(OCT 18) LAS VEGAS, NV — The International
Women's Boxing Hall of Fame (IWBHF) is announcing our 2026 elite class of IWBHF
inductees and our special award recipients. Our IWBHF 2026 event takes
place Saturday, October 10, 2026, at the Orleans Hotel & Casino, in Las
Vegas, Nevada for the fifth year in Vegas, includes legendary fighters
who have paved the way for future generations, to dedication of others outside
of the ring in their accomplishments in the sport.
For over a decade, the IWBHF has played a pivotal
role in recognizing the talents and achievements of female boxers from around
the globe. This landmark event represents more than just a celebration of
women boxers and those who do so much outside the ring to support the
sport; it’s a tribute to the dedication and perseverance of those who are
honored.
So without further ado...we are excited to announce our twelve
(20) 2026 IWBHF Inductees. The 2026 inductees includes 12 modern female
boxers, four (4) Non-boxer recipients and four (4)
pioneer/trailblazer female boxers. All of the 12 "Modern female boxers" that
are being inducted in 2026 are all retired multi-world champions and/or world
champions, when they were actively fighting in the sport. Our elite 2026 IWBHF
inductees are the following:
Modern Female Boxer(s)
Seniesa “Super Bad” Estrada
Seniesa retired from the sport at the age of 32 years old and remained
undefeated throughout her boxing career 26-0-0 (9KO). During her
days as a professional boxer she became the undisputed minimumweight
champion in March 2024, unifying the WBA, WBC, IBF, and WBO titles by defeating
Yokasta Valle. She also won world titles in two weight classes that included
minimumweight (WBA) and (WBO) junior flyweight. Fought from 2011 to 2024.
Cindy “Checkmate” Serrano
Cindy Serrano is a retired professional boxer from Puerto Rico whose career
spanned over 15 years. Serrano held the World Boxing Organization (WBO)
World Featherweight title from 2016 to 2017; won the UBF Lightweight World
title; the WIBA Fedelatina Featherweight title; and the UBF Super
Featherweight World title. In 2016, Cindy and her younger sister, Amanda
Serrano, became the first sisters in boxing history to simultaneously hold major
world titles, an achievement recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records.
Fought from 2003 to 2018.
Raja “Raging Raja” Amasheh
Raja began her professional boxing career in 2008. Raja won the WBO
super-flyweight title, the WBC Diamond super flyweight title, becoming the first
European woman to do so. She also was a three-time world champion as a
flyweight and super flyweight boxer. In addition, Raja won the WBF
Intercontinental flyweight title in 2012, and more. Raja is the Chair of the
Women's Ratings Committee for the World Boxing Council (WBC), and she has also
participated with WBC Cares, visiting Children’s hospitals and showing support
for those in need. Fought from 2008 to 2018.
Kali “KO” Reis
Reis is a former world boxing champion across two weight classes, holding
multiple titles throughout her career. Her boxing career highlights that
includes winning the WBC Middleweight World title; IBO World Super Lightweight
title (2x); WBO Super Lightweight World title; UBF Middleweight world title; and
IBA Middleweight world title. In a history first, Kali was the first Indigenous
woman fighter to become a world boxing champion. Following her boxing career,
Reis transitioned to acting and has received significant recognition and awards.
Fought from 2008 to 2021.
Melissa "Huracán Shark" Hernandez
Melissa has had a notable career in women's boxing, both as an amateur and a
professional. Melissa born in Puerto Rico and was raised in the Bronx, New York.
As a professional boxer, Melissa went on to fight as a pro and has held numerous
world titles that included the WBC World Featherweight title; WIBA World Super
Featherweight title; WIBA World Junior Featherweight title; UBF World
Super Lightweight title; and GBU World Lightweight title. Hernandez fought
from 2005-2023.
Heather “The Heat” Hardy
Heather is a decorated champion who has held the WBO World Featherweight, WBC
International Featherweight (2X), and WBC International Super Bantamweight
titles (2X). As a certified boxing trainer, Heather teaches classes at the
historic Gleason's Gym where she also dedicates her time to the "Give a Kid a
Dream" charity. Heather fought from 2012-2023.
Ronica “Queen” Jeffrey
Ronica has built an impressive legacy in boxing, marked by significant
achievements both inside and outside the ring. Her journey began with a personal
weight loss goal, transforming into a decorated career spanning amateur and
professional ranks. Jeffrey winning many championships including becoming an
IWBF world champion in 2013. She has also won the WBC Silver Featherweight
title twice; and the NABF in 2011. Fought from 2008 to 2019.
Hollie “Hot Stuff” Dunaway
Hollie began her pro career in 2003, at the age of 18 years old, and became a
four-time world champion despite not having any amateur experience. Hollie won
her first major title in 2004, capturing the vacant WIBF mini flyweight title.
She also won other world titles that included the WIBC, WIBF, and GBU mini
flyweight title. In 2008, Hollie moved up to flyweight and won the NABF
flyweight title. Dunaway became the first woman inducted into the St. Louis
Boxing Hall of Fame. Fought from 2003 to 2013.
Momo Koseki
Momo Koseki is a two-weight world champion dominating the atomweight
division. As an amateur, she won three national amateur titles. On the Pro end of
her career she won the WBC Atomweight holding it from 2008-2015; winning
the WBA Atomweight in 2015; the WBC Strawweight title in 2017; and making
a record-breaking seventeen Consecutive defenses of her WBC Atomweight title
during her career. Fought from 2007-2017.
Naoko Fujioka
Fujioka's boxing career began with a strong amateur background where she won
five Japanese amateur championships between 2001 and 2009. She transitioned into
professional boxing in 2009. Fujioka's captured world titles across five
different weight classes that included: WBC Minimumweight title; WBA
Super-Flyweight title;, WBO Bantamweight title, WBA Flyweight title, and WBO
Junior-Flyweight title. Fought from 2009 to 2022.
Eva Wahlstrom
Eva's amateur career was nothing short of dominant, marked by ten consecutive
Finnish national championships and multiple Nordic championships. On the
international stage as well, earning her two silver medals at the European
Championships in 2004 and 2005. Eva transitioned to turning pro in 2010. In 2015
she claimed the WBC female super-featherweight title (4X), successfully defended
her title several times. She also held the EBU European super-featherweight
title from 2012 to 2015. Fought from 2010 to 2020.
Alejandra “Locomotora” Oliveras (Posthumous)
Alejandra passed away at 47 years old in 2025. Alejandra made history when
she was the first Argentine woman to win a world title abroad by defeating
Jackie Nava in Mexico in 2006 for the WBC super bantamweight title. Her career
included winning six world titles across five weight divisions, leading to two
Guinness World Records and a spot in the Latin American Boxing Hall of Fame in
2024. Her professional career spanned from 2005 to 2017.
Non-Boxing
Inductees
Al Bernstein – Broadcast
Journalist, Analyst, Writer, Hall of Fame Inductee in many organizations
Al Bernstein's accomplishments in boxing are focused on his long and
distinguished career as a broadcast journalist, analyst, writer, and more. He
has been recognized with multiple Hall of Fame inductions and prestigious awards
for his contributions to the sport. Al served as the boxing analyst for Showtime
Championship Boxing from 2003-2023; for
ESPN
(1980–2003). Al has called over 60 major pay-per-view events featuring
legendary boxers such as Mike Tyson, Sugar Ray Leonard, and Oscar De La Hoya.
Bettina Palle (Danish boxing promoter 25 plus
years)
Bettina has been promoting boxing for over 25 years. She officially made her
debut as a promoter in 1999 with her company, BP Productions. While her official
promotional career began in 1999, Palle's involvement in the sport goes back
even further. She worked as an assistant to her father, Mogens Palle, a
legendary and highly influential boxing promoter in Denmark, for several years
before taking a leading role. Bettina has promoted world and European
titleholders and made women's boxing a priority for her promotional company,
Danish Fight Night. Bettina was effectively born into the business, and her
father's guidance provided her with an early apprenticeship and the foundational
knowledge needed to succeed in a male-dominated industry.
Melvina Lathan – Professional Boxing
Judge, Chair of the NYSAC, Hall of Famer
Melvina Lathan has achieved several significant milestones in the world of
boxing, primarily as a judge and commissioner. Lathan became the first African
American female licensed as a professional boxing judge by the State of New York
in 1991. First Female Chair of the New York State Athletic Commission (NYSAC);
Lathan worked as a boxing judge for more than 13 years. She worked more than 235
fight cards (over 883 bouts) including 84 World Title Contests across the US and
internationally. Lathan was inducted into the New Jersey Boxing Hall of
Fame in 2007. As Chair of the NYSAC, she spearheaded the "Fight For Your Future"
pilot program to help New York boxers gain entry into higher education slots.
Jeanette Salazar serves as the Public
Relations Director for the International Boxing Federation (IBF), and More
Jeanette serves as the Public Relations Director for the International Boxing
Federation (IBF), a role she has held for nearly two decades; She joined
as a permanent staff member in 2010 after initially collaborating as an
independent contractor; Oversees various IBF efforts, including annual holiday
toy drives, fundraising for individuals in need, supporting amateur boxing
programs, and community outreach initiatives. Jeanette was inducted into the New Jersey Boxing Hall of Fame
last year.
Trailblazer/Pioneer Female
Boxers
Deborah "Knockout" Nichols
Deborah Nichols is an IBA
Featherweight World Champion who competed professionally from 1997 to 1999,
reaching the pinnacle of her career with a championship victory in 1999. Before
turning pro, Nichols was involved in boxing since about 1996. A career highlight
includes her February 1998 appearance on the USA Network's popular Tuesday Night
Fights. After retiring from the ring, Nichols leveraged her expertise by
becoming a fitness coach and personal trainer.
Christine Kreuz
Christine, a
Chicago Police officer began her boxing career in 1989. Chris
traveled overseas to gain fight experience and knowledge of the sport. Upon
returning from Japan, Chris won the WWBA Jr. Featherweight Championship.
In 1999, she fought on an all-female boxing card on an IFBA card televised
on ESPN. She fought for the vacant IFBA World Featherweight title, and lost by a
close decision. Fought from 1992 to 2000.
Mitzi "Smokin"
Jeter
Mitzi was born in Rome, Georgia, where she lived most of her life.
Mitzi began her pro boxing career as a
light heavyweight but as her training and conditioning have developed she's
worked her way down through the weight classes and then competed as a
welterweight. Mitzi won the WIBF Intercontinental title; the IFBA and IWBHF
World Welterweight titles during her boxing career. She fought from 1997 to
2003.
Sandra "The Shark"
Yard
She got into boxing at age 36 after a long association with other women's
sports.
As a high school student in Pleasantville, New Jersey, she played softball and
basketball as well as running cross-country to get in shape for basketball.
She ultimately became a
multi-world champion when she won the IFBA World Featherweight title in 1999;
then successfully defending her world title twice in 2000; Fought from 1997 and
2002.
SPECIAL AWARD RECIPIENTS
30-Year Anniversary Celebration/Awards:
Christy Martin vs. Deirdre Gogarty
The fight between Christy Martin and Deirdre Gogarty on March 16, 1996, on the
undercard of a Mike Tyson bout, proved to be a pivotal moment for women's
boxing, significantly boosting its visibility and credibility. Televised on a
major pay-per-view card (Tyson vs. Bruno II), the bout reached an estimated 1.1
million viewers, providing unprecedented exposure for women's boxing. The fight
generated significant media interest, particularly after Sports Illustrated
featured Christy Martin on its cover, which was a historic first for a female
boxer. The fight inspired countless female boxers, including current undisputed
lightweight champion Katie Taylor, to pursue the sport, according to RTE.ie. In
essence, the Christy Martin vs. Deirdre Gogarty fight was the defining moment
that brought the sport to a wider audience, demonstrating its potential and
paving the way for its continued growth and recognition.
Blanca Gutierrez “Beyond the Ropes”
Special Award
Blanca founded Beautiful Brawlers, a prominent all-female amateur boxing event
series in California. These events provided a platform for female boxers to
compete and gain exposure when such opportunities were scarce. Gutierrez
established Babyface Boxing, a gym dedicated to fostering female talent in
boxing, providing a space where women could train and develop their skills
safely and effectively. Blanca is a respected advocate for women's boxing,
working to increase opportunities and improve conditions for female fighters
within the sport. This includes serving on the WBC panel for all-female
conventions and being a high-performance coach for youth female boxers at the
Olympic Training Center, and more.
Daveida "Candy" Jacobs “Beyond the
Ropes”
Special Award
Daveida's lifelong connection to boxing began under the guidance of her late
father, the legendary trainer Dave Jacobs, whose program at the Palmer Park
Recreation Center helped shape generations of young athletes. Her fight
beyond the ropes began long before she took on leadership roles within USA
Boxing, Inc. In December 2003, Candy was elected by her peers to serve as
President of the Potomac Valley Association (PVA) — the local amateur boxing
committee governing Washington, D.C., Prince George’s County, and Montgomery
County, Maryland. From the ring corners of Palmer Park to the boardrooms, Candy
Jacobs has never stopped fighting for the sport, for her community, and for her
life. Her journey stands as a testament to faith, perseverance, and an
unyielding love for boxing that continues to inspire generations to come.
Tickets are now for sale.
October 10, 2026 - Saturday
Orleans Hotel & Casino
Las Vegas, Nevada
VIP TABLES GENERAL
TICKETS
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The International Women's
Boxing Hall of Fame (IWBHF) Induction Ceremony/Dinner will be
held on Saturday, October 10, 2026, at the ORLEANS HOTEL &
CASINO, IN LAS VEGAS, NEVADA in the Mardi-Gra Ballroom, where we
will honor our new inductees and present special awards to
deserving recipients, and More!
You can book your room
On Line or call into:
Phone: 800-675-3267 Group Code: BFHK26C
Cut-Off: September 7, 2026
Link to book hotel room, the
cost of room and Resort fee is included:
Go Here
For more information contact the IWBHF:
Email: wban100@aol.com
Email: iwbhf@aol.com
Website: https://iwbhf.com
