Leona Brown


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".

Career

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. 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.
Leona Brown holds a professional boxing record of 13 wins and 14 losses, with 5 knockout wins.

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
30LossDanielle BouchardUD2006-03-03Salle Antoine-Labelle, Laval
29LossKelsey JeffriesUD2005-07-21HP Pavilion, San Jose
28LossJackie NavaUD2005-05-30Grand Hotel, Tijuanavacant WBC World Female Super Bantamweight Title
27WinStephaney GeorgeUD2004-11-20Mid-Hudson Civic Center, Poughkeepsie
26WinOlga HeronUD2004-08-24Mid-Hudson Civic Center, Poughkeepsie
25LossKelsey JeffriesUD2004-06-17Seven Feathers Hotel & Casino Resort, Canyonville
24WinTerri Lynn CruzTKO2004-05-23Club Avalon, Denver
23LossMelissa FiorentinoUD2004-05-14Convention Center, Providence
22LossLakeysha WilliamsUD2003-08-21Adam’s Mark Hotel, Philadelphia
21LossAda VelezDQ2003-03-29Seminole Casino, Coconut Creek
20LossEsther Schouten2002-11-09Trend Eventhotel Pyramide, ViennaWomen's International Boxing Federation World Super Bantamweight Title
19WinRenee RichardtUD2002-07-12Civic Center, Glens Falls
18LossLakeysha WilliamsUD2002-01-25Dover Downs, Dover
17LossLisa BrownPTS2001-09-01Cedarbridge Academy
16WinRia RamnarineTKO2001-07-27Civic Center, Niagara Falls
15LossLisa BrownUD2001-04-27Civic Center, Niagara Falls
14LossIwona GuzowskaUD2000-12-02Gdansk, Poland
13LossKathy WilliamsUD2000-11-02Freeman Coliseum, San Antonio
12LossAlicia AshleySD2000-06-29Viking Hall, Philadelphia
11LossMichele AboroUD2000-05-13Sartory Saale, CologneWomen's International Boxing Federation World Super Bantamweight Title
10WinDee DufoeTKO1999-10-01Horseshoe Casino, Bossier Cityvacant International Female Boxers Association World Super Bantamweight Title
9LossMargaret SidoroffUD1999-07-20Casino Windsor, Windsor
8LossEva Jones YoungUD1999-06-11Bossier Cityvacant International Female Boxers Association World Bantamweight Title
7WinKatie BurtonUD1998-09-11Tropicana Hotel & Casino, Atlantic City
6WinSuzanne Riccio-MajorUD1998-08-15Arizona Charlie's, Las Vegas
5WinSonya EmerySD1998-07-31Tropicana Hotel & Casino, Atlantic City
4WinNatasha WilburnTKO1998-03-21Atlantic City
3WinSue ChaseTKO1998-01-10Tropicana Hotel & Casino, Atlantic City
2WinLisa FosterUD1997-11-21Yonkers Raceway, Yonkers
1WinJudy MayrandTKO1997-09-27National Guard Armory, West Palm Beach