Two Daughters of Boxing Legends fight on Father’s Day – by Sue TL Fox

Photo by Mary Ann Owen

On Father’s Day, June 18, 2000, at the Regent Hotel, in Las Vegas, Nevada there were two daughters, 23-year-old Freeda Foreman and 34 year-old Maria Johansson, who made their pro debut, along with some male bouts that were sons of famous boxing fathers.  The fights were televised on Fox Sports Net.

Freeda Foreman’s dad, George Foreman was a “no show” at the event. He had even given his daughter  $15,000, the same amount as her purse to keep her from stepping in to the squared circle. But, Freeda did not cash the check.

Freeda is the fourth daughter of George Foreman, and he was quoted in the news saying that he was relieved when he found out that her first opponent would be Laquanda Landers, (according to news sources) a fighter who was KO’d by the 48-year “old”  grandma who boxed Laila Ali this last week on June 15.

Maria Johansson’s father, Ingemar Johansson’s was in Sweden waiting to get the results and was not present, but he supports his daughter decision to box by telling her, “you have my blessings.”

First fight on the card – Light Heavyweight

Freeda Foreman (180) vs. Laquanda Landers (168) Purse:  Foreman $15,000  Landers:  $1,000 Four-rounds

Laquanda Landers weighed in at 168 lbs, and Freeda was 180 lbs.  The Fox announcer said that Landers was making her pro debut in boxing, but  news sources reported that Landers was KO’d by Marjorie Jones when Frye had made her pro debut.

ROUND ONE

Freeda Foreman throws a couple of punches and on the third punch she knocks landers down.  Landers know nothing about boxing.  She blocks with her chin, and both fighters look like a couple of egg beater flailing at each other out of sequence.

ROUND TWO

Landers hit Foreman at the beginning of the round. Both fighters continue to flail as in some hair-pulling street fight.  Landers continues to  block with her head, literally, chin up, hands down, and if she was hit, looked like she could fall over by blowing on her.  Foreman got some good punches in due to what I have listed as Landers lack of abilities, and the fight is stopped. Foreman won by a TKO. * Prediction for Landers–she will pad many fighters records in the future.  Don’t know where she came from, but she is NOT a boxer, and does not appear to train, or know the slightest thing about boxing.

Second Fight:   Johannson vs. Kerrie Frye

ROUND ONE

What a difference from the first women’s match of this card!Maria throws the first jab, but Frye is  faster, and more polished in the ring. The announcer says,  “Frye looks like a fighter here”.  Maria punches hard and has great abilities for a new boxer.  Frye is obviously way more experienced and one can only wonder why Johansson was dealt a tough fighter as Frye who has 4 ko’s to her record as of this date?  Regardless, Maria has great skills, and is very tough!

ROUND TWO

Frye goes after Maria, and Maria is knocked down.  Maria takes up to the nine-count and then gets up. Frye continues to go after Maria.  Maria is hurt again and her nose is now bleeding profusely.   Maria is fatigued and she is starting to drop her hands.  Frye has a great right hand and has landed some of those on Maria in this round.

ROUND THREE

Maria immediately comes out with some jabs.  She also throws some body shot.   Both fighters try hard but they both appear to be a little tired.  Maria throws some good combinations, especially in light of the fact that she is a new fighter.

ROUND FOUR

Maria’s face is very bloody, and the Fox announcer makes a comment about how they should have cleaned some of the blood off of her face. The fighters are still a little tired, but throw lots of combinations.  The fight ends with the judges needing to make a decision…. When the announcer said that it was a split decision the crow signed in disbelief.  The score: 39-36 Frye, 38-39  Maria, and 39-36 Frye.

Comments by TL Fox:  The fight was an “excellent” performance from both fighters. This is the first fight that has gone the distance for Frye, all four of her wins ended in all KO’s, and her fluke of a loss came from Marjorie Jones who wildly hit her and the fight was stopped when she was hit in the neck area, when she was making her pro debut.

Post interview of Frye:   Frye said she was mad when heard it was a split. Frye said that when  she knocked Maria down that all she could think was “go down baby, go down, I have to see my daddy too.”  Frye went on to say, to “Get the rest of the daughters lined up.  I can take Freeda right now if she is still in her trunks.”

Maria’s post interview:  The Fox commentator said to her, that it was a tough test,  and asked if she was okay. Maria said, “I’m okay”.  Maria went on to say, “It’s my debut and I have not been in the ring with a lot of folks.”  The Fox commentator asked her  if anything happened tonight that surprised her.  Maria said that there was no surprises, and that “Sometimes you have to lose. ”  Maria said that she will continue to train and box.