Valerie Mahfood
Encyclopedia
Valerie Rebecca Mahfood 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. She now resides in Groves, Texas (Beaumont area)
Mahfood began boxing professionally 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 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 than, 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's 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. 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. Mahfood lost by TKO in six while trying to recover her world title. 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). 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.
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, who is actively looking for a fight with Ali.
Mahfood has a record of 18 wins, 10 losses and 1 draw, with nine knockout wins.
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...
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. She now resides in Groves, Texas (Beaumont area)
Mahfood began boxing professionally July 27, 1997, knocking out Jeanne Martinez in the first round, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Baton Rouge is the capital of the U.S. state of Louisiana. It is located in East Baton Rouge Parish and is the second-largest city in the state.Baton Rouge is a major industrial, petrochemical, medical, and research center of the American South...
. On April 23, 1998, she beat Brenda Cooper by a four round decision in Houston
Houston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
, marking her Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
debut.
She lost two of her next three fights, but she rebounded to win five fights in a row, which earned her her first title try: on September 17, 1999, she knocked out Kathy Rivers in ten rounds at Panama City, Panama, to conquer 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...
's world Light Heavyweight title. This was also her first fight abroad.
She won three non-title bouts after than, 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
International Women's Boxing Federation
The IWBF is, along with the WIBA, WIBF and others, one of the more recognized world championship fight sanctioning organizations in Women's boxing. The organization is based in Huntington, New York....
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
Ann Wolfe
Ann Wolfe is a female boxer who held world titles in four different weight classes simultaneously. Wolfe is regarded by many within the sport as the hardest puncher and best fighter in the history of women's boxing...
, knocking her out in three rounds. And till this day it's stands as Ann Wolfe's only career loss.
On November 16, 2001, she won 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....
title by outpointing Trina Ortegon over ten rounds at Austin
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
, and, shortly after, she beat Almager again, by an eight round split decision.
Mahfood and Laila Ali
Laila Ali
Laila Amaria Ali is a retired American professional boxer. She is the daughter of boxing legend Muhammad Ali from his third wife Veronica Porsche Ali.-Boxing career:...
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. On June 21, 2003, Mahfood and Ali had a rematch, this time 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...
Staple Center on the undercard of the Lennox Lewis vs Vitali Klitschko World heavyweight Title. Mahfood lost by TKO in six while trying to recover her world title. 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). 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.
On September 24, 2004, Mahfood, sporting her traditional trademark purple Mohawk hairstyle
Mohawk hairstyle
The mohawk is a hairstyle in which, in the most common variety, both sides of the head are shaven, leaving a strip of noticeably longer hair...
, was dropped twice in the final seconds as she dropped a ten round unanimous decision to Leatitia Robinson in Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
.
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
Ann Wolfe
Ann Wolfe is a female boxer who held world titles in four different weight classes simultaneously. Wolfe is regarded by many within the sport as the hardest puncher and best fighter in the history of women's boxing...
, losing a ten round decision to Wolfe, who is actively looking for a fight with Ali.
Mahfood has a record of 18 wins, 10 losses and 1 draw, with nine knockout wins.