Andrea DeShong
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Andrea DeShong | |
|---|---|
| Born | March 16, 1962 Mingo Junction, Ohio, United States |
| Nationality | American |
| Statistics | |
| Weight(s) | lightweight |
| Height | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) |
| Stance | Orthodox |
| Boxing record | |
| Total fights | 24 |
| Wins | 13 |
| Draws | 1 |
Andrea DeShong (born March 16, 1962) is a former United States female boxer who is best remembered for defeating Christy Martin in Martin's fourth professional bout.[1][2]
Professional career[edit]
DeShong made her professional debut on March 11, 1989, when she beat Angel Horton by a first round knockout in Wheeling, West Virginia. After one more win, she faced the experienced Jamie Whitcomb, and also won this bout by a first-round knockout.
First fights with Martin[edit]
After winning two more fights, one by a second-round knockout, she and Martin met on November 4, at Bristol, Tennessee. DeShong inflicted Martin's first career defeat, winning by a five-round decision. Right after defeating Martin, she had a second victory against Whitcomb, who lasted five full rounds this time, before losing a unanimous decision to DeShong.
On April 21, 1990, she and Martin fought for the second time, and Martin avenged her defeat, while at the same time handing DeShong her own first loss as a professional, by a five-round decision, also at Bristol.
Rematch[edit]
It remains difficult for women boxers to find matches, and it was more difficult prior to the mid-'90s. DeShong ended up having a six-year layoff after the rematch with Martin. When she returned to boxing, she was somewhat known to fans, as Martin had become the WBC women's World Welterweight Champion, and DeShong remained the only boxer to defeat her as a professional.[3] It helped DeShong regain prominence that Martin had become a symbol of women's boxing, having appeared in the cover of Sports Illustrated magazine and becoming a popular fighter by appearing on Showtime Network boxing undercards as well as pay-per-view boxing shows.[4][5]
Return[edit]
DeShong returned April 27, 1996, losing a four-round decision to Christine Butts. After two knockout wins against Jackie Rogers and one more win, she faced veteran Kathy Collins, losing by a six-round unanimous decision at New York, New York.
After another win, she faced Isra Girgrah, on November 10, at Washington, D.C. The two fought to a six-round draw (tie).
After two more wins, she received her first world title try, on March 2, 1997, being knocked out by Jane Couch in seven rounds at New Orleans, Louisiana, for the WIBF's World Jr. Welterweight title.
Despite that setback, her next fight was a major event. As part of the undercard of the rematch between Evander Holyfield and Mike Tyson ("The Bite Fight"), which also featured former world champions Julio César Chávez and Miguel Ángel González, she and Martin met for a third time. The fight was preceded by much fan hype, and both boxers were involved in "trash talking" on the days leading to the match. Martin defeated DeShong by a seventh-round knockout on June 28.
DeShong lost to Lucia Rijker in her next fight, September 13, by a knockout in round three.
Despite losing three fights in a row, she found herself challenging Kathy Collins for the world title in her next fight. DeShong failed for the second time to win the world title, also losing for the fourth time in a row, when Collins handed her a ten-round unanimous decision loss on January 10, 1998, for the IWBF World Jr. Welterweight title.
After two more losses in a row, to Sumya Anani and Mitzi Jeter, she retired from boxing.
Some fans and critics[who?] have observed that, after she gave up boxing for the first time, she should not have returned. When she did return, in 1996, she was 34 years old, an age when most boxers and athletes in general are considered to be "past their prime".
Andrea DeShong had 13 wins, 9 losses and 1 draw in 24 bouts, with 8 knockout wins.
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Professional boxing record[edit]
| 23 fights | 13 wins | 9 losses |
|---|---|---|
| By knockout | 8 | 0 |
| By decision | 5 | 9 |
| Draws | 1 | |
| No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round, time | Date | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23 | Loss | Mitzi Jeter | UD | 1999-08-11 | New Orleans, Louisiana, USA | |||
| 22 | Loss | Sumya Anani | UD | 1998-03-28 | KC Market Center, Kansas City, Missouri, USA | |||
| 21 | Loss | Kathy Collins | UD | 1998-01-10 | Tropicana Hotel & Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA | International Women's Boxing Federation World super lightweight title | ||
| 20 | Loss | Lucia Rijker | TKO | 1997-09-13 | Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA | |||
| 19 | Loss | Christy Martin | TKO | 1997-06-28 | MGM Grand, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA | |||
| 18 | Loss | Jane Couch | TKO | 1997-03-02 | UNO Lakefront Arena, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA | Women's International Boxing Federation World super lightweight title | ||
| 17 | Win | Helga Risoy | TKO | 1997-02-12 | Coeur d'Alene Casino, Worley, Idaho, USA | |||
| 16 | Draw | Isra Girgrah | PTS | 1996-10-10 | Hilton Towers Hotel, Washington, District of Columbia, USA | |||
| 15 | Win | Janet Green | TKO | 1996-09-27 | Mountaineer Casino Racetrack and Resort, Chester, West Virginia, USA | |||
| 14 | Loss | Kathy Collins | UD | 1996-08-20 | Madison Square Garden Theater, New York, New York, USA | |||
| 13 | Win | Stacey Prestage | UD | 1996-06-22 | Mark Etess Arena, Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA | |||
| 12 | Win | Jackie Rodgers | TKO | 1996-06-04 | Martin's West, Woodlawn, Maryland, USA | |||
| 11 | Win | Jackie Rodgers | TKO | 1996-05-22 | West Virginia, USA | |||
| 10 | Loss | Christina Butts | PTS | 1996-04-27 | Mountaineer Casino Racetrack and Resort, Chester, West Virginia, USA | |||
| 9 | Loss | Christy Martin | PTS | 1990-04-21 | Bristol, Tennessee, USA | |||
| 8 | Win | Rose Noble | KO | 1990-03-10 | West Virginia, USA | |||
| 7 | Win | Jamie Whitcomb | UD | 1989-12-02 | Valley Sports Arena, Roanoke, Virginia, USA | |||
| 6 | Win | Christy Martin | MD | 1989-11-04 | Bristol, Tennessee, USA | |||
| 5 | Win | Sharon Taylor | PTS | 1989-09-08 | Beckley, West Virginia, USA | |||
| 4 | Win | Sharon Taylor | TKO | 1989-09-08 | Holiday Inn, Parkersburg, West Virginia, USA | |||
| 3 | Win | Jamie Whitcomb | SD | 1989-06-02 | Holiday Inn, Parkersburg, West Virginia, USA | |||
| 2 | Win | Danata Griffin | PTS | 1989-04-08 | Tennessee, USA | |||
| 1 | Win | Angel Horton | KO | 1989-03-11 | Wheeling, West Virginia, USA |
References[edit]
- ^ "Brightest Stars at Garden Are the Women". The New York Times. 21 August 1996. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
- ^ Smith, Malissa (5 June 2014). A History of Women's Boxing. Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN 9781442229952. Retrieved 1 May 2017 – via Google Books.
- ^ "Martin Takes Unwanted Break". Retrieved 2 May 2017.
- ^ "The Tyson-Holyfield boxing pre-party". Entertainment Weekly. 11 July 1997. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
- ^ "Columnist Dean Juipe: No love lost between these women fighters". 26 June 1997. Retrieved 1 May 2017.