Andrea DeShong

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]

Andrea DeShong
Statistics
Weight(s)lightweight
Height5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
NationalityAmerican
Born (1962-03-16) March 16, 1962
Mingo Junction, Ohio, United States
StanceOrthodox
Boxing record
Total fights24
Wins13
Draws1

Professional career

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

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

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

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 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.

Professional boxing record
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
  1. "Brightest Stars at Garden Are the Women". The New York Times. 21 August 1996. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  2. Smith, Malissa (5 June 2014). A History of Women's Boxing. Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN 9781442229952. Retrieved 1 May 2017 – via Google Books.
  3. "Martin Takes Unwanted Break". Retrieved 2 May 2017.
  4. "The Tyson-Holyfield boxing pre-party". Entertainment Weekly. 11 July 1997. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  5. "Columnist Dean Juipe: No love lost between these women fighters". 26 June 1997. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
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