Home > Sumya Anani

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 career-ending injuries during a fight that ended in a fourth-round knockout.

In her ninth fight, in March of 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 of 2001. Then, on October 20October 20 is the 293rd day of the year (294th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 72 days remaining. Events 1740 Maria Theresa takes the throne of Austria. France, Prussia, Bavaria and Saxony refuse to honour the Pragmatic Sanction and the War, 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 of 20022002 is a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). 2002 was the first palindromic year since 1991 and the last until 2112. 2002 was also designated: International Year of Ecotourism and Mountains National Science Year in the United Kingdom, Anani gave Van Buskirk a rubber match and beat her on a unanimous decision.

On June 21June 21 is the 172nd day of the year (173rd in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 193 days remaining. June 21 is the summer solstice in the northern hemisphere, so is the day of the year with the longest hours of daylight in the northern hemisphe, 20022002 is a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). 2002 was the first palindromic year since 1991 and the last until 2112. 2002 was also designated: International Year of Ecotourism and Mountains National Science Year in the United Kingdom, 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 knockout. Then, on November 2November 2 is the 306th day of the year (307th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 59 days remaining. Events 676 Donus becomes Pope. 1772 American Revolutionary War: Samuel Adams and Joseph Warren form the first Committee of Correspondence., she won her fourth world title, knocking out Lisa Holewyne in the fifth round for the IBA welterweight title.

On April 18April 18 is the 108th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (109th in leap years). There are 257 days remaining. Events 1518 Bona Sforza is crowned as queen of Poland and married to Sigismund I of Poland. 1775 Paul Revere, William Dawes and Samuel Pre, 20032003 is a common year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar), and also: The International Year of Freshwater The European Disability Year Summary Perhaps the defining global event of the year 2003 was the Invasion of Iraq launched by the U, 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 24April 24 is the 114th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (115th in leap years). There are 251 days remaining. Events 1184 BC Greeks enter Troy using the Trojan Horse (traditional). 1066 Halley's Comet spotted. 1704 The first regular newspaper in th, 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.

Anani is nicknamed The Island Girl because she lived in Jamaica for a year as a young woman; she was actually born in Minnesota.

Her current record is 23 wins, one loss and one draw, with 10 knockouts.