HISTORY OF
WOMEN'S BOXING

(JAN 31) Tonight in Berlin, Germany, and promoted by Wiking Boxteam, Marischa Sjauw of Holland, will be fighting a six-rounder (147 lbs. division) against Laura Eleana Stefanescu of Roumania.  At weigh-in today, Sjauw made weight at 145.2.  Eleana will be weighing in later today!

(JAN 31) Recently Mia St. John was invited as a celebrity to the LA Sports Fans’ Choice Awards, that was presented by Sports Profiles.  The event took place at the Regent Beverly Wilshire Hotel, in Beverly Hills, California. WBAN was able to get some “hot photos” of St. John and Actress Enya Flack who was also a special guest.

(JAN 31) The latest news on German boxer Silke Weickenmeier is that she has just signed with Universum.  Weickenmeier will be on a Universum card February 14, 2004, where she will take on tough United States boxer, Trisha "TNT" Hill!  Both Weickenmeier and Hill are very talented boxers and this should make a good match---But Hill inevitably will have a hometown disadvantage.    

(JAN 31) Last night at the Palace, in Auburn Hills,  Michigan, Mary Jo Sanders made it a short night when she fought Jamie Whitcomb, of Grand Rapids, knocking Jamie down to the canvas three times in the first round, and the fight being stopped by the ref.  More on Latest Results

(JAN 31) The opponents of the two newly signed fighters with Palle, will be facing fighters from the Dominican Republic. Frida Walberg will be facing Scarlett Fulgenzio and Alexandra Matheus will be up against Maribel Santana. The event is set to take place on February 6, in Copenhagen, Denmark. Both Walberg and Matheus will be making their pro debut.

(JAN 31) Chicago Heavyweight contender Elizabeth Kerin is featured on the Style Channel's popular television program "The Look For Less" on Saturday, January 31st at 7pm and will repeat throughout the week. The Style Channel reaches 40 million American homes. Check your local listings.egina Saskatchewan.

(JAN 28) TRINIDAD - 17-year-old Giselle "Magic Salandy, 4-0-0, of Trinidad, has obtained her professional boxing license, who had been denied the license due to her age.   Giselle is set to rematch against Colombia's Paola Rojas, 23,  on January 30, for the WIBA Light Welterweight Iberian-American Title (140 lbs).  The fight will take place at Saith Park, Chaguanas, and will be the mainliner...

(JAN 27) On February 20, 2004, at the Beaumont Ford Arena, in Beaumont, Texas, and on a Telefutura card, Valerie "the Wolfe" Mahfood will fight Carletta "The Truth" Ewell. The two will fight in an eight-rounder for the Texas Miller Lite Belt. Patricia Butaud, J & P Independent Photographers will be covering this fight ringside for WBAN!

(JAN 26) WBAN has received info that Teampalle is about to sign two more women boxers. According to an article (in Danish) on the Teampalle website, they are in  final stages of negotiations with Frida Walberg of Sweden who holds both a world and european championship as well as numerous Swedish and Scandinavian titles.  The other fighter is brazilian born Alexandra Matheus, who is currently fighting for the Danish amateur club CIK.  Bettina Palle hopes to be able to present the two new fighters at the next "Tomorrow Champions" card on February 6th,  in Copenhagen.  She is applying for an exemption to the 21 year rule for Frida Wallsberg, who is a couple of months short of being 21 years old.  (Translated by WBAN's Denmark Correspondent Torben L.)

(JAN 25) (JAN 25) Last night at the Bank of America Centre, in snowy Boise, Idaho, and in front of about 2,000 boxing fans, Mia “The Knockout” St. John, 137, (30-3-2, 13 KO) won a four-rounder by a unanimous decision (40-36) against Franchesca Alcanter, 137, (10-5-1, 5 KO) in their rematch from their first bout that took place at the Playboy Mansion, in the year 2000. According to news sources, St. John said that she was a little nervous about fighting in Boise for the first time, but that the crowd was very supportive and was pleased to see the boxing fans in Boise urge her to win. St. John talked about wanting to avenge her loss against Christy Martin and would like a rematch. In the second women’s match, Betty Stephens, Salt Lake City, Utah, who came in eight pounds heavier (124 lbs) than Beth Westover, 116, from Boise, Idaho, won a four-round unanimous decision over Westover. Westover showing a tad bit of humor after the fight, donned a t-shirt with the saying “Tonya Who? Put up or shut up”. Westover was referring to her original opponent Tonya Harding who did not fight her, after Harding backed out due to her trainer being served with a lawsuit in regards to Harding fighting in Boise. Stephens moved her record to 2-0-0, and Westover is now 1-1-0.

(JAN 24) Last night at the Expo Center, in Kansas City, Missouri,  Mary Elizabeth Ortega, 117, was stopped by the much less experienced Jerri Sitzes, 117, in the fifth round by a TKO. The two were fighting a scheduled six-rounder in the bantamweight division. This was a rematch for the two, when Ortega defeated Sitzes the first time out in March of 2003.

(JAN 24) On February 16, 2004, at the Double Tree Hotel, in Ontario, California, and Promoted by Thompson Boxing, in a women's match, Marilyn Salcido of Big Bear, California will be fighting Carla Wilcox of Washington in a six-round 118-lb bout.

(JAN 24) In what could be considered a "Grudge" match, tonight  Hollie Dunaway will be rematching Stephanie "All Action" Dobbs in a six-rounder at the Fire Lake Casino, in Shawnee, Oklahoma. At the weigh-in, Dobbs came in at 109 lbs; and Dunaway at 108 lbs.

(JAN 24) Tonight in Boise, Idaho, Mia St. John, Los Angeles (29-3-2) will face Franchesca Alcanter, Kansas City, Mo. (10-4-1), in a four-round rematch. Also, Beth Westover, Boise (1-0) will take on Betty Stephens, Salt Lake City (1-0), four rounds.  Tickets for Saturday´s boxing card at the Bank of America Centre.2

(JAN 24) Tonight in Tunica, Mississippi, and promoted by Brian Young's Prize Fight Promotions, there will be two women's matches on the undercard that will feature,
Samantha Browning vs. Marla Roberson, and
Tiffany Ibanez, Gulfport, vs. Sandra Magee.5

(JAN 23) On February 7, 2004, in Kinder, Louisiana, Erin Toughill will definitely be taking on "Tough" foe when she fights Ann "Brown Sugar" Wolfe!  The two will be on the same card as Sunshine Fettkether vs. Eliza Olson, who will be fighting for the 154 Lb. IBA World belt.

(JAN 22) On January 24th, Stephanie Dobbs will be having a rematch with Hollie Dunaway in a six-rounder.  Dunaway said that she felt she would win the rematch with a convincing victory.  Dobbs said, "Then when you (Hollie) wake up and realize that you were dreaming, I will be standing over you with my arms raised."

(JAN 18, 2004) Last night in Karlsruhe, Germany,
Regina Halmich, 43-1-0 (15KO), of Germany, successful defended her WIBF Flyweight title when she won by a 10-round unanimous decision over Joanna Pena-Alvarez, now 14-2-1 (10KO), of the Dominican Republic.

(JAN 17) WBAN will be posting a story later tonight, but for quick results here are the following:  Anita Christiansen won a 10-round controversial split over Ada Velez (Velez was in disbelief of the decision. Two Danish judges voted for Christiansen, Finland judge had it 97-73 Velez: In Germany, Regina Halmich UD10 Pena-Alvarez, and undercard, pro debuter Julia Sahin UD4 Gabriella Insberger.  

(JAN 10) On April 3, 2004, “First Woman of British Boxing” Jane Couch aims to become the first British woman to become an EBU Champion.  Jane has been nominated by the European Boxing Union to box undefeated Belgium boxer Natalie Toro, of Belgium. The bout should have taken place in January, but had been rescheduled for April.  In the meantime, Jane  will box again on February 29, 2004, at the Marriott Hotel in Bristol on her own promotion, before going to Belgium. 

(JAN 8) There have been some changes on the January 24, 2004 card that is to take place at the Bank of America Centre, in Boise, Idaho.  Tonya Harding's original opponent, local boxer Beth Westover, 1-0-0 (0KO) will now be fighting Betty Stephens, 1-0-0 (0KO),  of Salt Lake City, Utah, and Harding's new opponent will be announced soon. According to the local news sources, Paul Brown, Harding's manager has decided to not have Harding fight Westover.  Also, on this card, Mia St. John will be fighting Franchesca Alcanter, so it looks like there will be three women's matches on this card.

(JAN 8) On January 24, 2004, at the Velodrome, Sloten, in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, and promoted by Top Sports Group, Esther Schouten, of the Netherlands will be fighting Juliette Winter of the United Kingdom, in a six-rounder. There is a possibility that this fight may be televised.

(JAN 6) Now that 2004 is upon us, there are many “Make-
a-Wish Lists for 2004” from various boxing sources on the net.  BUT is merely “wishing” for something enough to make things happen? WBAN would like to see a “Make It Happen” for women boxers in 2004, and to substitute “Wish” with “Work”.   It is "Work" that would likely be what makes it happens in the year 2004---not simple "wish lists." 

(JAN 6) WBAN has confirmed with the Alcanter Team that Franchesca Alcanter will be fighting Mia "The Knockout" St. John on January 24,at the Bank of America Centre, that will be the co-main event on the boxing card.  Tonya Harding will be the featured event when she takes on Beth Westover in a four-rounder.  WBAN will be ringside for this event.

(JAN 6) There can be no denial that Stephanie "All Action" Dobbs IS the BUSIEST boxer in the sport.  Dobbs has fought the most fight in 2002, 2003 and now is shooting for 2004!  She will be fighting Isabel Manyseng on January 24, in a six-rounder in Shawnee, Oklahoma. Then one week later, she will will be fighting in Tulsa, OK., and on Feb. 6, she will be fighting a "rubber match" against Dee Hamaguchi six-rounder! (You get em' lil' spitfire!)

(JAN 6) Melissa ''TNT'' Shaffer is coming off of about a six-month layoff, but is ready to train hard for 2004 because this year, her team says that it will be the year that she steps up and makes a name for herself in the 102 lb. weight class. Shaffer team told WBAN, "Melissa has a few opponents in her sights, a few girls that everybody else has been beating here of late . And then maybe other undefeated rookie Holly Shores! Anyway look for ''TNT'' come out blasting in 2004!"

(JAN 5) On Jan. 24-25,at the Fort Worth Boxing Club, there will be the 2nd Annual Fort Worth Boxing Show, that will take place at the Riverside Community Center, 3700 E. Belknap, Fort Worth, Texas. This will also be a box off for the Southwestern Association SR Males to receive money for the Western Trials.

(JAN 4) WBAN was contacted today by Kelsey Jeffries, who was chosen by boxing fans as the 2003 WBAN Fighter of the Year.  She told WBAN, "I wanted to say a few words in response to the great honor I have received. I have been in Hawaii and did not know about the Fighter of the Year award. I can not tell you how shocked, humbled and very honored I feel to receive such an honor. There are so many great fighters who's names were dropped and that were not dropped that deserve this honor. All I can say is Mahalo nui loa!"

(JAN 3) Last night at the Big Kahuna Club, in Wilmington, Delaware, on a Telefutura card (untelevised) Cindy Serrano, 130, of Queens, NY, stopped Helen Penson, 135, of Spartansburg, South Carolina 29 seconds of the first round.  The fight was scheduled for four rounds in the lightweight. This was the first women's match of the new year!.

(JAN 3) Just as first reported on WBAN that it was doubtful the Mia St. John vs. Eliza Olson's fight would take place in Africa on January 10. WBAN has confirmed that the fight "IS off!" Neither St. John or Olson were paid their portion of the purse that the promoter was to compensate them with.   Olson told WBAN that she was disappointed about this cancellation, and that she had trained very hard for the fight and incurred substantial expenses to prepare for this fight. 

(JAN 1) The results are in, and WBAN has posted the 2003 WBAN Yearly Awards!  Kelsey Jeffries of Gilroy, California was named "Fighter of the year!" To read the "Good, The Bad, and the NOT so Good" in Women's Boxing for this past year, go here!

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