HISTORY OF
WOMEN'S BOXING

(FEB 29) Last night fight on the Warrior's Production at the Coconut Creek Seminole Indian Casino, Belinda Laracuente, 135,  won an eight-round unanimous decision over Iva Weston, 139.5,  from Trinidad. The fight had little action as Weston ran the whole time and threw hardly any punches at Laracuente. Laracuente was the aggressor in the match, and wanted to mix it up, with Laracuente throwing the cleaner shots. In one round the referee pulled both girls to the center of the ring and told them to box. Weston's inexperience as a boxer showed during the whole fight. Weston had good defense, but no offense and no power on any of her punches and did not want to mix it up. Laracuente was coming off a serious injury from the summer, and had to change her style of boxing and was happy that she could be back in the ring.  Final judges scores was 79-73, 79-73, 78-74.  In a second women's boxing match,  Laura "Lady Ram" Ramsey, 158,  won all four rounds against Jennifer Mancil, 160. Judges score 40-36. Lady Ram hit Mancil in the first round, and it seem Mancil did not want to be there. By the end of the 2nd round Lady Ram broke Mancil's nose. Mancil took Punishment from Lady Ram the whole fight, but Lady Ram could not knock her out. The crowd was pleased on this fight of the night.

(FEB 28) LAS VEGAS -Using speed and combinations Melinda Cooper pounded out a win against the tough Jerri Sitzes.  Before more than 700 people at the Orleans Casino and Hotel, Cooper (10-0, 6 KOs) opened up quickly against the taller Sitzes with stiff jabs and three-punch combinations. The first two rounds saw Cooper dominating the Missouri fighter while eluding Sitzes' counters with ease. Using long right hands and left uppercut hooks, Cooper scored repeatedly with little worry about return shots. Full Story with photos!

(FEB 28) Last night in Salt Lake City, Utah, welterweight Shelley Burton, now 3-0-0 (0KO), of Kalispell, Montana,  won a four-round unanimous decision over Kelly Whaley, now 4-12-0 (1KO) of Utah.  WBAN does not have any other details at this time.

(FEB 27) Tomorrow night, (February 28)  on the card, "Triple Action Fight Night II", that will be held at the Memorial Field House, in Huntington, West Virginia, there will be the first-ever Tri State  Championship Fight!  Featured for this title fight will be Nikki Eplion...

(FEB 24) Here's an easy one. What's the problem with the sport of Women's boxing? Certainly, the fact that there is a significant decline in female bouts being telecast, nationally, on ESPN and Fox Sports Network (to say nothing of the fact that HBO has never, in thirty years, telecast a women's bout) is a major problem. Add the fact that the "major players" in the sport seem reluctant to climb in the ring with each other and, also, the approaching end of the career of the pioneer "face" of the sport, Christy Martin. Full Story

(FEB 23) WBAN will be adding Edith "Bomber" Smith this week to the boxer profiles.  Smith reigns out of Australia, and fights as a junior bantamweight. Smith is the Aussie 112 lb. champion. Smith talks her background and about wanting to publicly challenge Holly Ferneley to a rematch....So be on the lookout to read more on this talented boxer!

(FEB 22) Tonight at the Gold Gym South Annex in Tokyo, Japan Mini-Fly Weight champion, Yuko Sodeoka won the title with a six-round TKO over the southpaw Gypsy Taeko.  Champion Sodeoka had to defeat at least three challengers in order to be eligible to challenge the World title. Taeko, the first one to challenge Sodeoka, has been the tough rival for the champ since their bout last summer when they fought for the vacant Japan Mini-Fly weight title.  Since Sodeoka struggled to win the title in the last bout, winning over Gypsy tonight was also settling a clear conclusion for Sodeoka. 

(FEB 22) Last night at the City Sports Hall, in
Tapolca, Hungary, on the card "Double or Nothing" Event, and promoted by Felix RACZ by Felix Promotion, Bantamweight Bettina Csabi, 113 1/4, of Hungary,  TKO2 Agnes Varga.  More details to follow soon.

(FEB 22) Check out the latest photo gallery (Photo Gallery #147) with over 60 huge digitals of the fight, and behind the scenes photos of the Valerie "The Wolfe" Mahfood vs. Carlette Ewell where they fought for the Texas Title bout!  Mahfood, won an eight-round close split decision on this card.

(FEB 21) Last Night at the Hilton Burbank, in Burbank, California, Jackie "Aztec Princess"  Nava, KO'd Cristina Avetia, of Tucson, Arizona,  in the first round.  Nava is now 5-1-0 (4KO), and Avetia has dropped to 1-3.  Nava's team told WBAN that they are looking to match up with Rhonda Luna in the near future.

(FEB 19) Team Palle announced today, that Anita Christensen will be defending her WIBF bantamweight title against Lakeysha Williams, at a show in Copenhagen, Denmark, on March 13, 2004.  The card will feature six title fights, and will be a Pay-Per-View Event. 

(FEB 19) On February 16, 2004,  in Ontario, California at the Doubletree Hotel,  Carla Wilcox stepped into the ring to fight Marilyn Salcido in a six round fight. Both women came to this event ready to show their skill...

(FEB 19) After suffering a broken thumb one week before her scheduled bout with National Amateur champion Amber Gideon, Rhonda Luna will once again return to the famed Grand Olympic Auditorium where she will face the Chicago native in a six-round bout when Oscar De La Hoya's Golden Boy Promotions presents HBO Latino's "Boxeo de Oro" March 25th.

(FEB 18) Though Marilyn Salcido emerged with a victory Monday night in Ontario, California with more than 1,500 packed in the ballroom including one rival, the victory was tainted with a few remarks from observers who said she lost to Carla Wilcox.  “Lots of people are going to say what they want to say because they are not fighting in the ring. I’m the one taking the punches so I know more than they do. I don’t listen to what they say,” said Salcido (11-4-3) the number one ranked bantamweight in the world...

(FEB 17) Jessica Rakoczy is considered one of the best lightweight fighters in the United States. A tough childhood that could have ended her up on the wrong side of the tracks; Rakoczy took to boxing and made a career out of it. Now with her first world title just a grasp away, Rakoczy reflects on her life..

(FEB 17) Last night at the Double Tree Hotel, in Ontario, California, on the undercard, Marilyn Salcido won a six-round unanimous decision over Carla Wilcox.  One WBAN insider reported the following:  Using a jab and firing combinations, Salcido struggled through the peek-a-boo style of Wilcox who launched winging rights throughout the six round fight held at the Doubletree Hotel before a standing room only crowd. 

(FEB 17) Cindy "Checkmate" Serrano, 4-0-0 (3KO) of Queens, New York will return to the ring on March 27, 2004, in the Exhibit Hall, at the Delaware State Fairground, in Harrington, Delaware. WBAN will post the opponent when it is firmed up.  On the  undercard the event will feature Michael 'No Joke' Stewart.

(FEB 17) On March 2, 2004, in Woodlawn, Maryland, Vaia "Vicious" Zaganas, of Las Vegas, Nevada, will be facing Stephanie "All Action" Dobbs in six-rounder that will be a rematch for the two.  Zaganas won the first time around when they fought last November 15th, in Laughlin, Nevada.

(FEB 14)  Tonight in Stuttgart, Germany, Trisha “TNT” Hill, of the United States, stopped Silke Weickenmeier, 124 ˝,  of Germany, and became the new WIBF Featherweight World Champion, when it was reported that Weickenmeier had her nose broken in the sixth round, and did not come out for the seventh.  Hill is now 6-3-1 (3KO). Weickenmeier is 13-5-3 (3KO).  In a second women’s match on the undercard, Alesia Graf, 119, of Germany, of Slovakia, won a four-round unanimous decision over Petra Jachmanova, 119. Graf is 1-0-0 (0KO), and Jachmanova is 0-3-1.

(FEB 14) On February 26, 2004, on a Golden Boy Promotions card, HBO Latino, at the San Diego Sports Arena, in San Diego, California,  Dee Hamaguchi of New York, will be fighting Gina Abel on the undercard of the untelevised segment of the show in a scheduled four-round 105-lb bout. 

(FEB 14) In a local news story from Denmark, Lene Jensen, who is mainly known as a soccer player, and a very good one at that is also trying her hand at boxing!  Jensen who has an impressive background in soccer that includes 75 matches for the Danish  national team, where she has scored 21 goals so far. She plays for an Aarhus club called Skovbakken.  Jensen began training in boxing to keep fit during the winter interval of the soccer seasons, and as true sportswoman she wasn't satisfied just doing the training, but wanted to test her skills in the ring. 

(FEB 14) The "Free drawing Give-Away Contest for two pair of tickets (Reserved within the first ten rows) has ended. WBAN will announce soon the winners for the February 19th boxing card, on the "Hard Road to Glory" Event. Jessica Rakoczy will be fighting Lisa Lewis in a world title fight on this card!

(FEB 13) On March 13, 2004, at the Mandalay Bay Hotel, in Las Vegas, Nevada, on the untelevised segment of HBO, and promoted by Gary Shaw Productions and Pound-for-Pound Promotions, Vaia "Vicious" Zaganas will be going six rounds with Yumi Takano. The headliner for this event will be Sugar Shane Mosley vs. Winky Wright.

(FEB 13) WBAN is always on the lookout for amateur and professional female boxers to feature. WBAN receives many biographies and photos of these boxers. BUT there are things that WBAN is not receiving when getting this information on the boxers. Top on this list are “complete” biographies. When WBAN asks the boxers or their teams to provide a biography, the majority of time the biography is type-scratched in a paragraph on an email. This is no problem as long as the fighter understands that this is how they will be portrayed to promoters, matchmakers, television and the world when it is posted as a one-liner about this fighter. Full Story

(FEB 13) Last night at the Club Gemini, in Raleigh, North Carolina, and promoted by Tasilver Enterprises, Inc. & Jawbreakers Boxing, Bonnie Mann, 151,  of North Carolina,  KO’d Michelle Ewing, 152,  :53 in the second round. Mann dropped Ewing twice in the first round.   In the second round, she landed several effective jabs, and then landed a body shot to Ewing where she could not recover. In the other women’s match, Donna Biggers won over pro debuter Lynn Smith, with a TKO2 when Smith received an injury to her jaw, and then with a hook to the head.  The benefit for ALS was a huge success, and was standing room only. 

(FEB 13) On March 25, 2004. at the Grand Olympic Auditorium, in Los Angeles, California, and promoted by Golden Boy Promotions, Amber Gideon, 1-0-0 (1KO) will face Californian Rhonda Luna, 4-0-0 (1KO), in a Six rounder at 126 lbs.  This fight will be on the undercard of an HBO Latino show, and will not be televised.

(FEB 13) This week WBAN got an opportunity to talk with Eliza Olson after her February 7th title bout with Sunshine Fettkether that took place in Kinder, Louisiana. Olson talks about what she wants to do in the sport...

(FEB 12) WBAN has been notified that Vonda Ward will be fighting Ann "Brown Sugar" Wolfe  on a Pay-Per-View, in Biloxi, Mississippi in May of 2004.  The fight will be taking place in May. Ward and Wolfe will be fighting for the vacant 175-lb IBA World Title. The promotions is with Brian Young's Prize Fight Promotions.  More details to follow soon! 

(FEB 11) On March 15, 2004, Moonlight Production/ LLC., will be promoting their first ever PRO Boxing Show to be held at the Grizzly Rose, in Denver, Colorado.  C.C. Edwards of the Denver Police Brotherhood has signed #4 IFBA World rated Terri Cruz to Headline the event.  Cruz will be fighting an eight-rounder. Opponent has not been named at this time.

(FEB 10) On February 25, 2004, at the Park Central Ballroom, in Houston, Texas, on the undercard there will be a women's match featuring Trini "La Traviesa" Guzman, 1-0-0 vs. Akonday Fountain, who will be making her pro debut @168-lbs.

(FEB 9) There has been a lot of talk and questions as to what really happened on February 7, when Ann Wolfe was scheduled to fight Erin Toughill in Kinder, Louisiana.  Questions arose that went from was Wolfe really sick; was it a purse issue, or was it that she just didn’t want to fight Erin. Today, I contacted Ann by phone, and she confirmed that she was ill.   Ann said that she had felt sick during the week before the fight. Ann said that she wanted to fight in her hometown, which included countless fans, and her family who came to see Ann fight. More

(FEB 9) WBAN has just received info that Melinda Cooper, 18, of Las Vegas, will be fighting on the undercard on February 27, 2004, at the Orleans Hotel and Casino, in Las Vegas, Nevada.  Cooper will be fighting Jerri Sitzes in a bantamweight bout.  Sitzes is the boxer who caused quite an upset when she recently stopped Mary Elizabeth Ortega!

(FEB 8) Greetings boxing fans!!! This is the All-American, Jenifer Alcorn. As you have all heard, I have made the decision to retire from the sport of Boxing. Out of respect for the fans, I feel the responsibility to address my reasons for doing so. During the past five years as a ....

(FEB 6) Tonight in Copenhagen, Denmark, and Promoted by Palle Promotions, Frida Wallberg, Sweden, making her pro debut,  TKO2 Maribel Santana when after the first round Santana did not come out in the second round.

WBAN recently got an opportunity to talk with Lisa “Lil’ Warrior" Lewis, who is a Fresno firefighter by day, boxer by night!  Lewis is set to fight Jessica Rakoczy for the vacant International Boxing Association (IBA) World Lightweight Title on February 19, 2004, at the Palace Indian Gaming Center, in Lemoore, California, on the "Hard Road to Glory" card. 

(FEB 3) There are opponents changes for pro debuters who will be fighting this Friday on a Teampalle card.  Frida Walberg will now be fighting Maribel Santana, not Scalett Fulgenzio. AND Alexandra Matheus will be facing Marilin Hernandez, instead of Maribel Santana!

(FEB 2) On February 28th, 2004,  Isra "The Raging Beauty" Girgrah will be promoting her fifth promotions at the Washington Convention Center, in Washington D.C.  For ticket info, call Raging promotions 301-440-0125 or ticketmaster 2025-432-seat.

(FEB 2) WBAN got an opportunity to speak with Lisa Lewis, who will be fighting Jessica Rakoczy on February 19, at the  Palace Indian Gaming Center, in Lemoore, California, on the "Hard Road to Glory" card.  Lewis talked about her upcoming fight with Rakoczy, and about her boxing career.  The interview will be posted soon!  Sue TL Fox

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