HISTORY OF
WOMEN'S BOXING

DECEMBER 2002

December 29, 2002 - Johnny Mercer Theater, in Savannah, Georgia
Chevelle Hallback won a 10-round unanimous decision over Layla McCarter in a non-titled 10 rounder.  This was NOT for the IBA World title defense for Hallback as reported on other Internet news sources that have it listed as a "title" fight. Earlier this week, as reported on WBAN, McCarter pulled out of the IBA World 10-round title fight when she claimed a hand injury.  The promoter was trying frantically to find a competent replacement for McCarter to fight Hallback on this night's card. Then McCarter did take the fight, but it was made a non-title 10 rounder. Final scores for this bout was 98-91, 97-95, 100-90.

December 27, 2002 - The Orleans Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada    WBAN Member's photo gallery #316
Guilty Boxing, in an association with the Orleans Hotel, and Everlast Gloves presented "Friday Night Fights" and featured, 17 year-old Melinda Cooper, 117, who won a four-round unanimous decision over  Antoinette Weaver, 117.5, of Atlanta, Georgia. Final judges scoring was 40-36. 

December 26, 2002-Cliff Anderson Sports Hall, in Guyana
On Boxing Day, New York’s Veronica Simmons received her third win when she fought and defeated Gwendolyn "The Stealth Bomber" O’Neal by a six-round majority decision. The two fought as the semi-main event in what was considered a barnburner. According to the Guyana Chronicle, they reported the following: "Guyana’s Gwendolyn ‘The Stealth Bomber’ O’Neal was taught the art of boxing by American Veronica Simmons, who withstood her robust tactics to emerge victorious by a majority decision in their six-round light-heavyweight brawl.. O’Neal learned that her robust/wrestling style was not going to prevail once she met a boxer who was prepared to stand up to her as the American Simmons did. The world-rated O’Neal was warned on several occasions for pushing and holding while the crafty Simmons made her look out of sorts with a skillful display, jabbing and hitting with precision." The final judges scores was 58-56, 59-56, and 57-57. 

December 23, 2002, San Pedro de Macoris, Dominican Republic
Featherweights Judith Urbaez, TKO3 Diane Garcia.

December 22, 2002 -  Spain (Amateur)
Both from Spain, Sandra Orden defeated Marta Custodio by points in a super flyweight amateur bout.

December 21, 2002 - War Memorial Auditorium, in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
Elite Sports Promotions presented an exciting night of women’s boxing! In the biggest upset of the night,  Sunshine Fettkether, 147, won a 10-round unanimous decision over veteran Mitzi Jeter, 144 ¾ in a WIBC Welterweight Championship title bout. Final scoring was 96-94, 99-91 and 97-93.  In addition, in another 10-round super-middleweight WIBC championship bout between Ann "Brown Sugar" Wolfe, 166 ½, vs. Marsha Valley, 168,---a rematch, Wolfe stopped Valley in the 10^th round with a TKO. On the undercard. Marianne Chubirka, 113, won a four-round unanimous decision over Gracie Roca, 112. Final judges scores was 40-36.; Impressive Amateur turned pro on this night Yvonne Reis,154, won her first professional bout against Bonnie Mann, 146, Raleigh, North Carolina, with a four-round unanimous decision. Reis was the aggressor in the match and took control of the fight early on in the fight.Final Judges scoring was 40-36; and lastly, In a WIBC elimination six-rounder Lisa Brown, 121 ½, won by a unanimous decision over Karen Martin, 121, who is presently fighting out of the U.K. All judges scored the fight 60-54.  There was one exhibition tonight between Melissa DelValle (Salamone) "Honeygirl", and Michelle Linden. 

December 20, 2002 - Tulsa, Oklahoma
Stephanie Dobbs wasted little time in stopping Gena Abel in the first round.  According to news sources, Abel retired after the first round after possibly suffering an injury to the nose.

December 20, 2002 -Aibonita Cancha Marron Aponte, Puerto Rico
Yahaira Bonilla, Puerto Rico TKO1 Jessica Martin, United States.

December 20, 2002 - American Airlines Arena, Miami, Florida    WBAN Member's photo gallery #27
Ada "The Ace" Velez, 118,  won by a 10-round unanimous decision over Lakeysha "The Total Package" William, 118,  at the at the American Airlines Arena, in Miami, Florida.  ESPN2 "Friday Night Fights" televised the fight from the fifth round on.  This was the first time that Williams had fought past the six round, and according to ESPN2 commentators, Velez controlled the action throughout most of the fight.  There were no knockdowns. Velez retained her IBA Bantamweight World title belt.  On all scorecards the score by judges was 100-90. 

December 19, 2002, Dominican Republic Teo Cruz Coliseum, Santo Domingo
Lightweights Monica Nunez, 137, won a four-round unanimous decision over Diane Garcia, 135. Bantamweights and both from the Dominican Republic, Joanna Pena Alvarez KO1 Angela Garcia. 

December 18, 2002 - Tokyo, Japan
In an event called, "Fighting Girl" Part Four card" it was a big night of women’s boxing! According to news sources, Emiko Raika became the second Japanese woman to ever win a world boxing title, with a very close split decision victory over Australian Sharon Anyos. Raika now holds the WIBA Featherweight title. On third hand reports, Anyos dominated the fight in the earlier round, but stamina and conditioning appeared to be a factor as Raika rallied strong in the late rounds. Raiko is now the new WIBA Featherweight World Champion; In a six-round bout, Naoko Yamaguchi won a six-round unanimous decision over Misato Yamzaki. Final judges scoring was 58-60, 56-60, and 56-60; in another six rounder, Yumi Yashima won a six-round unanimous decision over Australian Nicola Cubillo. Final scores were 58-60, 57-59, and 57-58; Lastly, Miki Kikukawa (japan number 1 ranked bantamweight) defeated Noriko Tsuchida by six round majority decision. Final scoring 60-58, 60-58 and 60-60 (draw). 

December 18, 2002 - Irvine, California
At the Irvine Marriott, Para Draine, won a 10-rd split decision over Marilyn Salcido and is now the new IFBA Champion! Draine told WBAN, she was coming back into the sport to be a champ, and she succeeded!

December 14, 2002 -National Guard Armory, Dorchester, Massachusetts
Leaticia Robinson, now 9-0-0 (8KO), stopped Dakota Stone, 5-3-3 (0KO), in the sixth round. The fight was scheduled for a 10-round IWBF Middleweight world title. In a seconds women's boxing, Danielle Bouchard, Laval, Quebec,  won by a four-round split decision over Trisha Hill, Atlanta, Georgia.  

December 14, 2002 - Arena México, Mexico Delia López TKO'd Elizabeth Sanchez (Bello) in the fifth round, and captured the Mexican Jr. Flyweight Title. Sanchez was knocked down in the first and second round, and a first defense for Sanchez. Lopez is now 4-0-1 (1KO), and Sanchez is 7-4-0 (1KO)

December 13, 2002 - Pechanga Resort & Casino, Temecula, California
Anastasia Toukalova, 105, won by a unanimous decision (60-54) over Mary Duron, 108. The fight was on the undercard of an ESPN2 "Friday Night Fights" card (untelevised).

December 13, 2002 - The World Gym, Northeast Philadelphia, PA 
Jacqui "Sister Smoke" Frazier-Lyde won a unanimous 10-round decision over Kendra Lenhart. Jacqui is now the WIBF/GBU super middleweight belt to go along with her Intercontinental title. Final scores were 99-90, 99-90, and 98-91. 

December 13, 2002 - Pontchartrain Center, in Kenner, Louisiana
Angie Bordelon, 115. of Louisiana won a four-round majority decision over former amateur champion Marianna Chubirka, 114. of Fort Lauderdale, Florida.  According to news sources, Bordelon landed the harder punches.  Bordelon improved her record to 4-7-0, and Chubirka is now 1-1-0. 

December 12, 2002 -At Pabellon "Raimundo Saporta" (REAL Madrid) Madrid, Spain
Broadcasted by Localia TV Maria Jesus Rosa retained tonight her European Flyweight Title  when she defeated last-minute opponent Viktoria Varga, when Rosa stopped Varga in the 7th round. Rosa dominated the fight from the beginning with her superior technical skills, and Varga was in survival mode throughout the fight. Rosa is now 13-0-0 (2KO), and Varga dropped to 1-7-2 (0KO). 

December 12, 2002 - Club Los Cachorros in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
Marilyn Hernandez won a 4-round decision over Zuleida Diaz in the bantamweight division. Hernandez improves her record to 1-1-0,  and Diaz is now 0-3-0 (0KO).December 11, 2002 - México City, México
Susana Morales, El Salvador won a 2nd round disqualification over Belem Posadas in a scheduled Flyweight four-rounder.

December 11, 2002 -Hudson Theatre
New York City, NY  
In a close decision'ed fight Ann Marie Saccurato, is now 3-0-0 (2KO) of New York, when she defeated pro debuter Daria Hill, of Philadelphia, PA. The bout was a 147-lb four rounder. December 8, 2002 -Thistle Hotel in Bristol, U.K.  Jane Couch, Fleetwood, UK, won a ten-round unanimous decision over Borislava Goranova, Bulgaria. Couch won the WBF junior welterweight title. Final scoring was 100-90. Couch moved her record to 18-4-0 (7K)), Goranova is now 2-4-0 (0KO). According to news sources, after the fight, Couch issued a public challenge to Laila Ali.

December 6, 2002 - Atlanta, Georgia
Nina Ahlin, 106,  of Atlanta, GA, won by TKO over Nikki Verbeck, 106,  of Paris, AK, in the first round as a result of a blow to the throat. Ahlin goes to 9-3-1 (3 KO) while Verbeck goes 0-2-0.  The six-fight card was produced by Austin Wingo and David Oblas of Undisputed Production, with 900 attendance at this mid-town venue on a cold December night in Atlanta. Personalities attending included Terri Moss and Corrine Vanreykdegroot.  (Note: One boxing fan wrote WBAN and said that  Verbeck displayed no boxing skills and when she was hit with a flurry she attempted to "call time" forcing the referee to stop the fight. Afterwards an angry Verbeck complained she was hit in the throat and made an obscene gesture to the referee. She thought that being hit in the neck was an illegal punch that should have afforded her a break. However, in boxing it is "protect yourself at all times" and a punch to the throat is legal. TL Fox)

December 6, 2002 -  Edgewater Hotel & Casino, Laughlin, Nevada 
 Layla McCarter won a four-round majority decision over Luna Blanca. There were no knockdowns.  Final judges scores were 38-38, 40-36, and 40-36. 

December 6, 2002 - Winnepeg, Canada
Jo-Anne Brooks in her pro debut TKO2 Ileano Serrano. (Source: Winnepeg Sun Newspaper.)

December 6, 2002, Gund Arena, Cleveland, Ohio
O on the mainliner on ESPN2 "Friday Night Fights", Vonda Ward, 189.5,  defended her IBA Heavyweight title and she won by stopping Kathy Rivers, 195.5,  in the 1:41 second of the eighth round.  Ward moves to 15-0-0 (13 KO). On the undercard,  Shadina Pennybaker, 155, defeated Sabrina Hall, 155 1/2, with a four-round unanimous decision in a middleweight bout.  Also, Kelli Cofer defeated Julia Day with a four-round uanaimous decision in a featherweight bout.

December 6, 2002 - Pontiac Silverdome, in Detroit, Michigan  Full Report by Katherine Dunn
Christy Martin, 144,  won a 10-round decision over Mia St. John, 140 1/4.  St. John gets an "A+" for effort, as she hung in there and it was obvious that she trained very hard for the fight.  If St. John did not have boxing fans before the fight, she absolutely gained some after the fight. Martin could not take Mia out, like most predicted, and Mia took some punishing body shots---not missing a beat. Final scoring of the fight was 97-93, 97-93, 99-91.  

December 6, 2002 - Hollywood Park Casino, Los Angeles, California - Muay Thai   In Muay Thai action last night, Friday 6th December at the Hollywood Park Casino in Los Angeles, Christy Martin used a fluid combination of powerful kicks and punches to batter her way to a 2nd round TKO over a game but outgunned Letticia Nunez. In October, Martin won their first encounter by decision over 3 rounds.  In the other featured women’s match, Patti Teran won a 3-round decision over Adri Harding. Carefully gauging her openings, Teran snapped off sharp, quick kicks, gradually upping the tempo of her attack over the the last two rounds en route to a unanimous decision.  Neither Latonya Long nor Alice Vaimaona saw action last night. Long, impressive in her October debut, worked the corner for some of her training partners from Extreme Power Kickboxing last night while Vaimaona suffered the frustration of having an opponent cancel for the 5th (!) straight time since a thundering joust against Dana Sears in an unsanctioned match earlier this year.

December 3, 2002 - Memphis, Tennessee
Terri Moss, TKO1 1:28 seconds Angela Kirkes in a scheduled strawweight four-rounder.  As predicted this fight did not last long, with Moss making it an early night for  herself. Moss knocked Kirkes down once, and with an overhand right to Kirkes after the first knockdown, Kirkes  was down the second time and the fight was over.  Moss improves her record to 2-3, and Kirkes remains winless at 0-2-0.