Terri Moss
Encyclopedia
Terri Moss, born in Denver, Colorado
, moved to Athens, Georgia
in 1975 where she grew up and resided until 2003 when she moved to Atlanta to work with professional boxing trainer, Xavier Biggs. Xavier is the brother of 1984 Olympic Super Heavyweight Gold Medalist Tyrell Biggs
. Prior to boxing, Moss pursued a career in Law Enforcement working at several different levels in that field. She spent the majority of her career as a Narcotics Investigator.
During her time with Keppner, Moss sought medical attention and underwent Interferon Therapy. Once cured of Hepatitis C
, she resumed training to box competitively, entering the professional ranks at 36 years old.
Moss began her pro career in a fight offered by Keppner against newly crowned WIBA
Intercontinental Champion Wendy Sprowl of Boston, Massachusetts, losing a unanimous four round decision. Her second came against future IFBA & WIBA World Champion Maribel Zurita
, and the third against #1 ranked Patricia Martinez
, each to whom she dropped decisions. At 0-3 Moss began training with Xavier Biggs, and soon after fought was Atlanta's highly touted and #1 world ranked minimumweight
Nina Ahlin. Prior to the fight against Moss, Ahlin was also trained by Xavier Biggs. Moss landed her first win against Ahlin, one of the biggest moments in her career also rated one of the biggest upsets in women's professional boxing that year, and was shortly after ranked #2 in the world. She held that ranking for over two years and remained a top-ten rated fighter for the rest of her career.
During her career Moss fought for five world titles in three weight divisions. On May 10, 2007 she won the WIBF Strawweight World Title, and the WIBA mini flyweight Intercontinental Title in Tulsa, Oklahoma
, against Stephanie Dobbs. Moss was 41 years old, and Dobbs only 28, two years older than Moss' own daughter. After two failed attempts to arrange a title defense, Moss retired without a defense one year later on May 10, 2008. She retired in Atlanta, Georgia as a full time boxing trainer and personal trainer
for women in an all-female boxing program at Decatur Boxing Club in Decatur, GA. Moss trains competing amateur and professional boxers, conducts boxing fitness programs, and is a personal trainer and author.
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
, moved to Athens, Georgia
Athens, Georgia
Athens-Clarke County is a consolidated city–county in U.S. state of Georgia, in the northeastern part of the state, comprising the former City of Athens proper and Clarke County. The University of Georgia is located in this college town and is responsible for the initial growth of the city...
in 1975 where she grew up and resided until 2003 when she moved to Atlanta to work with professional boxing trainer, Xavier Biggs. Xavier is the brother of 1984 Olympic Super Heavyweight Gold Medalist Tyrell Biggs
Tyrell Biggs
Tyrell Biggs , is an American heavyweight boxer. He won the gold medal at the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles, CA in boxing at the Superheavyweight division, after gaining bronze the previous year at the 1983 Pan American Games....
. Prior to boxing, Moss pursued a career in Law Enforcement working at several different levels in that field. She spent the majority of her career as a Narcotics Investigator.
Boxing career
Moss began her experience in boxing at the age of 34 under Chicago native "Doc" Keppner and worked with him for two years. Keppner was reluctant to train Moss due to her age and physical limitations (Hepatitis C) that would keep her out of the ring, However; he did use her as his assistant working corners of his professional fighters and taught her to be a cut man. Prior to beginning her own boxing career she had worked over twenty professional fights as chief second and cutman. She was one of the first females documented to have been cut man and chief second for a male fighter.During her time with Keppner, Moss sought medical attention and underwent Interferon Therapy. Once cured of Hepatitis C
Hepatitis C
Hepatitis C is an infectious disease primarily affecting the liver, caused by the hepatitis C virus . The infection is often asymptomatic, but chronic infection can lead to scarring of the liver and ultimately to cirrhosis, which is generally apparent after many years...
, she resumed training to box competitively, entering the professional ranks at 36 years old.
Moss began her pro career in a fight offered by Keppner against newly crowned WIBA
Women's International Boxing Association
The Women's International Boxing Association a sanctioning body for women's professional boxing came into existence in July 2000, and quickly grew into a major force in the sport....
Intercontinental Champion Wendy Sprowl of Boston, Massachusetts, losing a unanimous four round decision. Her second came against future IFBA & WIBA World Champion Maribel Zurita
Maribel Zurita
Maribel "Little Thunder" Zurita is the WIBA Light Flyweight World Champion and former IFBA Flyweight World Champion in women's boxing. She fights out of San Antonio, Texas and is trained by Tony Ayala Sr....
, and the third against #1 ranked Patricia Martinez
Patricia Martínez
Patricia Elizabeth Martínez was born in Argentina. She is a composer, improviser, pianist, performer of electronics and experimental inter-disciplinary artist. She is working specially with video art and poetry...
, each to whom she dropped decisions. At 0-3 Moss began training with Xavier Biggs, and soon after fought was Atlanta's highly touted and #1 world ranked minimumweight
Minimumweight
Minimumweight is a weight class division in combat sports. The most notable of which is in professional boxing where boxers may weigh no more than . This is a relatively new weight category for professionals, first inaugurated by the major boxing sanctioning bodies between 1987 and 1990...
Nina Ahlin. Prior to the fight against Moss, Ahlin was also trained by Xavier Biggs. Moss landed her first win against Ahlin, one of the biggest moments in her career also rated one of the biggest upsets in women's professional boxing that year, and was shortly after ranked #2 in the world. She held that ranking for over two years and remained a top-ten rated fighter for the rest of her career.
During her career Moss fought for five world titles in three weight divisions. On May 10, 2007 she won the WIBF Strawweight World Title, and the WIBA mini flyweight Intercontinental Title in Tulsa, Oklahoma
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Tulsa is the second-largest city in the state of Oklahoma and 46th-largest city in the United States. With a population of 391,906 as of the 2010 census, it is the principal municipality of the Tulsa Metropolitan Area, a region with 937,478 residents in the MSA and 988,454 in the CSA. Tulsa's...
, against Stephanie Dobbs. Moss was 41 years old, and Dobbs only 28, two years older than Moss' own daughter. After two failed attempts to arrange a title defense, Moss retired without a defense one year later on May 10, 2008. She retired in Atlanta, Georgia as a full time boxing trainer and personal trainer
Personal trainer
A personal trainer is a fitness professional involved in exercise prescription and instruction. They motivate clients by setting goals and providing feedback and accountability to clients. Trainers also measure their client's strengths and weaknesses with fitness assessments...
for women in an all-female boxing program at Decatur Boxing Club in Decatur, GA. Moss trains competing amateur and professional boxers, conducts boxing fitness programs, and is a personal trainer and author.