Fredia Gibbs

Fredia Gibbs
Born (1963-07-08) July 8, 1963
Chester, Pennsylvania, United States
Other names Cheetah / Lady Jack Johnson
Nationality American
Height 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m)
Weight 135 lb (61 kg; 9.6 st)
Division Lightweight
Welterweight
Reach 70.0 in (178 cm)
Style Boxing, Muay Thai Kickboxing
Stance Orthodox
Fighting out of North Hollywood, California, United States
Team Muay Thai Academy of North Hollywood
Trainer Kickboxing: Saekson Janjira, David Krapes, Ruben Urquidez,
Boxing: Randy Shields, Terry Claybon, Bill Slayton
Rank      black belt in Taekwondo
Years active 1997-2003
Professional boxing record
Total 12
Wins 9
Losses 2
Draws 1
Kickboxing record
Total 17
Wins 16
By knockout 15
Losses 0
Draws 1
Other information
Boxing record from BoxRec

Fredia “The Cheetah” Gibbs (born July 8, 1963), is the 1st African American Female Kickboxing Champion, she earned the name “The Most Dangerous Woman in the World after an all time upset in 1994 with her fight against Valerie Henin [1]. Gibbs went on to become one of the most dominant champions of her time and remains a significant historical figure in lightweight kickboxing history. She is a former Muay Thai kickboxer,[2] a 3 time World Champion in Kickboxing and a professional boxer who competed from 1991 to 2005. She wrote her book debut which is called “The Fredia Gibbs Story” about her life on 2016.[3]

Early years

Fredia Gibbs was born in Chester, Pennsylvania. She was given the nickname “The Cheetah” at school due to her performance in track events. Chester High School named their track team "Chester's Cheetahs" after Gibbs.[4]


After high school, Gibbs attended Temple University in Philadelphia where she was the recipient of two athletic scholarships in basketball and track. She later attended Cabrini College on a basketball scholarship. She was invited to the United States Olympic Training Center located in Colorado Springs to try out for the women's United States women's national basketball team, but was cut during the second tryouts. Gibbs was selected Kodak All American for three consecutive years for basketball at Cabrini College where she majored in Marketing. She later went on to play professional basketball in Germany, averaging almost 30 points, 15 rebounds & 10 assist a season.

Muay Thai kickboxing career

In 1990, after moving to North Hollywood, California, Gibbs took up kickboxing at the Benny The Jet Kickboxing Training Center under the instruction of Rubin Urquidez & David Krapes. After that she studied Muay Thai Kickboxing under the instruction of Bangkok, Thailand Sur Puk & Saekson Janjira of the Muay Thai Academy of America in North Hollywood. Her Muay Thai manager was Felice Levair & her publicist was William Peele of Los Angeles, Ca. She had previously studied martial arts at Quiet Storm under the instruction of Master Rick Berry, Mr. Brown and her Uncle William Groce in Chester, Pennsylvania.

She amassed a kickboxing record of 16-0-1 with 15 KO’s. Gibbs' only draw came from an exhibition fight with a male opponent. She beat the Most Dangerous Woman in the World from France Valerie Henin in "The Battle of the Masters" PPV show to win the ISKA World Championship in April 1994; this made Gibbs the first African American female to hold the world kickboxing championship for the International Sport Karate Association.[5][6]

Boxing career

In 1997, Gibbs moved on to the world of professional boxing, in which she achieved a record of 9-2-1 (2 K0).[7] After taking a brief break from boxing, Gibbs returned to the ring in 2001 for a fight against Susan Howard at the Hollywood Park Casino, which she won by decision; later that year she fought Sumya Anani to a draw, a result which left the WIBA World title vacant. In a subsequent rematch, Anani won by TKO due to an injury that forced Gibbs to stop.[4] Terry Claybon & Bill Slayton were her boxing trainers after Shields.

Acting and modelling

Gibbs has also worked as an actress and a sports model for Sebastian International Sports Department. She has been featured in magazines including Jet, Sports Illustrated for Women, and Black Belt Magazine. In 2001, Gibbs played in-the-ring villain Tanya “Terminator” Tessario in the film Knockout. In 1996, she had a cameo in an episode of “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.”[8][4]

About Gibbs Today

Fredia Gibbs first World Championship belt and other memorabilia on display at the Sports Legends Museum of Delaware County, PA, with the museum director

Her fight gear is displayed at the Sports Legend of Delaware County Museum, dedicated to preserving the history and memory of Delaware County Sports Legends, located at 301 Iven Ave, Wayne, PA 19087 (www.sportslegendsofdelawarecounty.com)

Today, she is book author, celebrity trainer/transformer, philanthropist, motivational speaker, & radio host. In 2016- 2017 She was honored and participated in the Orange County Heritage Black History Parade and was nominated to attend the United State of Women summit hosted by the White House. In 2016 Fredia Gibbs was selected as the Top Ten Greatest African American Female Athletes of All time for Kickboxing.[9]

Championships and Accomplishments

Fredia Gibbs with members of Chester, PA City Council as she receives Proclamation recognizing her lifetime achievements, July 11, 2018
  • 2018- honored as one of the greatest female athletes in Philadelphia history, held at Temple University in Philadelphia, Pa on August 18, 2018
  • 2018-Given the Key to the City of her hometown, Chester, Pa by the Mayor and City of Council, on July 11, 2018
  • 2017-Her ISKA World Championship Belt was Inducted into the Sports Legends Of Delaware County Museum in Radnor, Pa September 17, 2017 (see picture to right)
  • 2016-Selected as the Greatest African American Female Athlete of All Time for Kickboxing
  • 2016-Inducted into Mickey Vernon Sports Legend Museum- Delaware County Black History
  • 2015-2016 Featured in Orange County Black History Heritage Parade
  • 2016-AOCA Awakening Outstanding Contribution Award
  • 2016-Hall of Fame Inductee for Track & Field at Chester High School
  • 2015-Hall of Fame Inductee for Basketball at Chester High School
  • 1994-2001 ISKA World Kickboxing Champion (2 defenses)
  • 1996-2000 WCK World Kickboxing Champion (2 defenses)
  • 1995-1999 WKA World Kickboxing Champion (2 defenses)
  • 1986-1988 3 x World Tae Kwon Do Champion

Kickboxing record

Kickboxing and Muay Thai record (incomplete)

Legend:   Win   Loss   Draw/No contest   Notes

Professional boxing record

Professional record summary
12 fights 9 wins 2 losses
By knockout 9 0
By decision 0 2
Draws 1
No. Result Record Opponent Type Round, time Date Location Notes
12 Loss United States Sumya Anani RTD Apr 18, 2003 United States Palace Indian Gaming Center, Lemoore, California, USA
11 Win United States Kanicia Eley UD Apr 18, 2003 United States Louisville Gardens, Louisville, Kentucky, USA
10 Draw United States Sumya Anani Feb 14, 2003 United States Convention Center, Austin, Texas, USA Women's International Boxing Association World super lightweight title
9 Win United States Suzanne Howard UD Jun 8, 2001 United States Hollywood Park Casino, Inglewood, California, USA}}
8 Win United States Michelle Vidales UD Nov 5, 1999 United States Pechanga Resort & Casino, Temecula, California, USA}}
7 Win United States Hannah Fox UD Jan 15, 1999 United States Orleans Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA}}
6 Win Canada Olivia Gerula Sep 19, 1998 United States Grand Casino, Biloxi, Mississippi, USA}}
5 Loss United States Leah Mellinger UD Mar 21, 1998 United States Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA}}
4 Win United States Anneliese Kolan TKO Oct 24, 1997 United States Lady Luck Casino, Lula, Mississippi, USA}}
3 Win United States Gail Grandchamp TKO Aug 2, 1997 United States Grand Casino, Biloxi, Mississippi, USA}}
2 Win United States Daniele Doobenen UD Apr 16, 1997 United States Memorial Auditorium, Sacramento, California, USA}}
1 Win United States Maria Recinos UD Jan 23, 1997 United States Country Club, Reseda, California, USA

See also

References

  1. ↑ Women's Boxing: Fredia Gibbs Biography
  2. ↑ Fredia Gibbs Muay Thai » Boxing
  3. ↑ The Fredia Gibbs Story: "Meet the Most Dangerous Woman in the World"
  4. 1 2 3 Williams, Dee. "Fredia Gibbs". Wban.org.
  5. ↑ "Old Chester, PA: Biographical Sketches". Oldchesterpa.com. Retrieved 2017-06-05.
  6. ↑ Inc, Active Interest Media (1 October 1994). "Black Belt". Active Interest Media, Inc. Retrieved 1 May 2017 – via Google Books.
  7. ↑ "ESPN.com: BOXING - Laila Ali delights crowd with win in father's hometown". A.espncdn.com. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  8. ↑ Gerbasi, Thomas M. (1 June 2000). "Ring Ramblings: Tales of a Cyber Journalist". iUniverse. Retrieved 1 May 2017 – via Google Books.
  9. ↑ "Meet The Ten Greatest African-American Female Athletes Of All Time! – African Leadership Magazine Blog". Africanleadership.co.uk. 2016-03-02. Retrieved 2017-06-05.
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