Valerie Mahfood

Last updated
Valerie Mahfood
Born
Valerie Rebecca Mahfood

(1974-02-02) February 2, 1974 (age 50)
Tyler, Texas, U.S.
Other namesThe Big Bad Wolfe
Statistics
Weight(s) Middleweight and light heavyweight
Height1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
Reach1.70 m (67 in)
Stance Orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights37
Wins19
Wins by KO9
Losses14
Draws4
No contests0

Valerie Rebecca Mahfood (born February 1, 1974) is a female boxer who is a former world Super Middleweight and Light Heavyweight champion. Known as "The Big Bad Wolfe", Mahfood is known in the boxing world by her brawling style of fighting, and by her traditional trademark purple mohawk. [1] She now resides in Groves, Texas.

Contents

Career

Mahfood began boxing professionally on July 27, 1997, knocking out Jeanne Martinez in the first round, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. On April 23, 1998, she beat Brenda Cooper by a four round decision in Houston, marking her Texas debut.

She lost two of her next three fights, but she rebounded to win five fights in a row, which earned her first title try: on September 17, 1999, she knocked out Kathy Rivers in ten rounds at Panama City, Panama, to conquer the WIBF's world Light Heavyweight title. This was also her first fight abroad.

She won three non-title bouts after that, and then, on August 10, 2000, she went down in weight to the Super Middleweight division, to fight Mary Ann Almager for the vacant IWBF title. She won her second title, with a fifth round knockout of Almager in Houston. On her next fight, she became the first boxer to defeat Ann Wolfe, knocking her out in three rounds. And till this day it stands as Ann Wolfe's only career loss.

On November 16, 2001, she won the WIBA title by outpointing Trina Ortegon over ten rounds at Austin, and, shortly after, she beat Almager again, by an eight round split decision.

Mahfood and Laila Ali met in a long-awaited bout on November 8, 2002 in Las Vegas, Nevada, It was ESPN 2 Friday night fights series most view telecast and it was the first time a female world title fight was the main event on ESPN. A bloodied Mahfood was stopped by Ali in eight rounds, in a fight that unified the IWBF and WIBA world titles. [2] On June 21, 2003, Mahfood and Ali had a rematch, this time in Los Angeles Staple Center on the undercard of the Lennox Lewis vs Vitali Klitschko World heavyweight Title. [3] Mahfood lost by TKO in six while trying to recover her world title. [4] Ali, however, suffered a serious cut (to her right eyelid) for the first (and to date, only) time in her boxing career (along with a bloodied nose). [5] Ali retains a permanent scar from the encounter.

She won four of her next six fights, the lone loss in that span being a unanimous decision in a rematch against Wolfe. She also had a draw (tie) against Kathy Rivers, in a rematch of their Panama bout which Mahfood had won.

On September 24, 2004, Mahfood, sporting her traditional trademark purple Mohawk hairstyle, was dropped twice in the final seconds as she dropped a ten round unanimous decision to Leatitia Robinson in Atlanta, Georgia.

On November 6, 2004, Mahfood TKOd Yolanda Swindell in the second round.

Mahfood then went to Germany, and lost a 10 round unanimous decision to Natasha Ragosina.

On August 20, 2005, Mahfood fought Ann Wolfe, losing a ten round decision to Wolfe. In 2007 Mahfood fought Mary Jo Sanders for a world title. [6]

She was inducted into the International Women's Boxing Hall of Fame in 2020. [7] [8]

Professional boxing record

37 fights19 wins14 losses
By knockout85
By decision119
Draws4
No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
37Draw19-14-4 Christy Martin MD82008-07-18Reliant Arena, Houston, Texas, USvacant NABF female middleweight title
36Loss19-14-3Yvonne ReisUD2007-11-24Paragon Casino & Resort, Marksville, Louisiana, US
35Loss19-13-3 Mary Jo Sanders UD102007-03-30Cobo Hall, Detroit, Michigan, USInternational Boxing Association female middleweight title
34Loss19-12-3Veronica RuckerUD2006-11-04Coushatta Casino Resort, Kinder, Louisiana, US
33Draw19-11-3Alexandra MaloyPTS2006-07-08Coushatta Casino Resort, Kinder, Louisiana, US
32Loss19-11-2 Ijeoma Egbunine KO2006-02-18Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USvacant Women's International Boxing Federation World light heavyweight title
31Draw19-10-2Yolanda SwindellPTS2005-09-17Coushatta Casino Resort, Kinder, Louisiana, US
30Loss19-10-1 Ann Wolfe UD102005-08-20Isle of Capri Casino, Biloxi, Mississippi, US
29Loss19-9-1 Natascha Ragosina UD102005-07-09Life Sportpark Herrenkrug, Magdeburg, Sachsen-Anhalt, Germany
28Win19-8-1Borislava GoranovaUD2005-04-02Ofen Stadthalle, Velten, Brandenburg, Germany
27Win18-8-1Yolanda SwindellTKO2004-11-06Grand Casino Coushatta, Kinder, Louisiana, US
26Loss17-8-1 Leatitia Robinson UD102004-09-24Philips Arena, Atlanta, Georgia, US
25Win17-7-1 Carlette Ewell UD102004-08-28Grand Casino Coushatta, Kinder, Louisiana, US
24Draw16-7-1Kathy RiversPTS2004-04-16Stafford Center, Houston, Texas, US
23Win16-7 Carlette Ewell SD82004-02-20Civic Center, Beaumont, Texas, US
22Win15-7Yolanda SwindellMD2004-01-15Arena Theatre, Houston, Texas, US
21Win14-7Carley PesenteTKO2003-10-11Emerald Queen Casino, Tacoma, Washington, US
20Loss13-7 Ann Wolfe UD102003-08-23Mississippi Coast Coliseum, Biloxi, Mississippi, USvacant WBA-NABA female super middleweight title9-
19Loss13-6 Laila Ali TKO6 (8), 1:17 2003-06-21 Staples Center, Los Angeles, California, US
18Loss13-5 Laila Ali TKO8 (10), 1:142002-11-08Stratosphere Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, USWomen's International Boxing Association World super middleweight title

International Women's Boxing Federation World super middleweight title International Boxing Association female super middleweight title

17Win13-4 Mary Ann Almager SD82002-06-14Civic Center, Beaumont, Texas, US
16Win12-4Trina OrtegonUD2001-11-16Convention Center, Austin, Texas, USWomen's International Boxing Association World super middleweight title
15Loss11-4Kendra LenhartKO2001-04-19Civic Center, Beaumont, Texas, US
14Win11-3 Ann Wolfe TKO3 (6), 1:172000-11-30Radisson Hotel, Houston, Texas, US
13Win10-3 Mary Ann Almager TKO5(10)2000-08-10Astro Hall, Houston, Texas, USvacant International Women's Boxing Federation World super middleweight title
12Win9-3Genevia BuckhalterUD2000-06-16Casino Magic, Bay Saint Louis, Mississippi, US
11Win8-3Monica McGowanTKO2000-04-20Civic Center, Beaumont, Texas, US
10Win7-3Genevia BuckhalterUD1999-11-18Radisson Hotel, Houston, Texas, US
9Win6-3Kathy RiversTKO1999-09-17Gimnasio Nuevo Panama, Panama City, PanamaInternational Women's Boxing Federation World light heavyweight title

Women's International Boxing Federation World light heavyweight title

8Win5-3Thistle CollepsUD1999-07-15Radisson Hotel, Houston, Texas, US
7Loss4-3Kathy RiversUD1999-05-27Gold Strike Casino, Tunica, Mississippi, US
6Win4-2Genevia BuckhalterTKO1999-05-08Silver Star Casino, Philadelphia, Mississippi, US
5Loss3-2Kendra LenhartKO1998-12-02New Orleans, Louisiana, US
4Loss3-1Mitzi JeterUD1998-07-19Lake Charles, Louisiana, US
3Win3-0Thistle CollepsTKO1998-06-24Harvey, Louisiana, US
2Win2-0Brenda CooperUD1998-04-23Sheraton Hotel, Houston, Texas, US
1Win1-0Jeanne MartinezTKO1997-07-18New Orleans, Louisiana, US

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References

  1. ↑ Farley, Rose (2002-11-28). "A Girl Named Suicide". Dallas Observer . Retrieved 2016-02-09.
  2. ↑ Pucin, Diane (2003-06-22). "Plenty of Stars, Plenty of Seats". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2023-01-31.
  3. ↑ "Laila Ali talks tough after extending unbeaten run". ABC News. 2003-06-22. Retrieved 2023-01-31.
  4. ↑ "Laila Ali remains undefeated". The Age. 2003-06-22. Retrieved 2023-01-31.
  5. ↑ Katz, Michael (2002-11-09). "BOXING; Laila Ali Stops Prison Guard and Adds Two More Titles". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 2023-01-31.
  6. ↑ "Serrano ready to show why women's boxing is must-see TV". ESPN.com. 2017-01-11. Retrieved 2023-01-31.
  7. ↑ "International Women's Boxing Hall of Fame Announces 2021 IWBHF Inductees". wbcboxing.com. Retrieved 1 January 2025.
  8. ↑ "The Women's Boxing Hall of Fame Welcomes the Classes of 2020/2021". The Sweet Science. Retrieved 1 January 2025.
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