News

HYO MIN KIM TITLE VACATED

2010-07-10T15:55:00Z

The IFBA has vacated the Featherweight title held by Hyo Min Kim due to her refusal to fight a mandatory rematch against Lisa Brown. The boxers fought in October, 2009 in South Korea for the vacant Featherweight title, with Kim winning by a controversial decision. The IFBA ruled that a mandatory rematch must take place. After Kim recovered from a subsequent eye injury, the IFBA was informed that Kim refused to fight Brown in a rematch and her title was therefore vacated.

IFBA RETURNS TO SOUTH KOREA WITH A CHAMPIONSHIP FIGHT

2010-07-03T05:09:00Z

JI HYUN PARK DEFENDS STRAWWEIGHT TITLE

Henderson, NV/South Korea – The International Female Boxers Association (IFBA) is pleased to announce another championship fight. On Sunday, August 15, Ji Hyun Park will put her IFBA strawweight title belt on the line against Nao Ikeyama in a match from Kosung Kangwon-do, South Korea.

Park (11-2-0, 4KOs) is coming off the best stretch of her career. She has won her last five bouts, four of which she was victorious by unanimous decision. The 24-year old from Incheon, South Korea defeated Satoko Kamimura in her more recent bout in May, setting her up for a showdown against Noa.

Ikeyama (11-2-1, 4KOs) will present a challenge. A former world title-holder, she is aiming to pull off the upset and regain her status as a champion. The 40-year old from Sakaide, Kagawa, Japan is coming off a big May victory and is aiming to recapture her elite status.

Follow fight weigh ins and updates on IFBA.com and on Twitter @ Ifba_boxing.

About the IFBA
Founded in 1997, the IFBA has sanctioned over 100 women’s title bouts. It was the first boxing organization to sanction and present all-women’s cards on cable and broadcast television, with fights airing domestically on ESPN2, USA Network, Fox Sports Net, internationally on Fox Sports International SBS, MBC and MBC-ESPN in Korea as well as on Pay-Per-View.

INTRODUCING “EXTRAORDINARY WOMEN OF THE RING”

2010-05-19T22:30:01Z

"Extraordinary Women of The Ring”, written by veteran ring side photographer Mary Ann Lurie Owen has just been published by Kirographaire Editions, France.

Mary Ann began her ringside photography career in 1998, shooting “Satin Storm,” one of the pioneering International Female Boxers Association all women’s fight cards. During her 12 year career, Mary Ann’s photos have been seen by boxing and sports fans throughout the world via the Internet, in magazines and newspapers.

With “Extraordinary Women of The Ring” Mary Ann celebrates the thrilling and compelling sport of women’s boxing with her dynamic photographs which depict the power, beauty and determination of female fighters. The IFBA is proud to be included in this publication and applauds Mary Ann’s determination in producing this historical presentation.

Park Wins by Unanimous Decision

2010-05-01T15:58:00Z

IFBA Champion Ji Hyun Park retained her IFBA Strawweight title Saturday, May 1, in Asan Si, South Korea by beating Satoko Kamimura 99-91, 98-92, 99-91.

Park now 11-2 with 4KO’s has won her last 5 bouts.

Park and Kamimura make weight

2010-04-30T01:41:01Z

Both IFBA Champion Ji Hyun Park and challenger Satoko Kamimura weighed in at 46 kg (101.2 lbs) for their IFBA Strawweight bout on Saturday May 1, 2010 in Asan Si, South Korea.

IFBA President Judy Kulis will supervise the bout which will be seen on national TV throughout Korea.

IFBA ANNOUNCES MAY 1 TITLE FIGHT

2010-04-14T19:19:00Z

On, Saturday May 1, the IFBA presents a matchup for the IFBA Strawweight Championship, as reigning belt holder Ji Hyun Park takes on challenger Satoko Kamimura in a 10-round bout.

Park (10-2, 4 KOs), the 24-year old from Icheon City, South Korea, has won her last four bouts and is on her way to cementing her place among the top female fighters in the world.

While this won’t be exactly a homefield battle for Park, she will have a majority of the fans in Asan Si, South Korea cheering for their fellow countrywoman.

Kamimura (6-12), the 34-year old veteran fighter from Tokyo, will present a tough challenge for Park. The southpaw took champion Dan-Bi Kim the full 10-rounds in her last fight in January, before losing by decision.

Park Retains IFBA Minimum Weight Title

2010-03-04T13:37:00Z

After a full review of the fight between Ji Hyun Park and Susannah Warner, held February 6, 2010 in Korea, the IFBA is in agreement with the decision rendered. The IFBA will approve a re-match should the management team for Warner secure a site and finish successful negotiations with the Champion for a future fight outside Korea.

Park Splits with Warner to Retain Title

2010-02-06T18:25:00Z

The second IFBA title bout of 2010 was televised live on MBC-ESPN television South East of Seoul in the agricultural city of Mung Yeong. Team Warner looked well prepared to take on the Korean Champion Ji Hyun Park and as the fight progressed this became the exciting “Battle of the Body Shots”.

Round One was calm and easy paced as Warner stuck out little jabs to test the distance. Park doing the same, with a little more activity took the judges nod to begin the match, as well as the Second Round.

The Third Round quickened with Warner’s team encouraging her to pick up the pace and start breaking down the body with more shots. Into the Fourth Park claimed the ring and pushed Warner back some taking the round.

All that could be heard during the next three rounds was to tear up the body of Ji Hyun Park. Team Warner seeing weakness knew this was the best plan of attack. You could see the reaction on Park’s face as she began lowering her elbows to try and protect herself. At more than one point it looked as though she wanted to turn away and quit, but she toughed it out and made it out of the Seventh.

The battle continued into the Eighth with neither one wanting to give and inch. Back and forth the pressure would go. Each one with their backs to the rope and reversing the other, and each judge going back and forth with their scores also.

The ninth began with both camps urging their fighter to continue to the body. More shots were beginning to be blocked so some judges favored Warner and some the Champion Park. Warner had given a lot of pressure through the middle rounds and seemed like she let up slightly in this round. Having defended her title many times, Park began to push harder and won two of the judges nod for the Ninth.

The Tenth had you wondering why Park hadn’t done this earlier, as she used her reach and movement more and accelerated her pressure, which won her the final round. The bell rang and both fighters immediately put up their hands feeling they had taken the fight. But in the final tally Ji Hyun Park retained her Minimum Weight Title.

Judges:
Julie Lederman: (94-96)
Jo Hyun Boq: (98-93)
Jeong Myung Su: (96-94)
IFBA Supervisor: Kim Messer

DAN-BI KIM WINS FIRST TITLE DEFENSE

2010-02-01T04:34:01Z

A new year for Women’s boxing began in South Korea. In the small country town of Anseong-si, Gyeonggi-do, the crisp bite of winter could still be felt as the spectators gathered to see the petite Dan Bi Kim defend her IFBA Mini Flyweight division against the much taller Japanese fighter Satoko Kamimura.

The usual first round feeling out began with Dan Bi showing that she was planning to do a lot of head movement to counter Satoko’s long, lanky reach. Using the occasional body shot to wear down her opponent, Dan Bi was awarded the first two rounds by the judges.

In the third, Satoko found her range and was able to get in some jabs and straight lefts, but not enough to deter Dan Bi as the champ walks through the occasional snappy jab.

Satako won the fifth round when it seemed Dan Bi took a little break to save herself for the second half of the fight.

Dan Bi unanimously won the sixth round. She was determined to close the distance with head movement, then jumped her way in with hooks to the head and body.

Dan Bi’s aggressiveness gave her the edge on the scorecards for most of the later rounds. As fatigue set in, there was a lot of crowding and hugging.
Satoko fought an honorable match, but couldn’t rally enough excitement to steal many rounds from the title holder.

Overall, this was a good fight for Dan Bi, who is still gaining experience and improving her skills. It was a great tune-up for her mandatory title defense later on in the year.

Final scores: (97-96), (97-93), (96-94)

DAN-BI KIM, SATOKO KAMIMURA WEIGH IN

2010-01-28T21:31:00Z

IFBA Mini Flyweight World Champion Dan-bi Kim and challenger Satoko Kamimura both successfully weighed in at 103.62 pounds/47 Kg, ready for their January 29th world title fight in South Korea.

DAN-BI KIM DEFENDS MINI FLYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP ON FRIDAY, JANUARY 29

2010-01-26T06:06:00Z

LAS VEGAS – The International Female Boxers Association (IFBA) is pleased to present its first championship fight of the new year as South Korean Dan-Bi Kim puts her mini flyweight title on the line against Japan’s Satoko Kamimura.

Kim (6-1, 2KOs), defeated Jolene Blackshear to capture the belt last October. The 18-year-old rising star combines speed, power and winning instincts, with her only loss coming via a close decision. Kim fully expects to be one of the great champion’s in women’s boxing.

Kim will be favored against Kamimura (6-11). But the former top ranked Japanese fighter is coming off back-to-back wins and is looking to continue her momentum with an upset.

The bout will take place in South Korea at the Doowon Technical University College in Anseong-si, Gyeonggi-do.

The IFBA returns to South Korea just a week later for another title bout as Ji Hyun Park (9-2, 4 KOs) and Suszannah “Destiny” Warner (9-8-1, 2 KOs) face off in a 10-round battle for Park’s strawweight title. Warner vs. Park takes place on Saturday, February 6, from Moon Kyung, South Korea.

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A Great Friend to Boxing Passes

2009-12-28T20:43:00Z

Danny Valdivia, the voice of women’s boxing for all IFBA telecasted shows in the late 90’s through 2001 has passed away. With his trademark grace and charm, Danny introduced our all female cards on ESPN2, Pay-Per-View, USA Tuesday Night Fights and Fox Sports International Boxing. A native Californian, Danny was born in Santa Monica, California on August 6, 1934 and passed peacefully on December 9, 2009. Danny married his high school sweetheart Helen in 1956 and was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1957. For 37 years Danny worked at Sears, and before he retired was promoted to Area Personnel Manager in Southern California. Danny spent over 30 years in the center of the ring. Danny worked many televised cards for Univision, Telemundo and Galavision and was featured in many TV and films, as well as, hosting the World Boxing Hall of Fame Banquet of Champions. In 1984 Danny lent his talents in the center of the ring as the announcer for the 1984 Olympics held in Los Angeles at the LA Sports Arena. In 1998 Danny took the ring to announce the USA Women’s Amateur Championships from the Arrowhead Pond, in Anaheim.

As a man of faith, Danny was an active parishioner of St. Mark’s Catholic Church in Santa Monica, where he worshiped for over 40 years. Through his faith Danny learned the virtues of giving and helping others and there was never a time when Danny wasn’t there with a kind word or warm smile to make your day a little better, no matter how bad you felt.

Danny’s love of giving spilled over into his incredible talent to make jewelry, and his gift of custom made gold boxing glove cuff-links in 1998 are still worn to this day at every sanctioned IFBA event.

Danny is survived by his wife of 53 years Helen, his son Daniel, daughters Valerie Saunders, Stephanie Grand, Leslie Valdivia,Satcy Rude and Kristie Bowers; 10 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren and his brother Tony and sister Lu Luera.

Danny will be missed and remembered fondly as a man of integrity and good will to all who had the good fortune to cross his path in life.

Happy Holiday’s and a Happy New Year

2009-12-23T17:11:00Z

The IFBA wishes everyone a Happy Holiday and a very Happy New Year. As we approach our 13th year of sanctioning women’s boxing, we are especially appreciative of our supporters in Korea and the U.S that have sanctioned women’s boxing this decade. Our all female boxing telecasts on Fox Sports Net and Main Events on national TV in Korea ranked among the most watched boxing shows ever. Going into this new year, we will continue offering great main events on TV in Korea, along with developing new opportunities for women’s boxing on US TV. Moving into the next decade we look forward to the addition of women’s boxing in the Olympics and watching our sport get the attention it deserves.

Judy Kulis
President

Woo Retains Title

2009-11-28T06:33:00Z

After 10 rounds of non-stop action, Champion Ji-Hye Woo retained her IFBA Super Featherweight crown by out-pointing America’s Rhonda Luna. The Judges scored the fight....98-95, 96-94, 96-95 in favor of Woo. The fight held in Sang-Ju, Korea was the fifth nationally televised Women’s main event in Korea this year.

JI-HYE WOO PUTS HER IFBA SUPER FEATHERWEIGHT WORLD TITLE ON LINE AGAINST TOP CHALLENGER RHONDA LUNA

2009-11-26T22:25:00Z

HENDERSON, NEVADA /SANGJU, SOUTH KOREA—The International Female Boxers Association (IFBA), fresh off championship fights in September and October, showcases yet another title matchup on Saturday, November 28 when IFBA Super Featherweight Champion Ji-Hye Woo defends her belt against Rhonda Luna.

Woo (10-1, 1 KO) is riding a wave of tremendous success. She hasn’t lost a bout since 2005 and has won her last five bouts by unanimous decision. Originally from Seoul, South Korea, Woo will have the fans in Sang-Ju fully behind her.

But the fans won’t rankle Luna (15-1-2, 2 KO). A veteran fighter, whose only loss came in a split decision loss to Kelsey Jefferies in a title bout, Luna is hoping to rediscover the form that led her to victories in her first 10 fights.

The 10-round bout will take place at the Sang-Ju Gymnasium in Sang-Ju, South Korea.

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