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Valerie "The Wolfe" Mahfood (5'8", 170 lbs, b. February 1, 1974) lives in Groves, Texas and is trained in nearby
Orange, Texas by Harry Murdock and Austin Green. She realized her boxing dream at age 25 when she won the IWBF and WIBF
Light Heavyweight world titles in Panama City.
Valerie was born and raised in Tyler, Texas, and
graduated from Robert E. Lee High School in 1992. She then attended Kilgore
Correctional Officer Academy where she was the youngest student ever admitted
and one of only two women selected from 300 prospective applications. After
graduating from the Academy, she worked at Stiles Prison, an all-male maximum
security institution, for 6 years, then was promoted to Grievance
Lieutenant at the LeBlanc Unit. Valerie first had a desire
to box when she heard a commercial for a Toughwoman contest. She told me that
"she
thought this would be neat" and talked about it to a co-worker whose two sons boxed at the gym in Orange. "He said he
would talk to the trainers there and see if they would let me come there. One week later, there I was in a real boxing
gym". After Harry Murdock and manager Austin Green explained the dedication that it would take to become a boxer, and she saw
people working out in their gym, Valerie Mahfood knew that she would love it.
Like many female boxers, Valerie says it took a while for everyone to be sure that she was serious, as she was the
only female in the gym. But three months after she began training, "they were really starting to spend time with me"
and she was making progress that four years later would lead her to a world title.
In early 1996, Valerie won an amateur bout in Beaumont, Texas, then notched four wins without a loss at a local
Toughwoman show. She fought outside Texas for the first time six months later, winning one fight and losing one in
the National Toughwoman competition in Detroit. By the end of 1996, Valerie sported an amateur record of 6-1 with 4
KO's, and she and her trainers became serious about a pro career.
On July 28, 1997 in New Orleans, she won her pro debut by knocking out Jeanne Martinez
of Slidell, Louisiana in the first round. (Martinez, who was also making her
pro debut, subsequently
became the IBA Lightweight champion and fought Belinda Laracuente to a draw).
On April 2, 1998 in Houston, Texas, Valerie won a four-round
decision over Brenda Cooper of Hosuton, another debut fighter. On
June 24, 1998 at the Boomtown Riverboat Casino in Harvey, Louisiana, Valerie
(168 lbs) won by a fourth-round TKO over debut fighter Thistle Colleps (171
lbs) of Lumberton, Texas.
On July 19, 1998 at the Civic Center in Lake Charles, Louisiana, she
stepped up to six rounds and stiffer competition, but lost by
unanimous decision to Mitzi Jeter from Dalton, Georgia.
Jeter moved her own pro record to 4-1 (2 KO) with the win, which was seen on ESPN2.
"Darn, she was a good boxer, and a nice lady after the bout", says Valerie!
On December 2, 1998 in New Orleans, Louisiana, she was knocked out in
the third round by 6'1" Kendra Lenhart of Lenoir City, Tennessee. Valerie
learned a lesson from this loss ... "I was probably the most unprepared
(mentally) for a fight I have ever been, and it showed", she says. Lenhart
improved to 1-3 with the win. It was time to go home and regroup as the two tough losses had dropped her
to a 3-2 record.
On May 8, 1999 in Philadephia, Mississippi, Valerie bounced back with a TKO
of Genevia Buckhalter (174½ lbs) of Columbus, Mississippi at 1:25 in the
third round. Buckhalter fell to 1-1-1 with this loss.
On May 27, 1999 at the Gold Strike Casino in Tunica, Mississippi, Valerie
lost a hard-fought six-round unanimous decision to 6'0"
Kathy Rivers of Hollywood, Florida. Valerie
describes Rivers as "Godzilla sized" and says "my trainers/managers were
getting dirty looks from me at the weigh-in. This girl was huge."
The win moved Rivers's record to 6-1 but once
again, Valerie Mahfood she says that she learned a lot from a bout that
she lost ... as she would show later in Panama!
On July 15, 1999 in Houston, Texas, Valerie weighed in at 164 lbs and won
a unanimous decision in a rematch with Brenda Cooper (158½
lbs), who fell to 2-2 (2 KO). With her record now 5-3, as Valerie describes it ... "we got serious
for the fight of all fights for me and my career. You see, when I first
walked into the gym in Orange, Texas and smelled that air and seen all
of the sweat, I wanted to be a champion. I was too scared to say that to
the trainers ... but I thought it." They contracted with Dee Lee
promotions for a rematch with Kathy Rivers in Panama City, Panama,
for the WIBF and IWBF Light Heavyweight world titles!
Valerie vs. Kathy Rivers in Panama City, 1999
 Valerie's boxing dream came true on September 17, 1999 as she
weighed in at 171 lbs and avenged
her previous loss and won the two titles by TKO'ing Kathy Rivers (177 lbs) at 0:32 in
the tenth round. She had knocked
Rivers down once and was ahead by 88-83, 88-84, 89-84 on the
scorecards when the bout was stopped. Valerie had prepared for Panama's
heat and humidity by using space heaters in her gym while she was
working out. Rivers was bothered by the heat and faded early in the
bout.
"It was the perfect night for me", says Mahfood. "My people had
me as prepared as any fighter could have been. I give the credit to
them. They kept everything in focus for me and WE did it ...
stopped the great Kathy Rivers." Rivers slipped to 8-2 with the loss.
On November 18, 1999 at the Radisson Astrodome in Houston, Texas,
a sellout crowd of 3000 saw Valerie win
with a four-round unanimous (40-36, 40-36, 39-37)
decision in a rematch with Genevia Buckhalter of Columbus, Mississippi, who
dropped to 1-4-1. Mahfood dominated the fight, establishing herself as the aggressor right away
with a stiff jab and left hook to the body. Buckhalter attempted to counter with
a right hook, which was effective for a while. Buckhalter held Mahfood off
with her jab, but did not win the round on any score card.
In the second, Mahfood used her jab as Buckhalter retreated throwing looping
hooks. Near the end of the round Buckhalter dropped her left to defend
a hook to the body and was knocked into the ropes, but Mahfood was unable to
finish her off. Buckhalter rallied in the third with a flurry of
punches including a solid left hook that produced a mouse under Mahfood's right eye.
Mahfood came back with shots to the body and Buckhalter again
began to drop her hands. The fourth saw both throw leather
from bell to bell, going for a KO in action that brought the crowd to its
feet.
Trainer Murdock told me after this that Mahfood wouldn't take any more four-round fights, as
"we are in shape for 6 or 8 all the time".
 On April 20, 2000 at the Civic Center in Beaumont, Texas,
Valerie (180 lbs) stopped Monica McGowan (182 lbs) of
Jackonville, Texas at 1:47 in the third round. Trainer Harry Murdock told me that
"Monica was by far the strongest girl
we have fought. She just lacks some skill." McGowan fell to 1-1-0.
On June 16, 2000 at at Casino Magic in Bay St Louis, Mississippi,
Valerie (164 lbs) moved her pro record to 9-3
with a four-round unanimous (40-35,40-35,0-36) decision over
Genevia Buckhalter (171 lbs) of Columbus. Mississippi, who is now 1-6-1.
Trainer Murdock told me about this fight: "Genevia Buckhalter is improving. The bad part is Valerie is a much improved boxer also.
I said several months back we would not fight anymore four rounders and we did and I am
saying for the last time no more 4 rounders. We will stay home first. You do not get to challenge
yourself nor practice what we are working on in the gym nor do you get to work for the ten round
fight to come. We would rather spar for the public than go fight for pennies in a four round fight.
Valerie and I were very disappointed when Vonda Ward backed out of the June 29th fight for Cedric
Kushner in New York. We were looking forward to the exposure with Kushner. We had been
training for four weeks when she backed out for no apparent reason. We were struggling to keep on
the weight during the hot Texas summer. So when the Casino Magic fight talks started they
wanted to know if we could make 168 lbs. We took a contract weight of 168 lbs and began our
seven day diet. We came in at 164 and Genevia weighed 171 (over the contract weight they asked
for!). Now we have this behind us our plans are to fight for the 168 lb Super Middleweight and
stay at 168 for a while.
We will fight for these titles as soon as possible. We are ready and have three promoters talking about
several different fighters. We owe several a whooping and Ms. Ali is another story. I am pleading and
begging the states commissioners to stop the slaughter of women's boxing by letting her pick these opponents.
I not saying to force her into fighting something she is not ready for (Valerie) but she needs to fight
the Genevia Buckhalters, and rematch Karen Bill with a state such as Texas that has unbiased Commission."
On August 10, 2000 at Astro Arena in Houston, Texas, Valerie weighed in at 165 lbs and defeated Mary Ann Almager (165 lbs) of Midland, Texas by TKO at 0:57 in the fifth round
of a schedule ten-rounder to win the vacant IWBF Super Middleweight title. This was a hard-fought bout that was stopped when Almager injured her ankle and was
unable to continue. Mahfood improved to 10-3 (6 KO's), and Almager fell to 11-4 (8 KO's). Valerie came down in weight
from the Light Heavyweight division to participate in this bout, and as a result, vacated the IWBF Light
Heavyweight title.
In August 2000 she was named WBAN's Fighter of the Month.
Valerie vs. Ann Wolfe in November 2000
On November 30, 2000 at the Radisson Astrodome in Houston, Valerie weighed in at a trim 161½ lbs and KO'd
undefeated fellow Texan Ann Wolfe, (5'9", 162 lbs) from Waco, Texas at 1:17 in the third round
of a long-awaited slugfest. Mahfood was knocked down in the opening round of
this fight, but she came back with strong counters to Wolfe's head and body in
the second and decked Wolfe for the full count with a right and a left in the
third. Ann Wolfe had also been blitzing her other Texas competition ... with a
first-round TKO over Mary Ann Almager and a second round TKO of rugged Gina Nicholas. But Mahfood pulled out a come-
from-behind KO win to hand her almost-namesake her first loss in six pro fights. Mahfood told reporters "She hit me
harder than I expected ... I knew she was a lot stronger than me, but my experience kept me in the fight. I know what
it feels like to be knocked out. I was the better boxer, and it won me the fight."
(For more photos see
Photo Gallery #93
on the WBAN Records Member Site).
Wolfe fell to 5-1 with the loss. On April 19, 2001 at the Civic Center in Beaumont, Texas, 6'1" Kendra Lenhart
(164½ lbs) of
Lenoir City, Tennessee knocked out Valerie (168 lbs) in the second round of a scheduled 10-round bout, to earn her second KO
win over Mahfood in her career and take the WIBF Super Middleweight (168-lb) title. Lenhart knocked Mahfood down
three times for eight counts in the second round. Valerie Mahfood remains the WIBF 175-lb champion while Lenhart
improved to 7-8-1 (7 KO's) with the win.
Valerie vs. Trina Ortegon in November 2001 On November 16, 2001 at the Convention Center in Austin, Texas, Valerie
(161¼ lbs) won a ten-round unanimous
(96-94,96-94,98-92) decision over IFBA Super Middleweight champion Trina Ortegon
(160 lbs) of
Albuquerque, New Mexico for the WIBA 168-lb world title. Mahfood landed heavily with power shots in the earlier
rounds but Ortegon rallied in the late going despite damage to her right eye which was closing up. Mahfood improved to
12-4 (7 KOs) while Ortegon fell to 9-5 (2 KOs) with the loss.
On June 14, 2002 at Civic Center in Beaumont, Texas, in a battle of world champions from Texas, Valerie
(163½ lbs) won an eight-round non-title rematch with IBA Middleweight champion Mary Ann
Almager (167 lbs) of Midland, Texas. Mahfood was able to outwork Almager against the ropes to win an eight-
round 77-73,78-72,74-76 split decision that moved her own record to 13-4 (7 KO). Almager slipped to 13-5-0 (9 KO) with
the loss.
 On November 8, 2002 at the Stratosphere Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, Valerie (161 lbs), the IWBF and WIBA
Super Middleweight champion, took on IBA Super Middleweight champion Laila Ali (167 lbs) in a
triple-title unification bout. This was a tough loss for Mahfood as Ali won by a TKO at 1:14 in the eighth round.after
dominating the Texan. Both took some time to warm up in the first round but after this it was all Ali as she began to
land hard left hooks to Mahfood's chin and bloodied Mahfood's nose with a straight right. Ali began to work Mahfood's
body in the fourth and Laila's digging left hooks paid dividends by the sixth round as Mahfood's gloves began to come
down. Ali began to unload as Valerie tired in the seventh and she started the eighth with a pounding right to the head
that bloodied Mahfood some more. Ali later backed Mahfood to the ropes where she uncorked a fierce left-right-left
combination that brought referee Joe Cortez in to save Valerie from further punishment. Ali took home all three super
middleweight belts from this triple-unification bout, which was carried live on ESPN2. Ali said she was unhappy at the
stoppage as she wanted to continue to pay Mahfood back for her pre-fight comments. This bout finally cleared the air in
the Super Middleweight division and showed that Ali has grown to match her hype. Ali advanced to 13-0-0
(10 KO).
See also
"The Yahya sisterhood", in which Valerie's brother Sebastian Mahfood
describes how "much of the fighting isn’t with
Ali but with the environment that her manager and husband Johnnie “Yahya”
McClain has created ... My advice for anyone planning to step into the ring
against Laila ... is to know that she is not up against a woman but against the
image of one, that she is not fighting in a ring but in a constructed
environment that envelopes it, that she is no longer a fighter but an implement,
a tool, brought into the ring for the purpose of being beaten. As long as Yahya
can control the environment in which Laila fights, then Laila will win. To beat
Laila, one need only beat the environment, and to do that, one must be aware
that it exists without being affected by its existence."
On June 21, 2003 at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California, Laila Ali (168 lbs) of Miami Beach, Florida again stopped Valerie (168
lbs), this time at 1:17 in the sixth. Neither showed any reluctance to mix it up on the inside in this second matchup,
but Ali found a home for a counter right hand that could shake Mahfood. Mahfood landed some solid leather in exchanges in
the third and fifth rounds and opened a small cut near Ali's eye in the fifth. In the sixth, Ali shook up Mahfood with a
right hand with Mahfood on the ropes, then continued to smash Mahfood's head back with hard rights, prompting referee
David Mendoza to stop the bout. Ali improved to 15-0-0 (12 KO) while Mahfood fell to 13-6-0 (7 KO).
(For photos see
Photo Gallery #72
on the WBAN Records Member Site).
On August 23, 2003 at Mississippi Coast Coliseum and Convention Center, Biloxi, Mississippi, Ann Wolfe
of Waco, Texas (163 lbs) avenged her only defeat with a ten-round unanimous (97-93,99-91,97-93) decision
over Valerie (164 lbs) for the vacant NABA super middleweight title. After some good early exchanges,
Wolfe appeared to have the upper hand and bloodied Mahfood's nose but Mahfood fought back hard in the late
going despite eating a steady stream of leather. Wolfe improved her record to 15-1-0 (11 KO).
This bout was on the undercard of the showdown between Laila Ali and Christy Martin.
vs. Carley Pesente in October 2003
© Copyrighted photo taken by Mike Blair On October 11, 2003 at Emerald Queen Casino in Tacoma, Washington, Valerie (194½ lbs) won by TKO at 1:43 in the
fourth round over Carley Pesente (212¾ lbs) of Bethel, Connecticut. Pesente fell to 3-7-1 (3 KO).
Photojournalist Mike Blair of Boxing Prospects
said the following about the fight, "Carley threw her jab a lot, and she
appeared to have the reach advantage, but Mahfood slipped most of them and
countered by staying low and landing shots to Carley's body. Mahfood
established her position early with the jab, it seemed to keep Pesente off
balance and unable to get close. The fight was stopped at 1:33 of the fourth
and final round when Mahfood had Pesente against the ropes and was landing
some serious blows to the body. Pesente was not happy about the stoppage,
and might have been able to continue, though she probably would not have won
the decision." (For more of Mike's photos see
Photo Gallery #110
on the WBAN Records Member Site).
Valerie vs. Yolanda Swindell in Houston
© Copyrighted photo taken by Patricia Butaud
On January 15, 2004 at Arena Theater in Houston, Texas, Valerie
(164 lbs) eked out a four-round majority
(38-38,39-37,39-37) decision over Yolanda Swindell (165 lbs) of Houston. Swindell
suffered her first loss and slipped to 3-1-0 (2 KO). (For more photos see
Photo Gallery #136
on the WBAN Records Member Site).
Valerie tests Carlette Ewell
© Copyrighted photo taken by
Patricia Butaud and Janis
Guidry. On February 20, 2004 at Ford Theater in Beaumont, Texas, Valerie (169 lbs) then the
won an eight round split (78-74,78-74,75-77)
decision over Carlette Ewell (175 lbs) of
Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Mahfood progressed to 16-7-0 (8 KO) while Ewell fell to 5-2-0 (4 KO).
(For more photos see
Photo Gallery #147
on the WBAN Records Member Site).
Rematch with Kathy Rivers in April 2004
© Copyrighted photo taken by
Patricia Butaud and Janis
Guidry. On April 16, 2004 at Stafford Center in Houston, Texas,
Valerie (163 lbs) and Kathy Rivers (175 lbs) fought a six-round majority draw, with scores of 57-57 twice
and one of 58-56. (See
Photo/MPEG Gallery #163
on the WBAN Records Member Site).
Rematch with Carlette Ewell in August 2004
© Copyrighted photo taken by
Patricia Butaud and Janis
Guidry.
On August 28, 2004 at Grand Casino Coushatta Pavilion in
Kinder, Louisiana, Valerie (169¼ lbs) won a ten-round unanimous
(97-93,97-93,97-94) decision over Carlette Ewell (169¼ lbs) of
Winston-Salem, North Carolina for the vacant IBA Continental Light
Heavyweight Title. The rematch bout was the card's co-main event.
Valerie boxed early in the fight while Ewell preferred to go straight ahead
and take the fight to her. It became more of a slugfest in the middle rounds
when Mahfood began to trade with Ewell on the inside, a strategy that
Valerie abandoned in the later going as Ewell began to land more punishing
shots. Carlette Ewell fell to 6-3 (5 KO). (For more on this fight, see
Photo/MPEG Galleries
#197 and #198
on the WBAN Records Member Site). On
September 24th, 2004 at the Phillips Arena in Atlanta, Georgia,
Leatitia Robinson (168¼ lbs) of Chicago
won the IBA Continental title with a ten-round unanimous decision over
Valerie (168¾ lbs). Leatitia Robinson advanced to 12-0-0 (8 KO) while
Mahfood fell to 17-8 (8 KO) with the loss. On November 6, 2004
at Grand Casino Coushatta in Kinder, Louisiana, Valerie (161½ lbs) won by a
TKO over Yolanda Swindell (163¾ lbs) of Houston at 37 seconds into the
second round when Swindell was unable to continue owing to a dislocated
shoulder. The two fighters got tangled in the ropes, and Yolanda fell
awkwardly to the canvas, falling on her arm. Swindell told WBAN, "Up
untill that point, it was a very exciting and entertaining fight although
only one round had been scored, I was leading 10-9....on all judges' cards.
I really want to thank Valerie for this opportunity and she has promised
that we will do it again ...of this I am sure." Swindell fell to 3-2 (2 KO).
On April 2, 2005 at Stadthalle in Velten, Germany, Valerie won
a four-round unanimous decision over Borislava Goranova of Bulgaria. The
fight was originally supposed to be a 10-round contest with Natasha Ragosina
for the WIBF Intercontinental
title. Mahfood improved to 19-8-1 (9 KOs) with this win while
Goranova fell to 3-11.
Valerie takes a right from Ragosina On July 9, 2005 at
the Life Sportpark Herrenkrug, in Magdeburg,
Germany Natascha Ragosina defended her WIBF Super Middleweight Continental
title with a 10-round unanimous (99-91,100-90,100-90) decision over Valerie.
WBAN correspondent Jon Fox wrote “Natascha Ragosina has just performed a
virtual shutout on Valerie Mahfood. I thought that this was going to be one
helluva scrap - but it wasn't. In truth, I realised shortly into the fight
that it was only ever going to be a helluva scrap if Mahfood turned it into
a war. But she elected not to. As a result she just looked pedestrian and
ponderous. For her part, Ragosina was content to keep her opponent on the
end of her cultured (but non-lethal) jab. From time to time she woke us from
our slumbers with impressive combinations. But these only served to
demonstrate that the Russian could have achieved a stoppage at any time she
had chosen to exert herself. Unfortunately, she chose not to.” Ragosina,
who was born in Khazakstan and now fights out of Germany, improved to 7-0-0
(5 KO) with this win. The fight was
televised by DSF.
Valerie vs. Ann Wolfe in August 2005
© Copyrighted photo by Patricia Butaud and Janis
Guidry
J&P Photographers On August 20, 2005
the Isle of Capri Casino
in Biloxi, Mississippi, Ann Wolfe (167 lbs)
defeated Valerie (165 lbs) with a 10-round
unanimous (99-91,99-91,100-90)
decision in the main event. Ann was defending her IBA Light Heavyweight
title. WBAN’s insider said that "in the first round, Mahfood pushed
forward, pressing the action, but Wolfe controlled the action with a sharp
jab and strong body shots from both sides. In round two, Wolfe continued to
land strong hooks to the head and body of Mahfood, who responded with quick
flurries that won Valerie the round on two judge’s scores. In rounds 3
through 7, Mahfood still moved forward looking to trade with Wolfe, but
Wolfe counter-punched, with stronger ammo, and carried the rounds on all
cards. In round 8, Mahfood landed her best punch of the fight when she
threw a hard right that had Wolfe backing off in the first time of the
fight. Mahfood pushed forward with quick punches, but was met with a series
of combinations from Wolfe, who knocked out the mouthpiece of Mahfood. This
round ended with the two exchanging punches fiercely. Wolfe won the round on
all cards. In round 9, Mahfood’s forward match ended, and it was Wolfe who
was moving forward, landing hard and hurtful punches with both hands. In
round 10, Wolfe threw body and head shots, and Mahfood took some heavy
shots." Ann Wolfe improved her record to
22-1-0 (15 KOs). On February 18, 2006 at the Joel Coliseum Annex in Winston-Salem, North
Carolina, Nigerian-born Ijeoma Egbunine (173½ lbs)
from Marietta, Georgia knocked out Valerie (170½ lbs)
at 0:37 in the second round of a scheduled ten-rounder for the WIBF Light Heavyweight title. Mahfood fell to 19-11-2 (9 KO's) with this loss
while Egbunine improved to 9-1 (7 KO's).
On July 8, 2006 at the
Coushatta Casino and Resort in Kinder, Louisiana, Valerie (173 lbs) fought
to a six-round draw with Alexandra Maloy (176 lbs) (60-54
Mahfood,58-56 Maloy,57-57). Maloy's record moved to
2-2-2. (For more on this fight, see
Photo/MPEG Gallery
#370
on the WBAN Records Member Site).
On November 4, 2006 at at the Coushatta Casino and
Resort in Kinder, Louisiana, Valerie (163½ lbs) lost a six-round unanimous
(58-56,59-55,59-55) decision to Veronica Rucker (167½ lbs) of Cleveland,
Ohio.
According to Byron Spurlock of FightNews, "Rucker used her quickness
and steady jab to ward off Mahfood and win a decisive fight ... Rucker used
a quick jab to disrupt any type of rhythm that Mahfood tried to gain. At
times in the bout, Mahfood looked like she was aging, round by round until,
in the later rounds, many ringsiders thought Rucker stood a chance to knock
out the former champ. Mahfood did not convincingly win a single round in the
six scheduled."
“I’m disappointed in the loss here,
but one thing people have to not pay attention to so much is Rucker’s
record — she is a good fighter,” said Mahfood. “I’ve lost to fighters with losing records before,
because fights are so hard to get … at times the lady’s record doesn’t mean
so much. As for why I lost the fight, I think she was more of a
boxer than me. I consider myself more of a brawler, and she was able to
catch my punches, and I was not able to get off too much. I felt that she
was the quicker, fighter tonight. I dropped down in weight and she came in a
little heavier … I’m used to fighters standing right there and wanting to
brawl, but that what’s she didn’t do tonight.”
Rucker improved to 4-6-1 (1 KO) with the win while Mahfood
fell to 19-12-3 (19 KOs).
On March 30, 2007 at the
Cobo Arena in Detroit, Michigan in the Main Event on a live televised ESPN2
card, Mary Jo Sanders (159½ lbs) of Detroit won
a clear 10-round unanimous (100-90 x 3) decision over Valerie (159 lbs)
defending her IBA Middleweight title. Sanders outboxed the game
Mahfood with her superior hand speed and footwork for the entire fight,
scoring with her jab and multi-punch combinations to the head. Mahfood tried
to come forward throughout the one-sided contest but was too slow to win
many exchanges and ate a steady diet of leather from Sanders for the entire
contest. Mahfood never backed down and made Sanders work for her win right
to the end. Sanders improved to 24-0 (7 KO's) with
the win while Mahfood fell to 19-13-3 (9 KO's).
On November 24, 2007 at the Paragon Casino & Resort
in Marksville, Louisiana, Valerie (163 lbs) lost by a four-round
unanimous (39-37,39-37,39-37) decision to Yvonne Reis (159½ lbs) of Fort
Lauderdale, Florida. Reis improved to 7-12-1 (0 KO's) with the win.
On July 18, 2008 at the Reliant Arena in
Houston, Texas
Christy Martin (154¼
lbs) of Orlando, Florida and Valerie 160 lbs) fought to an eight round
majority (78-74 Martin, 75-75,75-75) draw. According to the Houston
Chronicle, Martin displayed her boxing technique from the
opening bell, connecting with combinations that caused Mahfood to stumble and
the decision was booed. The result moved Martin's record to 47-5-3 (31 KO's) and
Mahfood's to 19-14-4 (9 KO's).
When she's not boxing, Valerie is a correctional officer at a pre-release, minimum-security facility for substance abuse
offenders. She likes to write, and loves music. She tells us that her nickname "The Wolfe" came about from a youngster
who lived with her family who thought Valerie was mean! He started calling her "the big bad wolf" and it "just kind of
got started from there".
She says that her workout basically stays the same until she contracts for a fight. She runs and does ab work in the
morning, then goes to work. In the evening she's in the gym for about two hours. She mostly spars with men or with her
trainer, but also does some sparring with females. She says she's working on her ring movement and reaction to
opponents' actions, as well on defense drills. "They say I am offense minded enough!", she laughs. Her dietician is
Jim Johnson.
Visit Valerie at her own web site!
She can also be reached by email at
thewolfebreed@aol.com. Valerie's managers and trainers can be reached at the gym at 409-883-6666 (voice) or 409-882-0609 (Fax), and Harry
Murdock is on email at hlm@pnx.com. The gym has several young female boxers who are
training for amateur boxing, and welcomes all boys, girls, men or women.
Other Valerie Mahfood Links:
To check out fight reports, complete up-to-date boxing records, with huge digital photos you can go to
the WBAN Records Member Site
Page last updated:
Sunday November 05, 2017
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