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5'3" junior welterweight Sharon "Wild Thing" Anyos from Australia is a boxer,
kickboxer and karate competitor. Born on 13 October 1970, she began
her love affair with the fight game as a "karate kid".
Sharon entered her first tournament when she was six years old,
and competed in non-contact karate until she was sixteen.
She entered the Australian Koshiki Full Contact Titles in 1986 and won the
Australian Women's Title. In 1989 she participated in the Brogoli
Championships in Hawaii, and took second place Champion of Champions,
second place in Black Belt Fighting and first place in Black Belt Forms.
In 1989 she took fourth place in Black Belt Fighting at the Kobota World
Cup in Los Angeles.
Winning the Australian Koshiki Full Contact Karate title sparked Sharon's interest in
kickboxing and Muay Thai, and in 1989 she won the WAKO Australian Kickboxing
Lightweight title with wins over Nadine McDonald and Narelle Rockall. In 1991
she fought to draws with Songul Oruc and Stephanie Curtiss in WKO action, and
in 1992 she again defeated Narelle Rockall in WAKO action. A loss to Stephanie
Curtiss in 1993 did not deter her, and in 1995 she won an ISKA Australian
title by unanimous decision over Debbie Merritt. A successful defense of this title
against Merritt in 1996 was followed in 1997 by a TKO of Laura Skinner
at 0:10 of the second round in a Muay Thai bout, and a unanimous decision over Holly Ferneley in
a kickboxing bout.
In her pro boxing debut, Sharon (126 lb) won the ANBF Women's Junior Lightweight Title by a second-round TKO
over Cathy Hawkins (126 lb) on July 4, 1998 at Carrara Basketball Stadium. This
was Australia's
first ever sanctioned women's boxing bout.
She then won the OBA Women's Junior
Welterweight Title, defeating Holly Ferneley by
unanimous decision (see the picture above, kindly provided by Brian Anyos).
February 1999 saw Sharon's diary full with contests throughout the year, but
she had problems with opponents pulling out before the dates of her fights.
On September 18, 1999 at Surfers Paradise in Queensland, Australia,
Sharon (at 138½ lbs) moved her pro record to 3-0 with a
unanimous
six-round decision over previously undefeated Wena Karaka (137 lbs)
of New Zealand for the OBA Welterweight title. Sharon won every
round on the judges' scorecards. Karaka fell to 2-1 with the loss.
Sharon next came down in weight to take a world title fight ... facing
England's own Jane
Couch for the vacant WBF Women's Lightweight world title in London, England on 31 October, 1999.
In a prefight interview
Sharon told Dee why this bout was a ten-year dream come true for her, but it
was far from her dream bout once Team Anyos was at the David Lloyd Tennis Centre
Club, Raynes Park in London!
Sharon's trainer/father Les Anyos sent Dee a
scathing report on the circumstances under which
Sharon came away on the short end of a unanimous
(99-92; 98-94; 96-95) decision and her first boxing loss.
Correspondent James Clifford wrote that "In an all action bout Couch's
superior ringcraft and boxing technique proved to be the decisive factors in overcoming Anyos'
relentless aggression. The pace and intensity was frantic as Anyos worked aggressively to get
inside Couch's reach and land telling blows. Couch who started her career as a brawler type
fighter showed the dividends of her boxing training regime under Tex Woodward ... from the
opening rounds when Couch was experiencing problems measuring the distance for punches to
quell Anyos' attacks, Couch took over in the middle rounds using a variety of well timed
uppercuts, straight rights and effective jabs to pull ahead. Going into the last round in a
closely fought bout both fighters displayed tremendous conditioning and desire to win with Anyos
probably feeling that she needed a big round to sway the decision managing to back Couch up at times.
The scores of the judges were unanimous but varied: John Coyle 99-92, Terry O'Connor 98-94 and
Larry O'Connell (of Holyfield vs. Lewis fame) 96-95."
"Ringside commenting for the TV was former WBO Middleweight and Super-Middleweight champion Steve Collins.
In his first time watching women's boxing live Collins was very impressed by the bout and remarked
that the decision could have gone the other way in Anyos' favor but Couch managed to pull it out
with her superior technique. Commentating for Bravo Cable TV, Claude Abrams, editor of respected
fight paper "Boxing News" had started the evening very skeptical about women's boxing. After the bout
he was very complimentary, stating that "… if that had been a men's fight we would have been talking
about it for months …. and I don't think we should treat these girls any different".
"World famous Manager/Promoter Mickey Duff believed it was a great contest and Couch
was fortunate to get the decision. Couch's trainer Tex Woodward conceded that 'all-action Sharon caused a few problems.'"
Clifford concluded: "Sharon Anyos probably learnt more in defeat than her three victories combined and proved not only
is she the 'Wildthing' but also the real thing. She's certainly championship material."
Sharon later became the first woman to receive an award from the
Australian National Boxing Federation. At their Annual Awards
Presentation Dinner in Brisbane on February 11, 2000, she got an
Outstanding Achievement Award for her WBF world title
fight with Jane Couch. According to Sharon's father and trainer Les Anyos. this was a "first" for a previously exclusively male event in a
nation that only embraced women's boxing officially in 1998. Sharon was also named "First Lady of Australian Boxing".
She then looked to California as a place to get more fight
experience and to train.
On May 6, 2000 at Fantasy Springs Casino in Indio, California, she weighed in at 125 lbs and moved her pro boxing record to
4-1 with a convincing four-round unanimous (40-36 on all cards) decision over
Cynthia Prouder (127½ lbs) of Los Angeles,
whose record fell to 5-7-1. As she had done against Couch, Anyos fought a fast-paced
fight, and was able to keep Prouder from setting up and going to work.
Sharon then trained at California's Coachella Valley
Boxing Club with IFBA champion Sandy Yard.
On October 14, 2000 at Epicenter in Rancho Cucamonga, California,
Sharon took on JoJo Wyman
of Woodland Hills, California over ten rounds for the newly created WIBA Featherweight
title, this time coming away with a hard-fought unanimous (96-94) decision to
take the belt.
The fight was non-stop action from round 1 through round 10 and neither fighter
backed up an inch. Although a vocal Australian contingent cheered for
Sharon, the crowd was largely for Wyman, a popular local boxer.
One correspondent told me: "At the end of the fight, I thought
Jo Jo had an edge, but it was so close I could not be certain. It was truly a
great fight",
Another said: "This was a close one to call
and many felt that Wyman deserved the decision. There were boos from
the audience when the decision was announced ... but the booing was neither vociferous or nasty, more just a
natural expression of disappointment over the hometown favorite
losing a close one. No one I saw, either in the audience or in the
ring, was outraged over the decision ... it really
was a great fight and everyone recognized it." Wyman fell to 7-3 while
Sharon
improved her pro boxing record to 5-1.
At the Australian Boxing Awards night on February 17, 2001, Sharon received the Australian Female
Fighter of the Year award, plus a historic award for pioneering women's boxing in Australia and
for being the first Australian female world boxing champion.
On November 30, 2001 at Coolangatta Hotel in Queensland, Australia, Sharon (148¾ lbs) won a six-round
unanimous (60-55,60-55,60-54) decision over Holly Ferneley (128 lbs), who fell to 0-4-1 as a pro boxer. Anyos was
very aggressive in the early rounds and Ferneley was cut over her eye in a clash of heads. Local reports say that
Ferneley said "it was fun" and Anyos that Ferneley was a good fighter but that she (Anyos)
was feeling the effects of ring rust.
On December 18, 2002 in Tokyo, Japan, Japanese featherweight champion Emiko Raika of Tokyo defeated Sharon by a hard-fought ten-round split
(98-97,98-99,99-98) decision for the WIBA Featherweight title. Anyos controlled the early going but appeared to run
out of gas in the later rounds, By the end of the fight, Raika was badly battered around her left eye
but she took the
title belt and advanced her own record to 5-1-0 (2 KO).
In a rematch on November 30, 2003 in Tokyo, Japan,
Emiko Raika succesfully defended the WIBA Featherweight title with a ten-round majority
decision over Sharon. Raika improved her record to 9-1-1 (4 KO).
Sharon Anyos lands to the face of Linda Tenberg
© copyrighted photograph by Renee from Extreme Images
On October 1, 2004 at Southport Sharks in Southport, Queensland,
Australia, Sharon (125 lbs) won a ten-round unanimous (99-91,100-90,100-90)
decision over Linda Tenberg (5'6", 126 lbs) of Austin, Texas for the vacant WBF
Women's Featherweight Title. Anyos came out aggressively and traded
with Tenberg against the ropes but Tenberg initially fought back well at close
range. Anyos kept up the pressure in the second, and caught Tenberg with
several hard rights, but Tenberg came out strong for the third round and landed
several good rights of her own. Anyos continued to take the fight to Tenberg in
the fourth and fifth as Tenberg began to tire and the Texan's punches were wider
and less accurate. Anyos began to dominate in the sixth and seventh, swarming
Tenberg, and landing with combinations and a hard left hook. Tenberg was hurt at
times but showed no sign of quitting. Sharon kept firing jabs and combinations
in the eighth as Tenberg began to show her handiwork under her left eye. Anyos
counterpunched until late in the tenth when she put on an aggressive flurry to
end the fight. Anyos improved to 7-3-0 (1 KO) while Tenberg fell to 11-10 (6 KO). For a full WBAN fight report by Mike “Kryptonite” Altamura, go
here. For more
fight photos by Extreme Images, see
Photo Gallery #214
on the WBAN Member Site.
 After the fight, Anyos told reporters “I hope everyone enjoyed it because I
had a fantastic time in here. I knew I was in here for 10 rounds. I trained for
10 rounds and I wanted to show some classy boxing." Anyos also praised
three-time world champion Jeff Fenech, who had once opposed women's boxing,
for promoting the fight. "If it wasn't for Jeff Fenech you wouldn't be seeing
what you are seeing on TV here in Australia," she said. Fenech
admitted that Anyos had changed his view of the women's sport.
"I feel proud to be associated with Sharon and her whole family,"
he said. "She came to Sydney and convinced me to put this fight on. Girls
can do it as good as we can." On December 10, 2004 at
Southport Sharks in Southport, Queensland, Australia, Sharon won a ten-round
majority decision over Lisa Brown of Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, defending
her WBF Women's Featherweight Title.
According
to WBAN correspondent Mike Altamura, "While
the 34-year-old Anyos constantly charged forward, the southpaw Brown looked
to effectively counterpunch with swift straight left hands. Anyos
established a decent pace in the opening stanza, constantly pressing the
attack and despite landing few punchers, with Brown content to just throw
the occasional counter, won the round on work-rate alone. A scrappy sort of
round ensued in the second, with again few scoring punchers, although Brown
was able to get home with a couple rights hooks late to clinch the round.
The Australian was the busier fighter in the third, but the 5’2 ½” Brown was
clearly the more effective, making Anyos pay with precise left hands each
time she either leaned in, or missed with the jab. Anyos made a slight
adjustment in the fourth, trapping the Canadian on the ropes and firing to
her well-cut midsection on a few occasions. It was enough to snare the
round, but Brown came back in the fifth, twisting and rolling out of the
incoming traffic, and scoring with the left hand. Rounds six and seven were
close, Anyos again throwing more leather, but Brown a lot more prudent with
her shots. Hard scoring rounds, maybe leaning towards the defending champion
due to sheer aggression. There was little that landed of note in the eighth,
although Brown did counter brilliantly in one exchange with her back to the
ropes, which probably shaded it in her direction. In the final two stanzas,
Anyos continued to walk forward, but Brown, picking her spots, seemed to
offset her opponent’s offence, using her ring smarts to walk her into her
crisp left counters. A close, well-contested, and high-octane encounter. I
preferred the challenger’s effective counters over Anyos’ work rate, and had
Brown winning 97-94, although there was little separating these two gutsy
combatants in at least four of the rounds." Brown suffered her first loss and is 9-1-2 (3 KO).
Sharon told Altamura: “I’d like to say that
we did have an original opponent, Layla McCarter, that was meant to take the
fight. However, four weeks ago she pulled out. I was left to try and find an
opponent, so I tried to find someone that was as strong as I could find,
someone that has obviously never lost a fight, and Lisa Brown popped up on
the internet and she accepted. I knew it was going to be a struggle, and I
knew that Australia was going to be in for one of the best female fights
they were ever gonna see. I am more than happy to give Lisa a rematch
because that was an awesome fight and I think that we’re both very strong
girls.”
Anyos also praised Brown, saying “Lisa Brown came here and put up a great
fight. I think she showed what a true champion she is, and it was a very,
very close fight. I’m happy we got the decision. To Lisa and her husband who
came over here, again at short notice, you’se are great people, I hope you
enjoyed Australia, we loved having you here, and we welcome you back any
time.” Lisa Brown said "It was tough. I think I did enough to
win, but hey, I’m in Australia, I’m in her hometown, and I guess the judging
went her way. But next time ...”
On February 23, 2005 at Vodafone Arena in Melbourne, Victoria, Sharon (124¼
lbs) won by a TKO over Nurys Rincón (5'4½", 125½ lbs) of Arjona, Colombia
when Rincón was unable to come out for the seventh round due to a rib
injury. Rincón had entered the ring wearing a body suit and a
pad over her ribs to protect a previous injury, and the fight was delayed
while she was instructed to remove this extra protection. Anyos
attacked the vulnerable area in the third round and Rincón, who was also
deducted a point for holding, apparently fought the next three rounds with
broken ribs (it's unclear whether or not she brought this injury into the
ring, hence the padding). Anyos improved her record to
9-3 (2 KO) while Rincón slipped to 7-1-2
(2 KOs).
On March 31, 2005 at Waitakere's Trusts Stadium in Auckland, New Zealand,
Sharon won a four-round split decision of debut fighter
Christina Tai of New Zealand in what has been described to me as a "home
town" tilt in the scoring towards the New Zealand boxer after a bout that
was controlled by Anyos. Anyos improved her record to 10-3
(2 KO).
Sharon Anyos vs. Marcela Acuña for the WBC title
Photo by Carley's Photography
courtesy Team Anyos
On October 21, 2005 at Gold Coast Convention Center in Broadbeach,
Queensland, Australia, Sharon won a ten-round unanimous (97-93,96-94,96-94)
decision over 29-year-old former WIBA Featherweight champion
Marcela Acuña of Formosa, Argentina for the vacant
WBC Women's Featherweight title. The hard-hitting Acuña landed the
most damaging punches in this fight, but Anyos was busier and used her reach
advantage to outbox her for the decision. Anyos kept her distance to take
the first two rounds but got into a slugging match with the dangerous
Argentinian, who has a strong right hand punch. Anyos took some heavy shots
in this round and looked in danger of losing her composure according to
Eastside Boxing's ringside correspondent Tony Nobbs. She got back to boxing
in the later rounds and used her speed to control the action, holding off a
strong charge by Acuña in the ninth as the crowd chanted her nickname "Wild
Thing". "I am very very proud," said Anyos after the fight, sporting
a badly swollen left cheek. "I felt strong every round. The girl can
punch and she also headbutts quite well. I felt I won at least eight
of the 10 rounds which to me is all that matters. I've been to war to win
the best world title you could ever be given." Acuña fell to
19-5-0 (12 KOs) with the loss while Anyos improved to 11-3-0
(2 KO).
Manager David Viola said Anyos deserved national recognition after becoming
the country's first female world boxing champion. "We have our
'Million Dollar Baby' here. This is not Hollywood," said Viola,
"this girl trains six hours a day. She's one of the most focused,
determined, feisty, arrogant ladies I've ever met. Very difficult to manage
but I love her to death."
On June 9, 2006 in Southport, Queensland, Australia, Sharon TKO'd
20-year-old Konsuay Deksukhotnai of Thailand at 0:49 in the fourth round of
a scheduled (non-title) eight-rounder. Anyos took some right hands from her
smaller opponent in Round One, but she gained control of the fight in the
second round and out-punched Deksukhothai the rest of the way. A flurry of
right hands in the fourth forced the Thai boxer into the ropes and referee
Alan Simpson stopped the bout. Sharon improved to 12-3-0 (3 KO) with the
win, which also netted her a new yellow Porsche with number plate "Wildthing"
from a local businessman. Deksukhothai's record was given as 5-3 (2
KO's), but Thai boxing records are hard to verify and often contain a mix of
sanctioned and unsanctioned bouts.
On September 23, 2006 at Southport Sharks Club
on the Gold Coast, in Queensland, Australia, Sharon Anyos
successfully defended her WBC world featherweight title when she stopped
Esther Schouten of the Netherlands at
1:37 in the sixth round. Anyos told the news media that it was her
hardest fight so far, and that she was pleased that she won the bout this
way. After Schouten had set the pace in the first round with some strong
right hands that had the local crowd nervous, Anyos took control in the second and outworked
her taller opponent, eventually wearing her down. In the fourth round,
Schouten was cut over her left eye by an Anyos right, and referee Brad Vocale intervened to have the ring physician check the cut.
Schouten tried to time Anyos with uppercuts as she
charged forward but could not recover the initiative.
The fight was stopped In the sixth round when
Anyos threw a barrage of combinations which stunned Schouten, leaving her
wobbling at the knees against the ropes and in no condition to return fire.
Schouten fell to 18-4-1 (9 KO’s).
"I wasn't worried after Esther fought so well in round one," said
Anyos' trainer Lovemore Ndou. "I knew that Sharon could make it easier
for herself by staying calm and working off the jab. Eventually she was
going to catch her. Once she caught her, I knew she was going to break her
down and that's what happened."
On February 23, 2007 at the RSL Club in Southport, Queensland, Sharon (128¾
lbs) won a six-round unanimous (60-54,59-54,59-54) decision over
little-known Thai boxer Satreelek Paradorngym a.k.a. Pradisam Chuthaporn
(5'1", 124¼ lbs) who was reputedly 5-1-0 (1 KO) coming into
the bout (but Thai female boxing records are hard to verify because of
inconsistent record-keeping of boxers' names). Anyos improved to 14-3-0 (4
KO's) with the win.
© Copyrighted photo by Carley's
Photography
courtesy Team Anyos
Sharon holds a fifth degree black belt in karate and is a nationally licensed
boxing trainer, kickboxing instructor and karate coach.
Sharon is trained by Lovemore Ndou and can be
contacted at
wildstar@bigpond.net.au.
To check out more
detailed fight reports and Sharon Anyos's
complete up-to-date boxing records, you can go to the
WBAN Records Member
Site
Other Sharon Anyos links
Page last updated:
Friday February 13, 2009 |
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