Daisy Lang
Daisy Lang (born Dessislava Kirova (Bulgarian: Десислава Кирова) on 4 April 1972) is a former professional boxer who competed from 1996 to 2004. She is a former three-weight world champion and was the first Bulgarian woman to capture a world title, having held the WIBF super-flyweight title from 1999 to 2002; the WIBF bantamweight title in 2002; and the WIBF super-bantamweight title in 2003.
Daisy Lang | |
---|---|
![]() | |
Statistics | |
Nickname(s) | The Lady |
Weight(s) | |
Height | 5 ft 7 in (170 cm) |
Nationality | Bulgarian |
Born | Dessislava Kirova 4 April 1972 Sofia, Bulgaria |
Stance | Orthodox |
Boxing record | |
Total fights | 23 |
Wins | 19 |
Wins by KO | 7 |
Losses | 3 |
Draws | 1 |
Biography
Boxing
Before her boxing career, Daisy Lang competed as a martial artist. She is a black belt and a European champion in taekwondo. She also was World Champion in karate 1995 in the U.S., European champion and World Champion in kickboxing. She began boxing professionally in February 1996 in Germany. Lang lived in Dusseldorf and trained in Hamburg, where Universum Box-Promotion was based.
Daisy Lang won the first three fights of her career in 1996, two of them by knockout. She earned physical therapy degrees at the National Sport Academy in Sofia, Bulgaria, and continued her education at the German Sport University, Cologne.
On 29 November 1997 she lost against Michele Aboro in six rounds, who remained unbeaten with 6 wins, but had won all previous fights by knockout. After winning another fight in February 1998 Daisy Lang won the vacant WIBF European Bantamweight title against Krisztina Horvai in ten rounds.
After winning another fight by knockout in round 2, she defended the WIBF European Bantamweight title on 27 March 1999 against Anastasia Toktaulova winning in ten rounds. On 17 July 1999 she became world champion against Gizella Papp in a fight for the vacant WIBF Super Flyweight title.
From 1999 to 2002, Daisy Lang successfully defended the title against Sonia Pereira, Kathy Williams, Oana Jurma, Brenda Burnside, Nadia Debras, Michelle Sutcliffe and Réka Krempf. On 14 September 2002 she won against Lisa Foster in a fight for the GBU world Bantamweight championship in ten rounds. She drew against Silke Weickenmeier on 18 January 2003, in a fight for the GBU Super Bantamweight title, but won the rematch on 10 May with a majority decision in ten rounds. On 15 November 2003 she lost against Galina Ivanova in ten rounds, in a fight for the WIBF Super Flyweight title.
After another win in 8 rounds, on 29 May 2004 she lost against Regina Halmich in a fight for the vacant IWBF Super Flyweight title, in ten rounds by unanimous decision. In October 2004 she won another fight by knockout in early rounds.
On 21 May 2016, Daisy Lang was given a lifetime achievement award from the US Martial Arts Hall of Fame: "Hall of Heroes".
On 9 January 2017, The International Women's Boxing Hall of Fame (IWBHF) announced their 2017 IWBHF Inductees. Among those honored was Daisy Lang, including Aileen Eaton (posthumous); Holly Holm; Ria Ramnarine; Ana Marie Torres; and Ada Velez.
Movie career
Her success in sports made her a popular guest on many TV shows in various countries and a frequent subject of German and other international magazine articles. After a successful decade in the sport's world in Europe, Daisy relocated to Los Angeles to concentrate on her acting career and business. In 2007, she became a member of SAG-AFTRA and has been working in films and commercials, mostly in action roles.
Personal life
Daisy Lang was also a physical therapist who uses her experience as a world class athlete and her knowledge in the medical field to promote boxing as a way to stay in physical and mental shape. Since 2008 she has been a regular guest-speaker for the Rotary Club.
She currently resides in Los Angeles, United States.
Professional boxing record
23 fights | 19 wins | 3 losses |
By knockout | 7 | 0 |
By decision | 12 | 3 |
Draws | 1 |
No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round, time | Date | Location | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
23 | Win | 19–3–1 | ![]() |
TKO | 4 (8) | 16 Oct 2004 | ![]() |
|
22 | Loss | 18–3–1 | ![]() |
UD | 10 | 29 May 2004 | ![]() |
For vacant IWBF super-flyweight title |
21 | Win | 18–2–1 | ![]() |
PTS | 8 | 2 Mar 2004 | ![]() |
|
20 | Loss | 17–2–1 | ![]() |
UD | 10 | 15 Nov 2003 | ![]() |
For WIBF super-flyweight title |
19 | Win | 17–1–1 | ![]() |
MD | 10 | 10 May 2003 | ![]() |
Won WIBF, and GBU super-bantamweight titles |
18 | Draw | 16–1–1 | ![]() |
PTS | 10 | 18 Jan 2003 | ![]() |
For WIBF, and GBU super-bantamweight titles |
17 | Win | 16–1 | ![]() |
UD | 10 | 14 Sep 2002 | ![]() |
Won WIBF, and GBU bantamweight titles |
16 | Win | 15–1 | ![]() |
UD | 10 | 6 Apr 2002 | ![]() |
Retained WIBF super-flyweight title |
15 | Win | 14–1 | ![]() |
TD | 7 (10) | 29 Sep 2001 | ![]() |
Retained WIBF super-flyweight title |
14 | Win | 13–1 | ![]() |
UD | 10 | 27 Jan 2001 | ![]() |
Retained WIBF super-flyweight title |
13 | Win | 12–1 | ![]() |
UD | 10 | 14 Oct 2000 | ![]() |
Retained WIBF super-flyweight title |
12 | Win | 11–1 | ![]() |
TKO | 3 (10) | 13 May 2000 | ![]() |
Retained WIBF super-flyweight title |
11 | Win | 10–1 | ![]() |
UD | 10 | 5 Feb 2000 | ![]() |
Retained WIBF super-flyweight title |
10 | Win | 9–1 | ![]() |
UD | 10 | 23 Oct 1999 | ![]() |
Retained WIBF super-flyweight title |
9 | Win | 8–1 | ![]() |
KO | 8 (10) | 17 Jul 1999 | ![]() |
Won vacant WIBF super-flyweight title |
8 | Win | 7–1 | ![]() |
UD | 10 | 27 Mar 1999 | ![]() |
Retained WIBF European bantamweight title |
7 | Win | 6–1 | ![]() |
KO | 2 (6) | 30 Jan 1999 | ![]() |
|
6 | Win | 5–1 | ![]() |
UD | 10 | 3 Oct 1998 | ![]() |
Won vacant WIBF European bantamweight title |
5 | Win | 4–1 | ![]() |
KO | 4 | 14 Feb 1998 | ![]() |
|
4 | Loss | 3–1 | ![]() |
PTS | 6 | 29 Nov 1997 | ![]() |
|
3 | Win | 3–0 | Bresda Movotna | KO | 3 (6) | 29 Aug 1996 | ![]() |
|
2 | Win | 2–0 | ![]() |
PTS | 6 | 6 Jul 1996 | ![]() |
|
1 | Win | 1–0 | ![]() |
KO | 3 | 27 Feb 1996 | ![]() |
|
Filmography
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2002 | Frogmen Operation Stormbringer | Anya | |
2006 | Undisputed II: Last Man Standing | Svetlana | |
2007 | Lords of the Underworld | Boxing Trainer | |
Missionary Man | Biker Girl | ||
2009 | The Gold & the Beautiful | Reeza | |
2015 | DELKA: Stand-Up Tall or Fall | Nina | post-production |
2017 | Ashley and Red | Blue Drop | 1 episode |
2018 | This is Our Christmas | Ntasha Hipsteiner |
External links
- Boxing record for Daisy Lang from BoxRec
- "Fighting Tribute for Daisy Lang" on YouTube
- "Daisy Lang's Action Reel" on YouTube
- "World Boxing Champion Daisy Lang on German TV" on YouTube
- "Sport Studio-ZDF tv. Guest:Daisy Lang" on YouTube
- "ZDF Sport reportage about the World Boxing Champion Daisy Lang" on YouTube
- "SAT-1 TV.-Guest:Daisy Lang-"The Beauty and Beast" on YouTube
- "Commercial for the mini rolls" Royal Cake" Bulgaria" on YouTube
- I dreamed of being a World Champion
- Daisy Lang 2017 International Women's Boxing Hall of Fame on YouTube