Sumya Anani
Born (1972-02-12) February 12, 1972
Minnesota, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
Other namesIsland Girl
Statistics
Weight(s)Welterweight
Height5 ft 6 in (168 cm)[1]
Reach65 in (170 cm)[1]
StanceOrthodox
Boxing record
Total fights29
Wins25
Wins by KO10
Losses3
Draws1
No contests0
Websitehttp://www.sumya.com

Sumya Anani (born February 12, 1972) is a retired American professional female boxer nicknamed "The Island Girl." She was 5'6" and boxed as a junior welterweight.[2] She is best known for a 1996 bout which left her opponent severely injured and may have served as an inspiration for the film Million Dollar Baby.[3] Outside the ring, she is a yoga instructor and holistic healer.

Anani was born in Minnesota and raised in Kansas. She competed as a weightlifter in 1995 and 1996. She took up boxing for self-defense and started boxing professionally because she was "short on cash."[4] She began to box professionally in the summer of 1996.

She began by boxing against relatively unknown opponents. Her fourth professional bout was in St. Joseph, Missouri against Katie Dallam, a novice welterweight who had only gotten her pro boxing license the day before[2] — a pairing described as "an obvious mismatch." In four rounds she landed 119 blows to Dallam's head. Dallam collapsed in her dressing room afterward and required brain surgery. Anani was so upset she considered quitting boxing.[4]

She came to prominence in the boxing world on September 30, 1997, when she defeated former WIBF lightweight champion Stacy Prestage by a knockout. On March 28, 1998 she scored "the sport's biggest upset" with a unanimous six-round decision over veteran Andrea DeShong, considered "the standard bearer for the sport."[4] On December 18, 1998, she fought boxing star Christy Martin and won the match, handing Martin her first defeat since November 1989.[2]

In 2016, Anani was inducted into the Women's International Boxing Hall of Fame in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The IWBHF was created and founded by Sue TL Fox.[5]

Professional boxing record

29 fights 25 wins 3 losses
By knockout 10 0
By decision 15 3
Draws 1
No. Result Record Opponent Type Round, time Date Location Notes
29 Loss 25–3–1 United States Terri Blair TKO 9 (10) May 27, 2006 United States Louisville Gardens, Louisville, Kentucky, USA For IBA Female welterweight title
28 Loss 25–2–1 United States Terri Blair TKO 10 (10) Mar 25, 2006 United States Grand Victoria Casino, Rising Sun, Indiana, USA Lost IBA Female welterweight title
27 Win 25–1–1 Puerto Rico Belinda Laracuente UD 10 Jan 22, 2005 United States Coushatta Casino Resort, Kinder, Louisiana, USA Retained IBA Female welterweight title
26 Win 24–1–1 United States Stephanie Jaramillo UD 10 Dec 4, 2004 United States Municipal Auditorium, Kansas City, Missouri, USA Retained IBA Female super lightweight title
25 Win 23–1–1 United States Lisa Holewyne UD 6 Apr 24, 2004 United States Staples Center, Los Angeles, California, USA
24 Win 22–1–1 United States Fredia Gibbs RTD 1 (8) Apr 18, 2003 United States Palace Indian Gaming Center, Lemoore, California, USA
23 Win 21–1–1 United States Lisa Holewyne KO 5 (10) Nov 2, 2002 United States The Palace, Auburn Hills, Michigan, USA Won vacant IBA Female welterweight title
22 Win 20–1–1 United Kingdom Jane Couch TKO 4 (10) Jun 21, 2002 United States Convention Center, Waco, Texas, USA Won vacant Female IBA super lightweight title
21 Win 19–1–1 United States Britt Van Buskirk UD 8 Feb 1, 2002 United States Coca-Cola Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA
20 Draw 18–1–1 United States Fredia Gibbs PTS 10 Nov 16, 2001 United States Convention Center, Austin, Texas, USA For vacant Female IBA super lightweight title
19 Win 18–1 United States Britt Van Buskirk UD 10 Oct 20, 2001 United States Seven Feathers Hotel & Casino Resort, Canyonville, Oregon, USA Won vacant Female IBF and Global Boxing Union Female welterweight titles
18 Win 17–1 United States Elizabeth Mueller UD 10 May 11, 2001 United States Convention Center, Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA Won vacant IBA Female lightweight title
17 Loss 16–1 United States Britt Van Buskirk SD 6 Sep 17, 2000 United States Harrah's Casino, Saint Louis, Missouri, USA
16 Win 16–0 United States Vicki Woods UD 8 Jun 25, 2000 United States Majestic Star Casino, Gary, Indiana, USA
15 Win 15–0 United States Dora Webber UD 10 Jun 11, 1999 United States Bossier City, Louisiana, USA
14 Win 14–0 United States Dora Webber UD 8 Mar 23, 1999 United States KC Market Center, Kansas City, Missouri, USA
13 Win 13–0 United States Denise Moraetes UD 8 Mar 12, 1999 United States Roseland Ballroom, New York, New York, USA
12 Win 12–0 United States Christy Martin MD 10 Dec 18, 1998 United States Memorial Auditorium, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA
11 Win 11–0 United States Alicia Sparks TKO 1 (6) Sep 18, 1998 United States Flamingo Casino, Kansas City, Missouri, USA
10 Win 10–0 United States Andrea DeShong UD 6 Mar 28, 1998 United States KC Market Center, Kansas City, Missouri, USA
9 Win 9–0 United States Loretta James TKO 1 (4) Jan 31, 1998 United States Convention Center, Des Moines, Iowa, USA
8 Win 8–0 United States Charlotte Esparza KO 1 (4) Nov 13, 1997 United States Ramada Inn, Jefferson City, Missouri, USA
7 Win 7–0 United States Stacey Prestage KO 4 (6) Sep 30, 1997 United States KC Market Center, Kansas City, Missouri, USA
6 Win 6–0 United States Ashley Needham UD 4 Apr 2, 1997 United States Station Casino, Kansas City, Missouri, USA
5 Win 5–0 United States Shelley Walden TKO 4 (4) Mar 19, 1997 United States Omaha, Nebraska, USA
4 Win 4–0 United States Katherine Dallam TKO 4 (4) Dec 11, 1996 United States O'Fireman's Local 77, Saint Joseph, Missouri, USA
3 Win 3–0 United States Valerie Almack TKO 2 (4) Oct 16, 1996 United States Beaumont Club, Kansas City, Missouri, USA
2 Win 2–0 United States Jessica Breitfelder UD 4 Aug 26, 1996 United States Midnight Rodeo, Springfield, Missouri, USA
1 Win 1–0 United States Jessica Breitfelder UD 4 Aug 12, 1996 United States Beaumont Club, Kansas City, Missouri, USA

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Sumya Anani Awakening Profile". Awakeningfighters.com. Retrieved 2016-02-17.
  2. 1 2 3 "Sumya Anani". WBAN - Women's Boxing Archive Network. Retrieved 1 August 2013.
  3. Dallam, Stephanie. "My sister's story". Katie Dallam website. Retrieved 1 August 2013.
  4. 1 2 3 "Sumya Anani". womenboxing.com. Retrieved 1 August 2013.
  5. "About the IWBHF". Wban.net. 2014-07-10. Retrieved 2016-09-25.


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