Leona Brown
Encyclopedia
Leona Brown is a female boxer
who is the WIBC world Bantamweight champion. Because of her age, many consider her to be "the George Foreman
of women's boxing". Brown's nickname, "Downtown", is both a homage to actress Downtown Julie Brown
, and it also serves as name play, such as in the case of "Hannah The Vegas Fox
".
A native of Buffalo, New York
, she now lives in Wappingers Falls
, also a New York
state city.
Brown was an award winning amateur boxer, winning the New York state golden gloves
award before turning professional, on September 27. 1997, beating Judy Mayrand by a four round unanimous decision in Germantown, Pennsylvania
. Brown proceeded to win her first seven fights as a professional, including victories over Sue Chase, Sonya Emery
and Suzanne Riccio.
On her eighth professional bout, fought June 11, 1999 in Bossier City, Louisiana
, she fought for a world title for the first time, losing a ten round decision to IFBA world Bantamweight champion Eva Jones
. Her next bout was a six round unanimous decision loss at the hands of the noted Margaret Sidoroff.
On October 1, 1999, Brown became a world champion for the first time, when she knocked out
Dee Dufoe in round ten to become the IFBA's world Super Bantamweight champion.
That short success was followed by defeat and disappointment, however, as she lost seven of her next eight bouts, beginning with a world title unification against WIBF
world Super Bantamweight champion Michele Aboro on May 13, 2000. Brown lost a ten round split decision, and her IFBA world title, to Aboro in Germany
. Other boxers that defeated her during this period included Alicia Ashley
, Kathy Williams and Lisa Brown (twice). Her only win during those eight bouts came against Ria Ramnarine
, by a knockout in round four, on July 27 of 2001.
After defeating Renee Richardt, she was given another chance at the WIBF world Super Bantamweight title, flying over to Austria
, where she lost to Esther Schouten by a ten round decision, on June 9, 2002. That loss marked the beginning of another losing streak for Brown, as she lost her next three bouts as well. These included a defeat at the hands of Ada Vélez
. She broke that streak with a fourth round knockout of Terri Cruz on April 23, 2004, in Denver, Colorado
.
After another loss and a win, she was given another chance at becoming world champion again, and, on November 20, Brown took on Stephaney George of Guyana
for the WIBC world Bantamweight title, in Poughkeepsie, New York
. Brown won a world title on a second division when she beat George by a unanimous decision, on a fight that the judges saw as a one-sided affair (all three judges scored the fight 100-90 in favor of Brown).
Leona Brown holds a professional boxing record of 13 wins and 14 losses, with 5 knockout wins.
Women's boxing
Women's boxing first appeared in the Olympic Games at a demonstration bout in 1902. For most of the 20th century, however, it was banned in most nations. Its revival was pioneered by the Swedish Amateur Boxing Association, which sanctioned events for women in 1988. The British Amateur Boxing...
who is the WIBC world Bantamweight champion. Because of her age, many consider her to be "the George Foreman
George Foreman
George Edward Foreman is an American two-time former World Heavyweight Boxing Champion, Olympic gold medalist, ordained Baptist minister, author and successful entrepreneur...
of women's boxing". Brown's nickname, "Downtown", is both a homage to actress Downtown Julie Brown
Downtown Julie Brown
Julie Dorne Brown, also known as Downtown Julie Brown , is an English actress and former MTV VJ.Of mixed race, Brown's father, Valentine Brown, was Jamaican and her mother, Doreen, is white...
, and it also serves as name play, such as in the case of "Hannah The Vegas Fox
Hannah Fox
Hannah Lee Fox , better known as Hannah Fox is a former female boxer. She is from Las Vegas, Nevada. Her nickname is "The Vegas", which made her name sound like "Hannah The Vegas Fox" when introduced to fans before a fight....
".
A native of Buffalo, New York
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
, she now lives in Wappingers Falls
Wappingers Falls, New York
Wappingers Falls is a village in Dutchess County, New York, United States. The name is derived from the local Wappinger Indians. One half of the village is in the town of Wappinger and the other half is in the town of Poughkeepsie, with Wappinger Creek forming the dividing line between the...
, also a New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
state city.
Brown was an award winning amateur boxer, winning the New York state golden gloves
Golden Gloves
The Golden Gloves is the name given to annual competitions for amateur boxing in the United States. The Golden Gloves is often the term used to refer to the National Golden Gloves competition, but it also can represent several other amateur tournaments, including regional golden gloves...
award before turning professional, on September 27. 1997, beating Judy Mayrand by a four round unanimous decision in Germantown, Pennsylvania
Germantown, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Germantown is a neighborhood in the northwest section of the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, about 7–8 miles northwest from the center of the city...
. Brown proceeded to win her first seven fights as a professional, including victories over Sue Chase, Sonya Emery
Sonya Emery
Sonya Anne Emery , better known plainly as Sonya Emery, is a former female boxer who boxed professionally from 1997 to 1998....
and Suzanne Riccio.
On her eighth professional bout, fought June 11, 1999 in Bossier City, Louisiana
Bossier City, Louisiana
Bossier City is a city in Bossier Parish, Louisiana, United States.As of the 2010 Census, the city had a total population of 61,315. Bossier City is closely tied to its larger sister city Shreveport, located on the western bank of the Red River. The Shreveport-Bossier City metropolitan area is the...
, she fought for a world title for the first time, losing a ten round decision to IFBA world Bantamweight champion Eva Jones
Eva Jones
Eva Jones-Young , better known as Eva Jones or under her nickname Sweet Magic, is a former female boxer from the United States....
. Her next bout was a six round unanimous decision loss at the hands of the noted Margaret Sidoroff.
On October 1, 1999, Brown became a world champion for the first time, when she knocked out
Knockout
A knockout is a fight-ending, winning criterion in several full-contact combat sports, such as boxing, kickboxing, Muay Thai, mixed martial arts, Karate and others sports involving striking...
Dee Dufoe in round ten to become the IFBA's world Super Bantamweight champion.
That short success was followed by defeat and disappointment, however, as she lost seven of her next eight bouts, beginning with a world title unification against WIBF
Women's International Boxing Federation
The WIBF is, along with the WIBA, IWBF and others, one of the more recognized world championship fight sanctioning organizations in women's boxing. The organization is based in Miami, Florida, and is not associated with male boxing's IBF.The WIBF was formed in the middle 1990s. It is presided by...
world Super Bantamweight champion Michele Aboro on May 13, 2000. Brown lost a ten round split decision, and her IFBA world title, to Aboro in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. Other boxers that defeated her during this period included Alicia Ashley
Alicia Ashley
Alicia Ashley is a women's boxing participant who is the current WBC female world super bantamweight champion. Ashley is a Jamaican-American. Born in Jamaica, she moved to the United States at a young age....
, Kathy Williams and Lisa Brown (twice). Her only win during those eight bouts came against Ria Ramnarine
Ria Ramnarine
Ria Ramnarine , is a professional boxer and the first female world boxing champion from that country. She made her boxing debut in Port of Spain on December 9, 1999, and won the WIBA Mini Flyweight World title on May 27, 2005 at the Jean Pierre Sports Complex in Port of Spain...
, by a knockout in round four, on July 27 of 2001.
After defeating Renee Richardt, she was given another chance at the WIBF world Super Bantamweight title, flying over to Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
, where she lost to Esther Schouten by a ten round decision, on June 9, 2002. That loss marked the beginning of another losing streak for Brown, as she lost her next three bouts as well. These included a defeat at the hands of Ada Vélez
Ada Velez
Ada "Ace" Vélez is a Puerto Rican female professional boxer who lives in Hollywood, Florida. Vélez was brought into boxing by former women's boxing world champion Bonnie Canino....
. She broke that streak with a fourth round knockout of Terri Cruz on April 23, 2004, in Denver, Colorado
Denver, Colorado
The City and County of Denver is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Denver is a consolidated city-county, located in the South Platte River Valley on the western edge of the High Plains just east of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains...
.
After another loss and a win, she was given another chance at becoming world champion again, and, on November 20, Brown took on Stephaney George of Guyana
Guyana
Guyana , officially the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, previously the colony of British Guiana, is a sovereign state on the northern coast of South America that is culturally part of the Anglophone Caribbean. Guyana was a former colony of the Dutch and of the British...
for the WIBC world Bantamweight title, in Poughkeepsie, New York
Poughkeepsie (city), New York
Poughkeepsie is a city in the state of New York, United States, which serves as the county seat of Dutchess County. Poughkeepsie is located in the Hudson River Valley midway between New York City and Albany...
. Brown won a world title on a second division when she beat George by a unanimous decision, on a fight that the judges saw as a one-sided affair (all three judges scored the fight 100-90 in favor of Brown).
Leona Brown holds a professional boxing record of 13 wins and 14 losses, with 5 knockout wins.