IWBHF 2022 Inductees! Hannah Fox vs. Fredia Gibbs first Vegas Fight WBAN ever covered!

(JAN 16)  This will truly be the most surreal part of the upcoming International Women’s Boxing Hall of Fame  Induction Ceremony event that takes place on Saturday, October 22, 2022, at the Orleans Hotel & Casino, in Las Vegas, Nevada!

Here is a little trivia for the boxing folks that have followed WBAN for many years on the net—over 23 years now, believe it or not!

Many have asked or wondered, WHY did I choose the ORLEANS HOTEL & CASINO, in LAS VEGAS, NEVADA as our International Women’s Boxing Hall of Fame event, that we are holding annually.

Well, let me tell you a little story behind that…..

When WBAN came into existence in May of 1998—one of the FIRST-EVER fights that I covered in Las Vegas, was Hannah “The Vegas” Fox vs. Fredia “The Cheetah” Gibbs.

The bout was scheduled  for six-rounds—being televised on ESPN, at the ORLEANS HOTEL & CASINO!

What an experience—–that as they say was truly “priceless”.  WBAN still has the one handwrap of Fredia Gibbs that she had on when fighting Fox.

Gibbs won the fight that night by a unanimous decision—but for women’s boxing, they both were winners for the sport.

Needless to say, I was literally blown away at this fight and the TALENT that both Fox and Gibbs displayed in a war for boxing fans to see female boxing.

The fight was so impressive, that Fox and Gibbs were invited onto the  Roseanne Barr show doing a fun exhibition with the star. 

So…with all of this said…this is why it is “Surreal” for 2022 at the International Women’s Boxing Hall of Fame.

It was this first fight I ever covered in boxing in Vegas, at the hotel that I now have as our IWBHF Home for our events.  It means so much to me personally to have our event with the historical footprints of WBAN.

By the way….this was also the first time I met Las Vegas photographer and 2020 IWBHF Hall of Famer Mary Ann Owen.  She was covering this fight with Fox vs. Gibbs in 1999.

Owen told WBAN, “I met Hannah when I did an interview for a local Boxing magazine Ringside Review in 1997—-and I was amazed that she was one of eleven children. Besides being a wife and mother she owned and operated several Subway Sandwich Shops in Las Vegas.”

“She had a martial arts background in Judo and Karate and decided to make the transition to boxing.  Hannah was extremely popular at the Orleans Hotel and Casino.  It was a packed house for her pro debut against Hidi Tibe in 1997, and for every fight she fought at the Orleans, I covered every one of her fights including her Championship fight in Bossier City ,Louisiana.  Hannah has always been an inspiration for me and many women in sports”, added Owen.

Shelley Williams, another 2020 IWBHF Hall of Famer said the following about Fox, “Having my Fighter inducted to the INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S BOXING HALL OF FAME is a dream come true for me. I have had the pleasure of representing many World Champions in my day, but this young warrior was something very special. She sported a potent and accurate jab, good head movement, excellent defense and power in both fists. Her boxing style was simple, classic and well executed, and her work ethic was unparalleled. My Champion, Hannah “The Vegas” Fox, is now and forevermore shall be my pride and my joy.”

I look forward to having Hannah Fox and Fredia Gibbs, two of our 2022 IWBHF Inductees being honored this year at our scheduled event!

For more information on our event, online tickets, special room code for host hotel, go here

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