A Shocker that rocked women’s boxing
when Female Boxer Murdered her Husband
by Sue TL Fox
October 8, 2025
(OCT 8)
What looked to be a female boxer rising in the
sport, Before the tragic events
unfolded, Viviane Obenauf was a name to reckon with in the world of women’s
boxing. Viviane of
Brazil, a promising boxer, who fought the likes of Katie Taylor in 2016, Natasha
Jonas, where she stopped Jonas by TKO in the fourth round, and many other
significant fights.
Viviane's career ended
when she was arrested for murdering her husband, Thomas, of just being married
ten months. At the time she was convicted and sentenced to 16 years in prison.
The world of women's boxing is filled with
stories of triumph and perseverance, but at times it can take a dark twist that
leaves fans and followers in disbelief.
This shocking event not only led to Viviane's downfall in the sport but also
raised questions about violence, mental health, and the hidden struggles faced
by athletes.
In January 2020, just months before the world was enveloped by the COVID-19
pandemic, Obenauf married her much older husband, and then in December of 2020,
she committed an act that would irreversibly alter the course of her life and
career forever.
Apparently, unbeknowth to her husband, she had a
documented history of violent outbursts. It was reported that in 2016, she had
allegedly punched a man who groped her at a London nighclub during her
celebration of her 30th birthday. An ex-boyfriend had claimed that she assaulted
him during a drunken incident that ended up in a dispute.
According to Internet sources, it was reported that Viviane appealed the initial
16-year sentence, but the Bern High Court upheld the murder conviction and
increased the sentence to 18 years in February 2024. In 2025, the Federal
Supreme Court upheld the verdict, making it legally binding.
Her background as a professional boxer and former Olympic gymnast brought a
higher level of media attention to the case than it might have otherwise
received. Her status as an athlete, especially one who competed at a high level,
made the crime particularly sensational and shocking to the public.
