Sumya Anani

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.

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

Professional boxing record

No.	Result	Record	Opponent	Type	Round, time	Date	Location	Notes
29	Loss		Terri Blair	TKO		May 27, 2006	Louisville Gardens, Louisville, Kentucky, USA}}	International Boxing Association female welterweight title
28	Loss		Terri Blair	TKO		Mar 25, 2006	Grand Victoria Casino, Rising Sun, Indiana, USA}}	International Boxing Association female welterweight title
27	Win		Belinda Laracuente	UD		Jan 22, 2005	Coushatta Casino Resort, Kinder, Louisiana, USA}}	International Boxing Association female welterweight title
26	Win		Stephanie Jaramillo	UD		Dec 4, 2004	Municipal Auditorium, Kansas City, Missouri, USA}}	Women's International Boxing Association World super lightweight title
25	Win		Lisa Holewyne	UD		Apr 24, 2004	Staples Center, Los Angeles, California, USA}}
24	Win		Fredia Gibbs	RTD		Apr 18, 2003	Palace Indian Gaming Center, Lemoore, California, USA}}
23	Win		Lisa Holewyne	KO		Nov 2, 2002	The Palace, Auburn Hills, Michigan, USA}}	International Boxing Association female welterweight title
22	Win		Jane Couch	TKO		Jun 21, 2002	Convention Center, Waco, Texas, USA}}	Women's International Boxing Association World super lightweight title
21	Win		Britt Van Buskirk	UD		Feb 1, 2002	Coca-Cola Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA}}
20	Draw		Fredia Gibbs	PTS		Nov 16, 2001	Convention Center, Austin, Texas, USA}}	Women's International Boxing Association World super lightweight title
19	Win		Britt Van Buskirk	UD		Oct 20, 2001	Seven Feathers Hotel & Casino Resort, Canyonville, Oregon, USA}}	Women's International Boxing Federation World welterweight title Global Boxing Union Female World welterweight title
18	Win		Elizabeth Mueller	UD		May 11, 2001	Convention Center, Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA}}
17	Loss		Britt Van Buskirk			Sep 17, 2000	Harrah's Casino, Saint Louis, Missouri, USA}}
16	Win		Vicki Woods	UD		Jun 25, 2000	Majestic Star Casino, Gary, Indiana, USA}}
15	Win		Dora Webber	UD		Jun 11, 1999	Bossier City, Louisiana, USA}}
14	Win		Dora Webber	UD		Mar 23, 1999	KC Market Center, Kansas City, Missouri, USA}}
13	Win		Denise Moraetes	UD		Mar 12, 1999	Roseland Ballroom, New York, New York, USA}}
12	Win		Christy Martin	UD		Dec 18, 1998	Memorial Auditorium, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA}}
11	Win		Alicia Sparks	TKO		Sep 18, 1998	Flamingo Casino, Kansas City, Missouri, USA}}
10	Win		Andrea DeShong	UD		Mar 28, 1998	KC Market Center, Kansas City, Missouri, USA}}
9	Win		Loretta James	TKO		Jan 31, 1998	Convention Center, Des Moines, Iowa, USA}}
8	Win		Charlotte Esparza	KO		Nov 13, 1997	Ramada Inn, Jefferson City, Missouri, USA}}
7	Win		Stacey Prestage	KO		Sep 30, 1997	KC Market Center, Kansas City, Missouri, USA}}
6	Win		Ashley Needham	UD		Apr 2, 1997	Station Casino, Kansas City, Missouri, USA}}
5	Win		Shelley Walden	TKO		Mar 19, 1997	Omaha, Nebraska, USA}}
4	Win		Katherine Dallam	TKO		Dec 11, 1996	OFireman's Local 77, Saint Joseph, Missouri, USA}}
3	Win		Valerie Almack	TKO		Oct 16, 1996	Beaumont Club, Kansas City, Missouri, USA}}
2	Win		Jessica Breitfelder	UD		Aug 26, 1996	Midnight Rodeo, Springfield, Missouri, USA}}
1	Win		Jessica Breitfelder	UD		Aug 12, 1996	Beaumont Club, Kansas City, Missouri, USA}}

See also

• List of female boxers

References

External links

• Sumya Anani at Awakening Fighters