Hall of Fame Inductee Class of 2025!!!!

When Sue Fox, president of the International Women's Boxing Hall of Fame sent the Hall of Fame induction letter to me, I couldn't stop crying.  Achieving this is the ultimate honor in the sport of women's boxing.  It feels so incredible to be honored for all the blood, sweat and tears I've put into boxing. I feel like I achieved much of what I set out to do in the sport...but this is something so special and I was left speechless. 

Despite many questionable decisions and sheer lack of opportunity to fight as much as I would have liked to, I worked so, so hard to be the best boxer I could be for over 15 years.  I trained relentlessly and studied fights of the best.  I sought out sparring partners to practice my craft.  I fought anyone, anywhere my entire career just so I could fight and took on a long list of the best at my weight class.  I remember the first time I went to a boxing gym and thought to myself, "If I can do this, I can do anything."  Little did I know how much boxing would do for me from building my confidence to healing childhood trauma and unleashing in me  a bravery and resilience that I didn't think I had.

I couldn't have done it without the long list of people who helped me throughout my boxing career.  I think of Marsha King who I met when I went to King's boxing gym in Oakland who welcomed me with open arms and Charles King who was my first trainer.  I think of Mr. Thomas, my coach, who was old school and spent hours daily teaching me the finer points of defense and counter punching and helped me go from being basic to a skilled boxer who could more than handle herself in the ring.  I think of Jim and Tom the coaches for the UC Berkeley boxing gym who let me train at the gym whenever I wanted in between studies and encouraged me to start the first women's boxing team there.  I think of my first sparring partners Ray Joshua, Patty Martinez, and Porfirio Garcia who taught me so very much in the ring and who made it fun.  I got to spar regularly with Nonito and Glenn Donaire and Gina Guidi who never hurt me and let me experience their skills and learn from them.  I think of the times I would go to Gilroy and spar with Kel-C Jeffries and up to Sonoma County to spar with Jolene Blackshear and the friendship and bond we had from it.  I remember going regulary to Al Amanecer Boxing Gym in Napa where I was welcomed by Jesus Solis to spar with the tough crew of young latino boxers he trained that gave me all that I could  handle.  I am grateful to my coach Charlie Smith who would invoke James Brown at my first amateur fights shouting, "It's Showtime....and then, "Get down with your bad self," whenever I landed a good shot on my opponent. Coach Charlie who raised my defensive skills to a whole other level was a pure joy to work with.  I cherish my times at East Oakland Boxing Gym with Stan, Paul, James and Danielle and being able to bring my first students there to give them a taste of what boxing has to offer. I am grateful for Coach Greene, Coach Gloria Peek, and Coach Michaels who stepped up to work my corner at the Nationals when I had to travel there alone.

I think of my start as a professional boxer as I picked up everything and moved to Vegas and the opportunities my one and only manager Greg Hannley provided me as he tried to put together a team of women fighters from around the globe.  I loved my time at Prince Ranch, the former brothel turned boxing training camp and exotic animal shelter.  Becoming friends with Marischa Sjauw and Laura Serrano, two of my idols in the sport and getting to train with them was priceless.  I recall fondly my time at Laila Ali's gym and getting to train alongside Floyd Mayweather and Steve Forbes.  Roger Mayweather worked the corner of two of my fights and when I worked mitts with him, he gave me my greatest boxing compliment, "She hits like a dude."  

Then there was Johnny Tocco's gym and meeting Leroy Caldwell, my special friend and coach who would see me to the end of my career and who traveled the world with me to take on the best.  What an adventure we went on as we traveled to places all over the globe!  He taught me so much about grace and staying calm in the ring.  My only sadness in getting this honor in 2025 is that Leroy passed away in 2024 after a bout with colon cancer.  This honor is his as well as mine.  I know he will be with me in spirit.
​

It's going to be a party in Vegas in April 2025 and I can't wait to celebrate with my family, friends, boxing community and the other inductees of the Class of 2025.