2022 International Women’s Boxing Hall of Fame in Las Vegas

By Sophia Reyes

The 2022 International Women’s Boxing Hall of Fame will take place at The Orleans Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada on October 22nd. The four honorable categories include Retired Female boxers (also known as Modern Era boxers), Pioneer Female boxers, Non-Participants on a Professional level, and Non-Participants on an Amateur level.

Twelve professional boxers Eva Jones-Young, Margaret Sidoroff, Hannah Fox, Eliza Olson, Tori Nelson, Fredia Gibbs, Brooke Dierdorff, Tracy Byrd, Yvonne Reis, Delia Gonzalez, Susi Kentikian, Cora Webber along with author and journalist Thomas Gerbasi, trailblazer trainer Rose Byrd (posthumous) , first female NY State Boxing Commissioner Rose Trentman and WIBF founder Jimmy Finn will be inducted under the non-boxing categories for their extraordinary contributors to the sport.

Also, a special award presentation will be held for Lupi Beagle Gutierrez, Eddie Montalvo, Jerry Hoffman (Posthumous) and a lifetime achievement award for Bonnie Canino. A raffle will be held by Hall of Famers Christy Martin and Lisa Holewyne.

Meet and greet will begin at 5pm with dinner at 6pm and the ceremony at 7pm. Tickets are $85 can be found at www.iwbhf.com

Modern Era Boxer Bios:

Eva Jones-Young

Southpaw Eva "Sweet Magic" Jones-Young (16-4-1) led an exciting 13-year career during which she won three bantamweight title belts. In 1998 she won two belts; the WIBF against Cheryll Robertson and the vacant IWBF against Theresa Arnold. In 1999, she won the vacant IBAW title belt against Leona Brown. Other notable bouts include Jones-Young against Para Draine, and Delia Gonzalez. Now recognized as a community leader, Eva spends her time teaching boxing to women of all ages.

Margaret Sidoroff

Canadian Fly weight “Mean” Margaret Sidoroff (8-0-1) fought five 10 round title fights taking home four belts. Known for her style and power, she won The WIBF flyweight AND bantamweight title belts as well as the vacant IBAW, and the WIBF Inter-Continental Super Flyweight Title. Margaret now owns her own gym Border City Boxing Club in Canada.

In just a little over a year, Hannah “The Vegas ” Fox (12-1-0 3KOs) won 9 professional bouts in a row. After her retirement, the former IFBA Jr Welterweight turned her attention to her family business and helping fighters like Melinda Cooper, who is also a IWBHF inductee.

Often called fearless, Eliza Olson (10-6-3 2 KOs ) is a former IBA Light and WBC Lightweight champion. With a career ranging from 2000-2016, she grew up around boxing and was trained by notable coach Freddie Roach. Olson applies her boxer's work ethic to her education career and is a vocal advocate of women in sports.

USA’s determined Tori“Sho Nuff” Nelson (20-2-3 2 KOs) is a 13-time world champion in five different weight classes (BF Su Middle; WIBA Su Middle; former UBF Middle/Jr Middle; former UBF Welter; WIBA Welter; WBC Middle; former WIBA Middle). Starting at the age of 29, Nelson became a champion while being a single mother with three jobs. She is now a personal trainer helping young women build their confidence.

Fredia “The Cheetah” Gibbs, (9-2-1, 2 KOs) was known as the “most dangerous woman in the world” with her undefeated kickboxing record followed by an impressive boxing career that spanned from 1997 to 2003. Gibbs also works in the film industry and works in an organization that provides free self-defense lessons for the community.

After an impressive Golden Gloves career , Brooke “No Mercy” Dierdorff (6-5-2 3 KOs) won the WBC International Light title against Mia St John in 2009. The U.S. Army veteran also received her Bachelor’s degree during her pro boxing career.

Tracy “The Lady” Byrd (13-10-1) has many firsts under her belt: first female boxer to headline on PPV, first female boxing champ from Flint, Michigan and many more. She is also a three-time world boxing champion. Former - IFBA Lightweight World Champion Former - WIBO Jr. Welterweight World Champion Former - IWBF Lightweight Champion) These days, she is the President/Director of UBEAR (You Be Educated, Athletic and Resourceful).

USA’s Yvonne “Silk” Reis (7-15-1) is a black belt in multiple martial arts and holds the WBC Middleweight title. During her pro career, her corner was Bonnie "The Cobra" Canino a IWHF INDUCTEE Reis now owns a unique boxing/karate combo gym in Florida.

Even at the age of eleven, Delia “Chiquita” Gonzalez (14-9-5 3 KOs), proved that there is a place for females in boxing while successfully pushing gender boundaries at the local boxing gym. In her first ever 10 round debut, she took home the 1995 WIBF World Bantamweight title belt. Gonzalez is also an El Paso Hall of Fame inductee.

Trailblazer Susi “Killer Queen” Kentikian (36-2-0) is the first ever female Armenian professional boxer. In her long and extremely successful career spanning from 2005 to 20016 she earned the WBA flyweight title twice, the WIBF/GBU Fly and the WBO Fly title belt. Susi owns her own fitness boxing brand now and has the first ever WBA female Super Champion belt named after her.

Pioneer Boxer bio:

Cora “Thunder Girl” Webber (5-5-1) and welterweight Dora “the destroyer” Webber (6-6-3 2 KO) are a twin sister duo who boxed in three consecutive decades from the 70s to the 90s. Dora is a IWBF world super lightweight and Cora was ranked number one in the 1984 lightweight division.

Posthumous Honorable mention

Rose Bryd, the mother and trainer of professional boxer Tracy Bryd, was one of the first licensed female coaches in history. Rose was also inducted into the Greater Flint Afro-American Hall of Fame.