Tag Archives: Sue “TL” Fox

Publication day, June 4, 2024, The Promise of Women’s Boxing: A Momentous New Era for the Sweet Science

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The must-read book on the rise of elite women’s boxing

 

It’s 💥Publication Day💥, June 4, 2024!!!! Books on sale now!!! Links below!

🥊THE PROMISE OF WOMEN’S BOXING: A MOMENTOUS NEW ERA FOR THE SWEET SCIENCE🥊

by Author and Women’s Boxing Historian, Malissa Smith Foreward by Claressa Shields

⬇️ ⬇️ ⬇️ Available for sale ⬇️ ⬇️ ⬇️

Amazon: Purchase here

Barnes & Noble: Purchase here

Rowman & Littlefield Publishers: Purchase here

The Promise of Women’s Boxing: A Momentous New Era for the Sweet Science is the must-read book on the rise of elite women’s boxing.

On April 30th, 2022, the first boxing super-fight of the era, headlined by two women and fought at Madison Square Garden, lived up to its hype and then some. The two contestants fought the battle of their lives in front of a sold-out crowd and garnered 1.5 million views through online streaming. It was the culmination of a long, three-centuries arc of women’s boxing history, a history fraught with highs and lows but always imbued with the heart and passion of the women who fought.

In The Promise of Women’s Boxing: A Momentous New Era for the Sweet Science, Malissa Smith details the exciting period from the 2012 Olympics through the true “million-dollar baby” women’s super-fights of 2022 and beyond. Rich in content, the stories that emerge focus on boxing stars new and old, important battles, and the challenges women still face in boxing. Smith examines the development of the sport on a global basis, the transition of amateur boxers to the pros, the impact of online streamlining on the sport, the challenges boxing has faced from MMA, and the unprecedented gains women’s boxing has made in the era of the super-fight with extraordinary seven-figure opportunities for elite female stars.

Featuring the stories of women’s boxing icons Katie Taylor, Amanda Serrano, Savannah Marshall, and more, and with a foreword by two-time Olympic gold medalist and three-time undisputed champion Claressa Shields, The Promise of Women’s Boxing offers unprecedented insight into the incredible growth of the sport and the women who have fought in and out of the ring to make it all possible.

Here’s what the boxing world has to say about Malissa Smith’s new book:

There is no one more knowledgeable about or dedicated to women’s boxing than Malissa Smith. Without bias, Malissa is able to translate her passion into words that satisfy an enthusiast while appealing to occasional fans. A must read for any diligent sports enthusiast. 🥊 Jill Diamond, WBC co-chair of the Women’s Championships, WBC International Secretary, Global Chair WBC Cares

Malissa Smith is the ultimate chronicler of women’s boxing. Her new book details the last dozen years, during which fighters like Claressa Shields, Katie Taylor, and Amanda Serrano have not only evened the playing field, but at times outperformed their male counterparts. 🥊 Steve Farhood, Showtime boxing analyst and former editor of The Ring magazine and 2017 Inductee, International Boxing Hall of Fame

Malissa Smith’s comprehensive analysis and understanding of this very important period in the evolution of women’s boxing makes for a terrific read. 🥊 Lou DiBella, President, DiBella Entertainment, 2020 inductee to the International Boxing Hall of Fame

Malissa Smith has given readers a very accurate accounting of women’s boxing. From the Olympics to selling out Madison Square Garden, she has revisited the history I’m proud to be a part of. 🥊 Christy Martin, retired boxing champion, 2020 inductee to the International Boxing Hall of Fame

Malissa’s grasp of, eloquence on, and in-depth research into the continued resistance of change to 3-minute rounds for women is equally fascinating and disheartening. A must read for anyone interested in gaining insight into women’s boxing. 🥊 Alicia Ashley, retired boxing champion, 2023 inductee to the International Boxing Hall of Fame

Malissa Smith has written a compelling book on the progression of women’s boxing, showing us the grit, determination, and perseverance that took the sport from the first ever inclusion in the 2012 London Olympics to today’s era of mega-fights. 🥊 Sue Fox, founder, Women’s Boxing Archive Network, International Women’s Boxing Hall of Fame

For anyone who follows and enjoys women’s boxing—this is the perfect book for you. It’s not just history and facts; this book is also full of stories and in-depth examinations. Malissa Smith did a terrific job! 🥊 Jackie Kallen, boxing manager, 2024 inductee to the International Boxing Hall of Fame

Malissa’s effort to document the journey of women’s boxing is nothing short of titanic. In a world where stories are told in spurts of 280 characters on social media, Malissa takes the time to delve into the struggles of every fighter, and she takes us along for a ride that is rich in both journalistic rigor and historical accuracy—with her gift for storytelling making it a pleasure to read. 🥊 Diego Morilla, writer, editor, and moderator for the Women’s Ratings Panel, The Ring magazine

Malissa has captured the wonderful growth of women’s boxing in her book The Promise of Women’s Boxing. She highlights how quickly the women have become a major force in amateur and professional boxing. And in many cases, the women overshadow the men. 🥊 Bruce Silverglade, owner of boxing’s world-famous Gleason’s Gym

On Women’s Boxing-what an October!

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I had the honor of introducing the 16 inductees to the International Women’s Boxing Hall of Fame’s Class of 2022. Held at the Orleans Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas on October 22nd, the 9th class of inductees celebrated women’s boxing’s past and present in high style.

The brainchild of founder Sue TL Fox, herself an American pioneer from the 1970s when the denizens of women’s boxing went to court to win the right to box professionally, her insistence that women give themselves the accolades they deserve reverberates through the community.

Yes, we love that since 2020, women have been inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in Canastota, New York. And that in Hall of Fames across the United States and beyond, women are taking their place for the brilliance of their achievements.

There is something; however, to that wonderful notion put forth by Virginia Wolfe, of having a room of one’s own. And whether actual or metaphorical, the sisterhood of brilliant athletes swapping stories is irreplaceable. This year’s class included Tori Nelson and Suzi Kentikian, boxers you may well have heard of, but it also contained Cora Webber who not only boxed in the 1970s, but in the 1990s to great effect. And men too, including Irish promoter Jimmy Finn, who along with 2014 Inductee Barbara Buttrick promoted the actual first all-female card in the UK in 1994; and Tom Gerbasi, who has led the way as a boxing journalist giving space to the stories of women in the ring since the late 1990s.

This year’s event was also held amid women’s boxing’s dazzling October.

The all-female Shields-Marshall card at London’s O2 Arena on October 15th was held in front of a sold-out crowd of 20,000 cheering fans, not to mention the 2,000,000 eyes that caught the broadcast of the card on Sky and ESPN+. The card delivered not only in terms of the number of fans tuning in, but the brilliance of the performances from one end of the card to the other. The Shields-Marshall fight itself, produced a fight of the year contender to rival the Taylor-Serrano bout on April 30th whose main-event battle was held in front of a similarly sold-out crowd at Madison Square Garden.

What was notable, is that while Taylor-Serrano had 1.5 million views on DAZN, a full .5 million more viewed Shields-Marshall—to my mind, showing the strength of the Taylor-Serrano card to the women’s boxing “brand.” Afterall, it is highly unlikely that Bob Arum and Top Rank would have pushed to have their fighter Mikaela Mayer contest for the unified Super Featherweight title against Alycia Baumgardner, without the precedent of a sold-out Madison Square Garden.

Nor does it stop there.

Katie Taylor after her win over Karen Elizabeth Carabajal. Photo by James Chance/Getty Images

Consider Katie Taylor’s seemingly effortless retention of her undisputed lightweight crown and undefeated record against the mandatory Argentinian contender Karen Carabajal. Taylor led the card at the Wembley Arena—the very place where she had her pro debut. At that event, a mere six years ago, she walked out to nearly empty stands. At her homecoming of sorts, the cheering crowds floated her to the ring on a wave of love and admiration.

The two female fights on the undercard were also great action bouts showing off the prowess of Ellie Scotney as she pressured Mary Romero to a loss. And then there was the impressive professional debut of Maisey Rose Courtney, frankly one of the best I’ve seen, female or male. But think about that for a minute. She had her debut at Wembley Arena on a Katie Taylor card positioned as the swing bout leading into the main event.

Thinking about it more, Maisey’s entire boxing career has been informed by Katie Taylor.

Taylor’s amateur prowess and trailblazing amateur career provided Maisey with a goal to strive for. While her pro debut was on the undercard of a major fight by an undisputed champion in one of boxing’s more venerable arenas in the United Kingdom. This is Maisey’s world with the likes of Adam Smith stating Sky Sports commitment to putting on good cards as demonstrating “a move towards total parity and total equality in pay.”

The latter in particular remains to be seen. The boxing efforts on Saturday, October 29th across the globe; however, gave truth to the idea that parity and equity are long overdue. Consider Arley Muciño who wrested the IBF World Fly title from the Argentinian champion, Leonela Yudica, in a non-stop action fight at San Diego, CA’s Pechanga Arena and shown on DAZN. It should be noted it was Yudica’s 10th defense of the belt since she first captured it in 2014—a momentous upset by Muciño who had at one time held the WBO World Fly title. Announcing for the Golden Boy Promotions card was none other than current unified champion WBA and WBC World Fly champion Marlen Esparza, who immediately called out Muciño for a unification battle.

Let us also not forget that Yamileth Mercado successfully defended her WBC World Super Bantamweight title against the venerable Mariana “La Barbie” Juarez in her fourth defense of her title, her loss to Amanda Serrano in 2021, notwithstanding.

Those showings, the Taylor card bouts, and the women boxing at venues large and small establishes the sport has the potential for an even more magnificent future.

Let us all hope that actually comes to pass.

 

International Women’s Boxing Hall of Fame!

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International Women’s Boxing Hall of Fame!

International Women's Boxing Hall Of Fame

Women Boxing Archive Network’s (WBAN) tireless booster for the sport of female boxing, Sue TL Fox, has announced the creation of  the International Women’s Boxing Hall of Fame (IWBHF).

The IWBHF will recognize leaders in the sport in two categories: Participants and Non-Participants. Candidates for the participant categories will be Retired Female Boxers and Pioneer Female Boxers. Non-Participant categories will include Referees, Promoters, Journalists and Photographers.

The IWBHF board will include Promoter, Tokyo Arnie Rosenthal; Boxer, Alex “The Bronx Bomber” Ramos; Amateur Boxing Judge, Krysti Rosario; Boxing Writer, Bernie McCoy; Women’s Boxing Historian, Malissa Smith; Boxing Writer, Michael O’Neill; Boxing Writer, Rick McLean;  Boxing Writer, Harvey Johnson, and Sue TL Fox herself.

A link to the announcement on WBAN is here: International Women’s Boxing Hall of Fame.

Getting the skinny on #womensboxing … WBAN

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Getting the skinny on #womensboxing … WBAN

WBAN

If you’re looking for the latest on #womensboxing … Sue TL Fox’s WBAN (Women Boxing Archive Network) remains the place to go!

With a plethora of stories on individual boxers, exclusive interviews, news on upcoming fights, editorials on the state of the sport, and a site loaded with goodies it takes days and days to go through; the site is a MUST GO for anyone interested in the sport.

Starting this month, Sue has opened up her considerable archive of boxing records to the public. It is treasure trove of women’s boxing photos, original documents, video streaming footage, as well as a repository of historical documents.

Sue TL Fox

Set up as a separate (but linked) website, WomensBoxingRecords.com is the most comprehensive website on the Internet for historical information of female boxing.

Named as one of the ten-most significant women’s boxers of all time in last year’s February 2012 edition of Ring Magazine, Sue Fox is more than that — she is a women’s boxing treasure for her years of devotion to setting the record straight in the sport.

As a former boxer with an illustrious career during the great spurt of women’s boxing in the 1970s, Sue also brings all of the passion for the sport that only someone who has actually fought in the squared circle can bring.

She has also been, and remains, an important point of contact for women in the sport. While not exactly a “mothership,” WBAN is a lifeline for denizens of female boxing from amateurs to professionals and everything in between.

If you can … go check it out, just click on the links:

WBAN (Women Boxing Archive Network)

WomensBoxingRecords.com

 

 

Jazzing with Melissa Hernandez…

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Jazzing with Melissa Hernandez…

Melissa Hernandez v. Jelena Mrdjenovich, Credit: Rob T Sports Photography/ Rob Trudeau

Melissa Hernandez v. Jelena Mrdjenovich, WBC Title Fight, Credit: Rob T Sports Photography/ Rob Trudeau

There is really no other way to describe WBC Female Featherweight Champion Melissa “HuracanShark” Hernandez in the ring than to say she is pure jazz.

Her fighting style is the essence of improvisation: bending the canon of what is possible in boxing with her left and deconstructing her opponents with each of her pounding rights.

The boxing maxim “kill the body and the head dies” is nothing more than a sophomoric adage as Hernandez dips and twirls her fists in a perfect prose of confusion and mind-numbing brilliance–so much so that watching her is the visual equivalent of the best mash-up that jazz could ever offer.

Supremely confident in her repertoire of boxing movements, she is pure poetry in motion: a swirling, stunning, harming, mugging, hilarious mixture of impossible postures, feints and straight-no-chaser jab, jab, jab, straight right, left hook to the body devastation.

Melissa Hernandez v. Jelena Mrdjenovich, WBC Title Fight, 9/14/2012 (highlights)

I had the opportunity to see her in action recently at Gleason’s Gym. She was sparring, working three rounds with one fighter before the next fighter would move on into the ring. I didn’t get a chance to speak with her so I never did find out why she was in town–but it didn’t really matter. She was so at home, so assured that the years she’s been in Miami seemed to peel away.

The “Huracan” at work, Credit: Mischa Merz

The thing about her as a fighter is she is comfortable in her own skin; so comfortable that she can take as many risks as she needs because there is never any hesitation. It’s as if her prowess in the ring is programmed into her DNA. That is how sure she is.

Sue TL Fox of WBAN had a recent interview with Hernandez worth checking out (link here). Hernandez is waiting for another chance to fight and has otherwise publicly challenged Argentina’s Alejandra Oliveras to put up or shut up when it comes to wanting a WBC title. Time will tell on that one, and meanwhile, Hernandez trains at the 5th Street Gym in Miami, while acting as a trainer to a group of young fighters. With any luck, we’ll get to see her in action soon.

Melissa Hernandez v. Jelena Mrdjenovich, 6/24/2011 (complete fight)

Women’s Boxing Updates

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Women’s Boxing Updates.

Ana Maria Torres!

Ana Maria Torres, Photo Credit: Enrigue Perez Heurta, Demotix

Ana Maria Torres who will be meeting Jackie Nava on July 30th in a rematch of their “battle royal” from last April was honored in Mexico City, Mexico by the president of the boxing commission, Rafael Herrera Lemus for her twelve years at the forefront of women’s boxing in Mexico and the world.

Long considered a leader in women’s sports in Mexico, she has become an important role model and inspiration for women all over Mexico.  Girlboxing sends our warmest congratulations to Ana Maria Torres for her continued success in the women’s boxing.

WBAN Top Ten TIPS for Women Boxers + a new member of the WBAN Resource Team

Over at Women Boxing Archive Network (WBAN), Sue Fox has a terrific piece out today with her top ten tips for women boxers — or how best to promote oneself.  Her ideas are solid gold for any women interested in propelling their professional boxing careers. This must read piece is here.

WBAN has also announced that Mischa Merz has joined the WBAN Resource Team. Mischa recently published her second memoir, The Sweetest Thing.  Making her home in Melbourne, is a talented fighter and former National champion.

Argentinian Women Boxers!

Argentina's Yesica Bopp (left) won the WBA/WBO light flyweight title in June, Credit: Reuters (curtesy BBC)

The BBC’s website carried a terrific piece on the state of women’s boxing in Argentina on July 2nd.  Entitled, Why Argentina is producing women boxing champions the piece notes that note only are women joining the sport for the love it, but are also finding that they can earn a decent living. Women are gaining sponsors, and finding respect in the sport that includes national TV coverage — something sorely lacking in the United States.  The article is well worth the read if for no other reason than to show the state of women’s boxing as a global phenomenon in the run up to the 2012 Olympics.

Getting the skinny on Women’s Boxing!

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Getting the skinny on Women’s Boxing!

Women's Boxing, Photo: Nathan W. Armes

Finding resources about Women’s Boxing can be a real challenge!  Take if from me, I google “women’s boxing” and “female boxing” at least once a day under the news tab and often come away with the same three dull stories and barely a word on results.

That’s where our friends at Women Boxing Network Archive (WBAN) come in!  Their website is a fabulous resource for just about everything you need to know about Women’s Boxing from amateur bouts through the latest results of pro-boxing battles across the globe.  WBAN is also a terrific resource for upcoming events, boxer’s biographies and photographs, not to mention their series of wonderful articles on the history of Women’s Boxing.

WBAN is the brainchild of Sue “Tiger Lily” Fox, one of the true trailblazers of the sport.   Sue fought as a professional boxer in the 1970’s, but her love of the sport never abated for a moment and propelled her to start the WBAN website nearly 13 years ago in June 1998.

Chevelle Hallback and Holly Holm at the weigh-in for their March 2010 “Warrior Vengeance” fight

To mark the tenth anniversary of WBAN’s presence on the web in 2008, WBAN created their own “Best of the Best” independent world title belt and chose two of the sport’s greatest, Holly Holm and Chevelle Hallback, as the first honorees.

Readers hankering for access to WBAN’s extensive archive of data can also purchase a membership subscription for unlimited access to boxing records, photographs and even streaming videos at minimum cost.

So next time you have a hankering for everything you can possibly learn about women’s boxing, click on WBAN – Women Boxing Archive Network. (You’ll find a permanent link listed under Boxing Blogs.)

And next time you stop by WBAN, give a shout-out to Sue “TL” Lyon for her steadfast dedication to the sport of Women’s Boxing!