Sunshine Fettkether: Weight a Minute – Story by Bernie McCoy

(OCT 15, 2003) Sunshine Fettkether has made the most successful transition from kickboxing to the boxing ring of any athlete in the sport. Sunshine Fettkether has fought and defeated some of the top women boxers including Mitzi Jeter and Lisa Holewyne. On Saturday, last, in a casino near Lake Charles, LA, Sunshine Fettkether stepped up in both class and weight and went eight hard fought rounds against Ann Wolfe. While Wolfe was a decisive winner, Fettkether “hung in” for the full eight rounds and according to ringside observers had “several moments” against the winner. For the performance on Saturday against Wolfe and for her successful transition from kickboxing to boxing, Fettkether deserves significant plaudits.

It was therefore, a bit disappointing when, following the decision, the Fettkether camp saw fit to emphasize not the quality of the bout or the skill with which both Wolfe and Fettkether acquitted themselves in the ring, but rather to emphasize the fact that Wolfe maintained a significant weight advantage over Fettkether. That particular fact is, indeed, true. Fettkether weighed in for the fight at 152, Wolfe came in at 162 (there was a report that Wolfe “ran off” a pound following the initial weigh-in). The agreed “catchweight” for the bout was 158. There is simply no excuse for Wolfe not making that weight, in fact missing the agreed weight by four pounds.

The Fettkether camp would have been entirely within their rights to insist that either Wolfe “sweat down” to 158 or forfeit the fight. To their credit, the Fettkether management agreed to go ahead with the bout, despite Wolfe’s big weight advantage. Two points seem pertinent at this juncture: Once the Fettkether management agreed to go ahead with the bout, the complaining time about the weight was over. It stopped being an issue once both fighters agreed to step into the ring and answer the bell for Round 1. A more curious point is, why was Fettkether at 152, a full six pounds under the agreed weight, for the bout.

A fighter is certainly permitted to come into the ring at whatever weight she feels most comfortable. Also, as stated, Wolfe was under a contractual obligation to make 158. However, when the Fettkether camp, after the bout, makes an issue of the ten pound weight disparity, it is only fair to rejoinder that while a ten pound advantage is a huge edge, it is likewise true that had Fettkether taken advantage of the the bout’s weight limit, the advantage would have been four pounds (or three if the report of Wolfe getting to 161 is accurate). In any event, the weight issue was no longer an issue once both fighters agreed to go ahead with the bout. Here’s a thought, lets celebrate what was a wonderful bout in Louisiana on Saturday and a marquee poster for the sport of Women’s boxing.

Both Ann Wolfe and Sunshine Fettkether make the “group photo” when the best female boxers are gathered together. Both fighters came out of Lake Charles with their boxing reputations enhanced and should have no trouble finding future quality competition. Wolfe, hopefully, has a future date with Laila Ali. Fettkether could, conceivably, matchup in “main event” type bouts with the likes of Sumya Anani, Lucia Rijker or Jane Couch. Both Ann Wolfe and Sunshine Fettkether can look forward to a bright future in the sport, lets not “weigh down” that future with a non-issue.

WBAN Received a response from the FETTKETHER TEAM in regards to this article, they said the following:  “We weren’t complaining at all about Wolfe being overweight. If it had been that much of an issue we would not have taken the fight. We just wanted everyone to know the weight difference since no weights from the weigh-ins were posted on any site. We are very happy that we took the fight despite the outcome. Sunshine is back in the gym training for her next fight at the Celebrity Theater in Phoenix on November 6, opponent TBA. If anyone is interested in taking that fight, they can call me at (602) 448-8791. Weight 147 – 154.”