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.

Sumya Anani
Statistics
Nickname(s)Island Girl
Weight(s)Welterweight
Height5 ft 6 in (168 cm)[1]
Reach65 in (170 cm)[1]
NationalityAmerican
Born (1972-02-12) February 12, 1972
Minnesota, U.S.
StanceOrthodox
Boxing record
Total fights29
Wins25
Wins by KO10
Losses3
Draws1
No contests0
Websitehttp://www.sumya.com

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
Professional record summary
29 fights 25 wins 3 losses
By knockout 10 0
By decision 15 3
Draws 1
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

References
  1. "Sumya Anani Awakening Profile". Awakeningfighters.com. Retrieved 2016-02-17.
  2. "Sumya Anani". WBAN - Women's Boxing Archive Network. Retrieved 1 August 2013.
  3. Dallam, Stephanie. "My sister's story". Katie Dallam website. Retrieved 1 August 2013.
  4. "Sumya Anani". womenboxing.com. Retrieved 1 August 2013.
  5. "About the IWBHF". Wban.net. 2014-07-10. Retrieved 2016-09-25.


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