I also want to thank Eva again for the opportunity, and hope that we can do it again really soon (title for title maybe?) I really underestimated Eva's strength and savvy. She out-weighed me by at least ten pounds the day of the fight and for the first time I found myself being tossed around in the clinches. And the head butts! That was one thing my amateur career could not prepare me for. Josh put me into the ring a little cold, just in case I had trouble with the ten rounds and Eva capitalized on that. She cracked me in the second, and by the time I was warmed up at the end of the third, I had a huge deficit to make up. Things went well for me the second part of the fight, and the climax came at the end of the 10th round when I trapped Eva in a corner and landed some beauty punches (my hands still hurt!) But Eva is a great champion, and as she came flying out of the corner we once again butted heads - you should see my lump! It went to the cards, and the judge that gave Eva the bout also awarded us five even rounds. And it really was that close. Eva is certainly the greatest competitor I've ever faced. Not only do I look forward to a rematch with her, but hope to fight one of the excellent champions at my natural weight of 112 lbs, or challenge one of the top contenders at 115 lbs for a title in that division. If I got a shot at Bridgett (Riley) that would be fun too."

Early Rounds: Jones-Young used her superior size, physical strength, and ring savvy to dominant early. Sidoroff later admitted to being "tossed around in the clinches" and struggling with the physical toll of accidental headbutts, which her 13-0 amateur career hadn't prepared her for.

 The Late Surge: Despite being outmuscled early on, Sidoroff relied on her trademark speed and conditioning. She relentlessly piled on the pressure in the later rounds, outworking the tiring champion.

The Verdict: After 10 fierce rounds, the judges handed Sidoroff a narrow split-decision victory, improving her record to 4-0 and stripping Jones-Young of her title.

This win acted as the ultimate springboard for Sidoroff, who went on to finish her pro career completely undefeated (8-0-1) while capturing three world titles. Proving there were no hard feelings, Sidoroff publicly thanked Jones-Young after the bout, praising her "strength and savvy".

Both legendary fighters were formally inducted together into the International Women's Boxing Hall of Fame in 2022.

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