Sumya Anani

Last updated
Sumya Anani
Personal information
Nickname
Island Girl
NationalityAmerican
Born (1972-02-12) February 12, 1972 (age 53)
Minnesota, U.S.
Height5 ft 6 in (168 cm) [1]
Weight Welterweight
Website http://www.sumya.com
Boxing career
Reach65 in (170 cm) [1]
Stance Orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights29
Wins25
Win by KO10
Losses3
Draws1
No contests0

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.

Contents

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 International Women's Boxing Hall of Fame in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. [5] The IWBHF was created and founded by Sue TL Fox. [6]

Professional boxing record

29 fights25 wins3 losses
By knockout100
By decision153
Draws1
No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
29Loss25–3–1 Flag of the United States.svg Terri Blair TKO9 (10)May 27, 2006 Flag of the United States.svg Louisville Gardens, Louisville, Kentucky, USAFor IBA Female welterweight title
28Loss25–2–1 Flag of the United States.svg Terri Blair TKO10 (10)Mar 25, 2006 Flag of the United States.svg Grand Victoria Casino, Rising Sun, Indiana, USALost IBA Female welterweight title
27Win25–1–1 Flag of Puerto Rico.svg Belinda Laracuente UD10Jan 22, 2005 Flag of the United States.svg Coushatta Casino Resort, Kinder, Louisiana, USARetained IBA Female welterweight title
26Win24–1–1 Flag of the United States.svg Stephanie Jaramillo UD10Dec 4, 2004 Flag of the United States.svg Municipal Auditorium, Kansas City, Missouri, USARetained IBA Female super lightweight title
25Win23–1–1 Flag of the United States.svg Lisa HolewyneUD6 Apr 24, 2004 Flag of the United States.svg Staples Center, Los Angeles, California, USA
24Win22–1–1 Flag of the United States.svg Fredia Gibbs RTD1 (8)Apr 18, 2003 Flag of the United States.svg Palace Indian Gaming Center, Lemoore, California, USA
23Win21–1–1 Flag of the United States.svg Lisa HolewyneKO5 (10)Nov 2, 2002 Flag of the United States.svg The Palace, Auburn Hills, Michigan, USAWon vacant IBA Female welterweight title
22Win20–1–1 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jane Couch TKO4 (10)Jun 21, 2002 Flag of the United States.svg Convention Center, Waco, Texas, USAWon vacant Female IBA super lightweight title
21Win19–1–1 Flag of the United States.svg Britt Van BuskirkUD8Feb 1, 2002 Flag of the United States.svg Coca-Cola Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA
20Draw18–1–1 Flag of the United States.svg Fredia Gibbs PTS10Nov 16, 2001 Flag of the United States.svg Convention Center, Austin, Texas, USAFor vacant Female IBA super lightweight title
19Win18–1 Flag of the United States.svg Britt Van BuskirkUD10Oct 20, 2001 Flag of the United States.svg Seven Feathers Hotel & Casino Resort, Canyonville, Oregon, USAWon vacant Female IBF and Global Boxing Union Female welterweight titles
18Win17–1 Flag of the United States.svg Elizabeth MuellerUD10May 11, 2001 Flag of the United States.svg Convention Center, Tulsa, Oklahoma, USAWon vacant IBA Female lightweight title
17Loss16–1 Flag of the United States.svg Britt Van BuskirkSD6Sep 17, 2000 Flag of the United States.svg Harrah's Casino, Saint Louis, Missouri, USA
16Win16–0 Flag of the United States.svg Vicki WoodsUD8Jun 25, 2000 Flag of the United States.svg Majestic Star Casino, Gary, Indiana, USA
15Win15–0 Flag of the United States.svg Dora Webber UD10Jun 11, 1999 Flag of the United States.svg Bossier City, Louisiana, USA
14Win14–0 Flag of the United States.svg Dora Webber UD8Mar 23, 1999 Flag of the United States.svg KC Market Center, Kansas City, Missouri, USA
13Win13–0 Flag of the United States.svg Denise MoraetesUD8Mar 12, 1999 Flag of the United States.svg Roseland Ballroom, New York, New York, USA
12Win12–0 Flag of the United States.svg Christy Martin MD10Dec 18, 1998 Flag of the United States.svg Memorial Auditorium, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA
11Win11–0 Flag of the United States.svg Alicia SparksTKO1 (6)Sep 18, 1998 Flag of the United States.svg Flamingo Casino, Kansas City, Missouri, USA
10Win10–0 Flag of the United States.svg Andrea DeShong UD6Mar 28, 1998 Flag of the United States.svg KC Market Center, Kansas City, Missouri, USA
9Win9–0 Flag of the United States.svg Loretta JamesTKO1 (4)Jan 31, 1998 Flag of the United States.svg Convention Center, Des Moines, Iowa, USA
8Win8–0 Flag of the United States.svg Charlotte EsparzaKO1 (4)Nov 13, 1997 Flag of the United States.svg Ramada Inn, Jefferson City, Missouri, USA
7Win7–0 Flag of the United States.svg Stacey PrestageKO4 (6)Sep 30, 1997 Flag of the United States.svg KC Market Center, Kansas City, Missouri, USA
6Win6–0 Flag of the United States.svg Ashley NeedhamUD4Apr 2, 1997 Flag of the United States.svg Station Casino, Kansas City, Missouri, USA
5Win5–0 Flag of the United States.svg Shelley WaldenTKO4 (4)Mar 19, 1997 Flag of the United States.svg Omaha, Nebraska, USA
4Win4–0 Flag of the United States.svg Katherine DallamTKO4 (4)Dec 11, 1996 Flag of the United States.svg O'Fireman's Local 77, Saint Joseph, Missouri, USA
3Win3–0 Flag of the United States.svg Valerie AlmackTKO2 (4)Oct 16, 1996 Flag of the United States.svg Beaumont Club, Kansas City, Missouri, USA
2Win2–0 Flag of the United States.svg Jessica BreitfelderUD4Aug 26, 1996 Flag of the United States.svg Midnight Rodeo, Springfield, Missouri, USA
1Win1–0 Flag of the United States.svg Jessica BreitfelderUD4Aug 12, 1996 Flag of the United States.svg 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. ↑ "SUMYA ANANI 2016 IWBHF INDUCTEE". iwbhf.com. Retrieved 1 January 2025.
  6. ↑ "About the IWBHF". Wban.net. 2014-07-10. Retrieved 2016-09-25.
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