Vonda Ward

Vonda Ward (born March 16, 1973, Macedonia, Ohio, United States) is an American female boxer who was also a well known NCAA basketball player.

Vonda Ward
Statistics
Real nameVonda Ward
Nickname(s)All-American Girl
Weight(s)Heavyweight
Height6 ft 6 in (198 cm)
NationalityAmerican
Born (1973-03-16) March 16, 1973
Macedonia, Ohio, United States
StanceOrthodox
Boxing record
Total fights24
Wins23
Wins by KO17
Losses1
Vonda Ward
Medal record
Representing  United States
Jones Cup
1993 Jones Cup Taipei, TaiwanTeam Competition

Early life and basketball career

Ward grew up in a sports-oriented family; her father, Larry Ward, is a famous harness racer.

Ward played basketball at Trinity High School in Garfield Heights and was twice named Ohio's "Ms. Basketball."[1] She made "Parade All American" teams twice. She was recruited by Division I universities across the United States.

In 1991, Ward accepted a basketball scholarship at the University of Tennessee. While a member of Pat Summitt's Lady Vols, Ward played in one NCAA basketball championship game (1995) during her college career at Tennessee, losing to the University of Connecticut. She competed with USA Basketball as a member of the 1993 Jones Cup Team that won the Bronze in Taipei.[2] After her college career ended in 1995, Ward played for a professional basketball club in Germany. She later played for the American Basketball League's Colorado Xplosion.

Boxing career

After a broken leg cut her professional basketball career short, Ward turned her attention to boxing.

Ward's boxing debut occurred on January 15, 2000, when she knocked out Faye Steffen in round one at LaPorte, Indiana. Her first four fights all ended in first round knockout wins for Ward. On April 27, 2000, she met Genevia Buckwalter in New York. Buckwalter became the first fighter to make it out of the first round against Ward, but Ward still won on a second round knockout. Ward's next five rivals did not make it past the second round, with two first round knockouts and three second round wins. At this point of her career, she had a streak of twelve knockout wins in a row.

On February 2, 2001, she met prospect Kisha Snow as part of the state fair celebrations in Columbus, Ohio. Snow came into the fight undefeated after six bouts, and she and Ward engaged in a four round war, but Ward made Snow her thirteenth straight knockout victim one minute into the fourth and final round. Ward then face Carley Pesente, on June 16, at Kansas City, Missouri. Pesente lasted two rounds.

After one more win, Ward challenged for the IBA's world's heavyweight title on August 16, 2002. Ward became the champion, but saw her knockout win streak gone as Monica McGowan lasted ten rounds at Canton, Ohio.

Ward defended her title successfully with an eighth round knockout of Kathy Rivers on December 6 at the Gund Arena in Cleveland. On March 1, 2003, she and Martha Salazar made their Las Vegas debut, with Ward taking a four round split decision win in a non-title bout.

After one more win, Ward unified her IBA world Heavyweight title with the WIBA's by defeating Salazar in a rematch, held on July 11 in Canton. Ward won by decision.

On May 8, 2004, Ward fought a nationally televised championship bout with Ann Wolfe in Biloxi, Mississippi. At one minute and one seconds of the first round, Wolfe knocked out Ward with a devastating right to the chin, which was even more devastating by the fact that Ward inadvertently jumped forward into the impact of the punch, leaving Ward unresponsive on the mat for a matter of minutes. This first-round knockout defeat caused her to lose her title and her undefeated status. Ward had a neck concussion because she hit the canvas with her neck when she fell, and she was hospitalized after this bout.[3][4]

On December 12, 2004, Ward returned to the boxing ring, knocking out Marsha Valley in four rounds in Cleveland. On February 2010, Ward won the inaugural WBC female heavyweight title, defeating Martha Salazar for the third and final time by unanimous decision.

Ward announced her retirement on 2010.[5] Her boxing record stands at 23 wins and 1 loss, with 17 wins by knockout.[6]

Professional boxing record
Professional record summary
24 fights 23 wins 1 loss
By knockout 17 1
By decision 6 0
No. Result Record Opponent Type Round, time Date Location Notes
24 Win 23–1 Carlette Ewell UD 10 2008-02-23 Chapparells Community Center, Akron, Ohio
23 Win 22-1 Martha Salazar UD 10 2007-02-10 Wolstein Center, Cleveland, Ohio Won vacant WBC World female Heavyweight title
Retained WIBA World Heavyweight title and IBA Female Heavyweight title.
22 Win 21-1 Cassandra Giger UD 10 2005-07-15 Gund Arena, Cleveland, Ohio Won vacant IBA Female Cruiserweight title.
21 Win 20-1 Elizabeth Kerin KO 2 (10), 1:33 2005-04-29 Wolstein Center, Cleveland, Ohio Won WIBA World Heavyweight title and IBA Female Heavyweight title.
20 Win 19–1 Marsha Valley TKO 4 (10), 1:47 2004-12-10 Gund Arena, Cleveland, Ohio
19 Loss 18–1 Ann Wolfe KO 1 (10), 1:08 2004-05-08 Mississippi Coast Coliseum, Biloxi, Mississippi For WIBA World Light Heavyweight title
For vacant IBA Female Light Heavyweight title.
18 Win 18–0 Martha Salazar UD 10 2003-07-11 Civic Center, Canton, Ohio Retained WIBA World Heavyweight title
Won vacant IBA Female Heavyweight title.
17 Win 17–0 Jeanine Tracy TKO 8 (10), 1:40 2003-03-14 Avalon Events Center, Cleveland, Ohio
16 Win 16–0 Martha Salazar SD 4 2003-03-01 Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas, Nevada
15 Win 15–0 Kathy Rivers TKO 8 (10), 1:40 2002-12-06 Gund Arena, Cleveland, Ohio Retained WIBA World Heavyweight title and IBA Female Heavyweight title.
14 Win 14–0 Monica McGowan UD 10 2002-07-16 Civic Center, Canton, Ohio Won WIBA World Heavyweight title and vacant IBA Female Heavyweight title.
13 Win 13–0 GiGi Jackson TKO 4 (4), 1:48 2002-02-22 Schottenstein Center, Columbus, Ohio
12 Win 12–0 Carley Pesente TKO 2 (4), 1:28 2001-05-16 Ameristar Casino, Kansas City, Missouri
11 Win 11–0 Kisha Snow TKO 4 (4), 1:05 2001-02-02 Celeste Center, Columbus, Ohio
10 Win 10–0 Katie Courtney TKO 1 (4) 2000-12-28 Willoughby, Ohio
9 Win 9–0 Marjorie Jones KO 1 (4), 1;02 2000-10-19 The Cosmopolitan, Wickliffe, Ohio
8 Win 8–0 Sharon Thomas TKO 1 (4), 1:24 2000-09-23 Packard Music Hall, Warren, Ohio
7 Win 7–0 Jeanine Tracy TKO 2 (4) 2000-08-24 Columbus, Ohio
6 Win 6–0 Lisa Redding TKO 1 (4), 0:31 2000-07-17 Station Casino, Saint Charles, Missouri
5 Win 5–0 Genevia Buckhalter TKO 2 (4), 1:22 2000-04-27 Hammerstein Ballroom, New York, New York
4 Win 4–0 Lana Jock KO 1 (4), 0:52 2000-03-24 UAW Hall, Parma, Ohio
3 Win 3–0 Nicolyn Armstrong KO 1 (4), 0:59 2000-03-11 National Guard Armory, Findlay, Ohio
2 Win 2–0 Mattie Brumley TKO 1 (4), 1:20 2000-02-29 Pepsi Coliseum, Indianapolis, Indiana
1 Win 1–0 Faye Steffen KO 1 (4), 1:45 2000-01-15 Civic Center, La Porte, Indiana Professional debut.
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References
  1. "OHSBC MS. BASKETBALL". Archived from the original on February 7, 2009. Retrieved June 21, 2009.
  2. "1993 WOMEN'S R. WILLIAM JONES CUP". Retrieved August 3, 2014.
  3. Maik Grossekathöfer (October 21, 2005). "Ann versus the Man: Boxing's Battle of the Sexes - SPIEGEL ONLINE". Spiegel.de. Retrieved February 3, 2014.
  4. "Ann Wolfe scares the crap out of us · Interview · The A.V. Club". Avclub.com. Retrieved February 3, 2014.
  5. http://nordoniahills.news/vics-hometown-hero-vonda-ward/
  6. "Vonda Ward, Women's Heavyweight Champ, Retires - Yahoo Voices". voices.yahoo.com. May 8, 2004. Retrieved February 3, 2014.
Sporting positions
World boxing titles
New title WBC female heavyweight champion
February 2, 2007 – 2010
Retired		 Vacant
Title next held by
Martha Salazar
Preceded by
Flor Maria Delgado (Vacated)		 WIBA Heavyweight Champion
2007-02-10 – present		 Succeeded by
Current
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