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On Father's Day, June 18, 2000, at the Regent Hotel, in Las Vegas,
Nevada there were two daughters, 23-year-old Freeda Foreman and 34
year-old Maria Johansson, who made their pro debut, along with some male
bouts that were sons of famous boxing fathers. The fights were
televised on Fox Sports Net.
Freeda Foreman's dad, George Foreman was a "no show" at the
event. He had even given his daughter $15,000, the same amount as
her purse to keep her from stepping in to the squared circle. But, Freeda
did not cash the check.
Freeda is the fourth daughter of George
Foreman, and he was quoted in the news saying that he was relieved when he
found out that her first opponent would be Laquanda Landers, (according to
news sources) a fighter who was KO'd by the 48-year "old"
grandma who boxed Laila Ali this last
week on June 15.
Maria Johansson's father, Ingemar
Johansson's was in Sweden waiting to get the results and was not present,
but he supports his daughter decision to box by telling her, "you
have my blessings."
First fight on the card - Light
Heavyweight
Freeda Foreman (180) vs. Laquanda Landers (168)
Purse: Foreman $15,000 Landers: $1,000
Four-rounds
Laquanda Landers weighed in at 168 lbs, and Freeda was 180 lbs. The
Fox announcer said that Landers was making her pro debut in boxing,
but news sources reported that Landers was KO'd by Marjorie Jones
when Frye had made her pro debut.
ROUND ONE
Freeda Foreman throws a couple of punches
and on the third punch she knocks landers down. Landers know nothing
about boxing. She blocks with her chin, and both fighters look like
a couple of egg beater flailing at each other out of sequence.
ROUND TWO
Landers hit Foreman at the beginning of the
round. Both fighters continue to flail as in some hair-pulling street
fight. Landers continues to block with her head, literally,
chin up, hands down, and if she was hit, looked like she could fall over
by blowing on her. Foreman got some good punches in due to what I
have listed as Landers lack of abilities, and the fight is stopped.
Foreman won by a TKO. * Prediction for Landers--she will pad many fighters
records in the future. Don't know where she came from, but she is
NOT a boxer, and does not appear to train, or know the slightest thing
about boxing.
Second Fight Johannson vs. Frye
ROUND ONE
What a difference from the first women's
match of this card! Maria throws the first jab, but Frye
is faster, and more polished in the ring. The announcer says,
"Frye looks like a fighter here". Maria punches hard and
has great abilities for a new boxer. Frye is obviously way more
experienced and one can only wonder why Johansson was dealt a tough
fighter as Frye who has 4 ko's to her record as of this date?
Regardless, Maria has great skills, and is very tough!
ROUND TWO
Frye goes after Maria, and Maria is knocked
down. Maria takes up to the nine-count and then gets up. Frye
continues to go after Maria. Maria is hurt again and her nose is now
bleeding profusely. Maria is fatigued and she is starting to
drop her hands. Frye has a great right hand and has landed some of
those on Maria in this round.
ROUND THREE
Maria immediately comes
out with some jabs. She also throws some body
shot. Both fighters try hard but they both appear to be
a little tired. Maria throws some good combinations,
especially in light of the fact that she is a new fighter.
ROUND FOUR
Maria's face is very bloody, and the Fox
announcer makes a comment about how they should have cleaned some of the
blood off of her face. The fighters are still a little tired, but throw
lots of combinations. The fight ends with the judges needing to make
a decision.... When the announcer said that it was a split decision the
crow signed in disbelief. The score: 39-36 Frye, 38-39 Maria,
and 39-36 Frye.
Comments by TL Fox: The fight was an
"excellent" performance from both fighters. This is the first
fight that has gone the distance for Frye, all four of her wins ended in
all KO's, and her fluke of a loss came from Marjorie Jones who wildly hit
her and the fight was stopped when she was hit in the neck area, when she
was making her pro debut.
Post interview of Frye: Frye
said she was mad when heard it was a split. Frye said that when she
knocked Maria down that all she could think was "go down baby, go
down, I have to see my daddy too." Frye went on to say, to
"Get the rest of the daughters lined up. I can take Freeda
right now if she is still in her trunks."
Maria's post interview: The Fox
commentator said to her, that it was a tough test, and asked if she
was okay. Maria said, "I'm okay". Maria went on to say,
"It's my debut and I have not been in the ring with a lot of
folks." The Fox commentator asked her if anything
happened tonight that surprised her. Maria said that there was no
surprises, and that "Sometimes you have to lose. " Maria
said that she will continue to train and box.
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