Oh Mya—Here Comes Sumya (Sue-My-A) by Tom Foley

Today’s trivia question: What current female boxer holds four titles in three weight divisions? Think Sumya Anani, who Midwest boxing promoter Tony Holden refers to as “The best female fighter on the planet.”

Anani, who had no amateur experience whatsoever, currently has a sparkling record of 21-1-1 9 KOs, including an unanimous 10-round decision over Christy Martin, aka The Coal Miners Daughter”, who is perhaps the diva of women’s boxing. Martin, who at a recent boxing card in Phoenix, openly challenged the undefeated Lucia Rijker, appears to have forgotten that she lost her bout with Anani, and the match that many fight fans would relish with gusto would be a Rijker-Anani bout, which considering the respective boxing styles of each should be a real burn burner similar to the likes of the Graziano-Zale triage way back when.

While Anani holds titles in the lightweight, junior welter and welterweight divisions, she is considering giving up the 135 lb belt because of problems making the weight. The titles she currently holds are: 135 lb IBA, 140 LB WIBA , 140 LB GBU and 147 lb IBA.

Some of you old time boxing fans will remember the late, great Henry ( Hammering Hank) Armstrong, who also had the nickname of Pertual Motion, was on the short end of a decision, which many boxing experts of the day thought he should of won, against Ceferino Garcia, a Flippio buzzaw who was the world champion of the day.

Suyma’s nickname of “The Island Girl” came about because of her one time residency on the island of Jamaica . She resided there with her well-behaved 12-year old son, Matthew, who says his sports interest at the present time is football.

The lone blemish on Anani’s record was a split decision loss to St. Louis Homey, Britt Van Buskirk, in a bout held in the city by the Arc. She later defeated Van Buskirk on two occasions after that bout.

Sumya’s bout with Martin was originally scheduled to be shown on ESPN at the Las Vegas Hilton, but was cancelled three hours prior to the fight by the promoter. The bout was then held three weeks later in Ft Lauderdale, FL.

Anani, Accompanied by her trainer and former boxer Barry Becker, has appeared on cards in Waco, Detroit, Ft Lauderdale, Oklahoma City, Tulsa and recently appeared on a card at the Park Place Hotel in her home town of Kansas City. In that bout she stopped Stacy Prestage in 4 rounds. Anania also holds wins over such stellar women boxers as Andrea De Shong , Liz Mueller and two wins over the veteran Dora Weber, One half of a twin sister act, maybe the only one in boxing.

For her day job, Sumya teaches Yoga and also a Kids Craft course for 6 – 12 year olds.

Here’s hoping that Anani, who is an avid believer in horoscopes will see her star rise and culminate in an Anani – Rijker bout very soon.