Sumya Anani
Encyclopedia
Sumya Anani is one of the top fighters in the sport of women's boxing
.
Anani, like many women's boxers, came to the sport in a roundabout fashion. While living in Kansas City
in the early 1990s and working as a massage
therapist, she took a course in self-defense. When she impressed her instructor with her athletic ability and powerful punch, he encouraged Anani to give boxing a try.
She entered professional boxing in August 1996, mostly fighting in and around Kansas City. She quickly made a name for herself when, in her fourth fight on December 12, 1996, her opponent Katherine Dallam suffered massive brain injuries during a fight that ended in a fourth-round knockout
.
In her ninth fight, in March 1998, Anani defeated Andrea DeShong
, a longtime rival of world welterweight champion Christy Martin. Then, on December 18 of that year, Anani faced Martin herself, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida
. Coming into the fight, Martin was unbeaten in her last 34 bouts. However, Anani controlled the fight from start to finish and won a stunning victory.
The win over Martin propelled Anani into the top rung of women's boxing stars, and she won her next four fights before suffering an upset at the hands of Britt Van Buskirk on September 17, 2000.
While waiting for a rematch with Van Buskirk, Anani captured the IBA
lightweight title from Liz Mueller in May 2001. Then, on October 20, she got the rematch and took a 10-round unanimous decision over Van Buskirk for the GBU welterweight title.
Her next fight, a month later, ended in a draw with Fredia Gibbs
for the WIBA
light welterweight title, as one judge had Anani as the winner, but the other two scored the fight even. In February 2002, Anani gave Van Buskirk a rubber match and beat her on a unanimous decision.
On June 21, 2002, Anani won her third world title when she faced Jane Couch
for the WIBA light welterweight title that eluded her the year before. This time, she overwhelmed Couch and won on a fourth-round technical knock-out. Then, on November 2, she won her fourth world title, knocking out Lisa Holewyne in the fifth round for the IBA welterweight title.
On April 18, 2003, Anani faced Gibbs for a second time and fixed the only other blemish on her record by way of a first-round TKO. Following that victory, she was inactive for a year before returning to the ring on April 24, 2004 for a rematch against Holewyne in Los Angeles
. Holewyne had claimed the WIBF
and GBU welterweight titles in a December 2003 fight and later asked Anani for a rematch. This time, Anani beat her on a six-round unanimous decision.
With one week notice Stephanie Jaramillo
was offered to fight Sumya Anani, arguably one of the top female fighters. Anani held the WIBA
, IFBA, IBA
, and GBU titles. In 2003 Ring Magazine ranked her as the BEST pound-for-pound boxer. She is currently ranked number one in just about everything. The fight took place on December 3, 2004 in Kansas City, MO.
Stephanie said that was an opportunity that she thought she might never have. Anani, ten years her senior, is in her prime. Stephanie figured that by the time she even reached the same status as Anani, that she (Anani) would be looking at retirement.
"It just feels right, for me to face her in the ring. What an honor to be able to get into the ring with the BEST. I've been in the gym training, just something inside tells me that it's right. It's just right. I may be holding a pair of 2's in a poker game, but I feel good about them. Something deep inside is telling me that I need this. I'm a student of the game, and there are some lessons that can't be learned in the gym. And I know that just by stepping in the ring with Anani, it will make me a better fighter, a different fighter. " Stephanie says, "How are you gonna get better and grow if you don't just do it. There are two things that happen when you step up to the plate, you swing and miss or you hit the ball. But you can't possibly know what will happen UNTIL you step up to that plate."
Stephanie took Anani to the limit, proving that she has the heart, and the dedication to be one of the top female fighters. Though she lost by decision, she smiled and jumped up at the end of the bout ... apparently happy to have gone the full distance against Anani.
Women's boxing
Women's boxing first appeared in the Olympic Games at a demonstration bout in 1902. For most of the 20th century, however, it was banned in most nations. Its revival was pioneered by the Swedish Amateur Boxing Association, which sanctioned events for women in 1988. The British Amateur Boxing...
.
Anani, like many women's boxers, came to the sport in a roundabout fashion. While living in Kansas City
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
in the early 1990s and working as a massage
Massage
Massage is the manipulation of superficial and deeper layers of muscle and connective tissue to enhance function, aid in the healing process, and promote relaxation and well-being. The word comes from the French massage "friction of kneading", or from Arabic massa meaning "to touch, feel or handle"...
therapist, she took a course in self-defense. When she impressed her instructor with her athletic ability and powerful punch, he encouraged Anani to give boxing a try.
She entered professional boxing in August 1996, mostly fighting in and around Kansas City. She quickly made a name for herself when, in her fourth fight on December 12, 1996, her opponent Katherine Dallam suffered massive brain injuries during a fight that ended in a fourth-round knockout
Knockout
A knockout is a fight-ending, winning criterion in several full-contact combat sports, such as boxing, kickboxing, Muay Thai, mixed martial arts, Karate and others sports involving striking...
.
In her ninth fight, in March 1998, Anani defeated Andrea DeShong
Andrea DeShong
Andrea DeShong is a former United States female boxer who is best remembered for defeating Christy Martin in Martin's fourth professional bout.- Professional career :...
, a longtime rival of world welterweight champion Christy Martin. Then, on December 18 of that year, Anani faced Martin herself, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Fort Lauderdale is a city in the U.S. state of Florida, on the Atlantic coast. It is the county seat of Broward County. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 165,521. It is a principal city of the South Florida metropolitan area, which was home to 5,564,635 people at the 2010...
. Coming into the fight, Martin was unbeaten in her last 34 bouts. However, Anani controlled the fight from start to finish and won a stunning victory.
The win over Martin propelled Anani into the top rung of women's boxing stars, and she won her next four fights before suffering an upset at the hands of Britt Van Buskirk on September 17, 2000.
While waiting for a rematch with Van Buskirk, Anani captured the IBA
International Boxing Association
The International Boxing Association is a for-profit organization that sanctions professional boxing matches and awards world and subordinate championships.- Origins :...
lightweight title from Liz Mueller in May 2001. Then, on October 20, she got the rematch and took a 10-round unanimous decision over Van Buskirk for the GBU welterweight title.
Her next fight, a month later, ended in a draw with Fredia Gibbs
Fredia Gibbs
Fredia “The Cheetah” Gibbs , nicknamed “The Most Dangerous Woman in the World”, is a sports icon and Muay Thai kickboxing legend. Gibbs is a 3 Time World Champion in Kickboxing and the first African American female to hold the world kickboxing championship for the International Sport Karate...
for the WIBA
Women's International Boxing Association
The Women's International Boxing Association a sanctioning body for women's professional boxing came into existence in July 2000, and quickly grew into a major force in the sport....
light welterweight title, as one judge had Anani as the winner, but the other two scored the fight even. In February 2002, Anani gave Van Buskirk a rubber match and beat her on a unanimous decision.
On June 21, 2002, Anani won her third world title when she faced Jane Couch
Jane Couch
Jane Couch, MBE became the first officially licensed British female boxer in 1998. In a 14-year professional career, she won five world titles and announced her retirement from boxing on 1 December 2008...
for the WIBA light welterweight title that eluded her the year before. This time, she overwhelmed Couch and won on a fourth-round technical knock-out. Then, on November 2, she won her fourth world title, knocking out Lisa Holewyne in the fifth round for the IBA welterweight title.
On April 18, 2003, Anani faced Gibbs for a second time and fixed the only other blemish on her record by way of a first-round TKO. Following that victory, she was inactive for a year before returning to the ring on April 24, 2004 for a rematch against Holewyne in Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
. Holewyne had claimed the WIBF
Women's International Boxing Federation
The WIBF is, along with the WIBA, IWBF and others, one of the more recognized world championship fight sanctioning organizations in women's boxing. The organization is based in Miami, Florida, and is not associated with male boxing's IBF.The WIBF was formed in the middle 1990s. It is presided by...
and GBU welterweight titles in a December 2003 fight and later asked Anani for a rematch. This time, Anani beat her on a six-round unanimous decision.
With one week notice Stephanie Jaramillo
Stephanie Jaramillo
Stephanie "Golden Girl" Jaramillo is a former professional boxer. She has been inducted into the Amateur Athletic World Hall of Fame Museum for Outstanding Boxing Achievement.-Childhood:...
was offered to fight Sumya Anani, arguably one of the top female fighters. Anani held the WIBA
Women's International Boxing Association
The Women's International Boxing Association a sanctioning body for women's professional boxing came into existence in July 2000, and quickly grew into a major force in the sport....
, IFBA, IBA
IBA
-Iba:People*Clarence Iba , American basketball coach*Erol Iba , Indonesian footballer*Henry Iba , American basketball coach*Moe Iba , American basketball coach*Itsuki Iba, a fictional characterPlaces...
, and GBU titles. In 2003 Ring Magazine ranked her as the BEST pound-for-pound boxer. She is currently ranked number one in just about everything. The fight took place on December 3, 2004 in Kansas City, MO.
Stephanie said that was an opportunity that she thought she might never have. Anani, ten years her senior, is in her prime. Stephanie figured that by the time she even reached the same status as Anani, that she (Anani) would be looking at retirement.
"It just feels right, for me to face her in the ring. What an honor to be able to get into the ring with the BEST. I've been in the gym training, just something inside tells me that it's right. It's just right. I may be holding a pair of 2's in a poker game, but I feel good about them. Something deep inside is telling me that I need this. I'm a student of the game, and there are some lessons that can't be learned in the gym. And I know that just by stepping in the ring with Anani, it will make me a better fighter, a different fighter. " Stephanie says, "How are you gonna get better and grow if you don't just do it. There are two things that happen when you step up to the plate, you swing and miss or you hit the ball. But you can't possibly know what will happen UNTIL you step up to that plate."
Stephanie took Anani to the limit, proving that she has the heart, and the dedication to be one of the top female fighters. Though she lost by decision, she smiled and jumped up at the end of the bout ... apparently happy to have gone the full distance against Anani.