Suzanne Riccio-Major
Encyclopedia
Suzanne Riccio-Major also known as Suzanne Riccio, is a former female boxer who fought two times for world titles. She also competed against many of women's boxing
top fighters.
Riccio-Major was born in Pittsfield, Massachusetts
in 1963. She began her career in professional boxing
at the age of twenty-six, when she and Andrea Buchanan drew (tied) after five rounds on November 1, 1989, at Bristol, Tennessee
. Riccio Major obtained her first victory, a five round decision win over Stacey Prestage, on her second bout, held on November 17, 1990 in Fort Myers, Florida
.
For her third bout, held on February 25, 1991, also at Bristol, she met young rising star Christy Martin, who dealt Riccio her first loss, beating her by a five round decision.
Riccio then took five years away from boxing, deciding to return during the dawn of the often called "golden era of women's boxing", when she took on Sue Chase on June 3, 1996, at Warrensville Heights, Ohio
. The then thirty three year old Riccio won by a five round decision. On July 27, she lost to Theresa Arnold
by an eight round decision at Rochester, Washington
.
On January 17, 1997, Riccio-Major earned her first, and only, professional boxing knockout
win, when she defeated Patricia Simms in the first round, at Waukegan, Illinois
.
After that victory, she was offered her first shot at a world championship, when she met Cheryl Robertson, on February 3, for the WIBF
's world bantamweight title. Riccio-Major lost by a ten round decision, in New Orleans
.
Immediately after that title shot, Riccio-Major was offered another world title try, when she fought with the IFBA world Flyweight champion. Yvonne Trevino
, in Biloxi
. Once again, she lost by a ten round decision.
After that defeat, she scored three wins in a row, two against Karina Hernandez Gastelum. She suffered, however, a three fight losing streak after those three wins, being defeated by "Downtown Leona Brown
" on points, by Trevino in a rematch by knockout in five rounds, and to Kathy Williams in her only fight abroad, on points. The fight with Williams was held in Canada
.
On July 28 of 2000, she got her last career win, beating Larissa Smith in Boston by a six round decision. After losing to Jamillia Lawrence by knockout in two on August 25 of that year in Saratoga, New York
, she retired from boxing.
Riccio-Major had 7 wins, 8 losses and one draw in professional boxing, with one win by knockout.
Women's boxing
Women's boxing first appeared in the Olympic Games at a demonstration bout in 1902. For most of the 20th century, however, it was banned in most nations. Its revival was pioneered by the Swedish Amateur Boxing Association, which sanctioned events for women in 1988. The British Amateur Boxing...
top fighters.
Riccio-Major was born in Pittsfield, Massachusetts
Pittsfield, Massachusetts
Pittsfield is the largest city and the county seat of Berkshire County, Massachusetts, United States. It is the principal city of the Pittsfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area which encompasses all of Berkshire County. Its area code is 413. Its ZIP code is 01201...
in 1963. She began her career in professional boxing
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
at the age of twenty-six, when she and Andrea Buchanan drew (tied) after five rounds on November 1, 1989, at Bristol, Tennessee
Bristol, Tennessee
Bristol is a city in Sullivan County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 26,702 at the 2010 census. It is the twin city of Bristol, Virginia, which lies directly across the state line between Tennessee and Virginia. The boundaries of both cities run parallel to each other along State...
. Riccio Major obtained her first victory, a five round decision win over Stacey Prestage, on her second bout, held on November 17, 1990 in Fort Myers, Florida
Fort Myers, Florida
Fort Myers is the county seat and commercial center of Lee County, Florida, United States. Its population was 62,298 in the 2010 census, a 29.23 percent increase over the 2000 figure....
.
For her third bout, held on February 25, 1991, also at Bristol, she met young rising star Christy Martin, who dealt Riccio her first loss, beating her by a five round decision.
Riccio then took five years away from boxing, deciding to return during the dawn of the often called "golden era of women's boxing", when she took on Sue Chase on June 3, 1996, at Warrensville Heights, Ohio
Warrensville Heights, Ohio
Warrensville Heights is a city in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, United States. The population was 13,542 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Warrensville Heights is located at ....
. The then thirty three year old Riccio won by a five round decision. On July 27, she lost to Theresa Arnold
Theresa Arnold
Theresa Arnold is a female boxer who beat a number of name fighters during her career. A native of Boise, Idaho, she still lives in her hometown.Arnold was important in women's boxing popularity rise in Idaho...
by an eight round decision at Rochester, Washington
Rochester, Washington
Rochester is a census-designated place in Thurston County, Washington, United States. It was founded in 1852, and the 2000 census recorded its population at 1,829. According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 2.3 square miles , all of it land. Rochester Schools...
.
On January 17, 1997, Riccio-Major earned her first, and only, professional boxing knockout
Knockout
A knockout is a fight-ending, winning criterion in several full-contact combat sports, such as boxing, kickboxing, Muay Thai, mixed martial arts, Karate and others sports involving striking...
win, when she defeated Patricia Simms in the first round, at Waukegan, Illinois
Waukegan, Illinois
Waukegan is a city and county seat of Lake County, Illinois. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 87,901. The 2010 population was 89,078. It is the ninth-largest city in Illinois by population...
.
After that victory, she was offered her first shot at a world championship, when she met Cheryl Robertson, on February 3, for the WIBF
Women's International Boxing Federation
The WIBF is, along with the WIBA, IWBF and others, one of the more recognized world championship fight sanctioning organizations in women's boxing. The organization is based in Miami, Florida, and is not associated with male boxing's IBF.The WIBF was formed in the middle 1990s. It is presided by...
's world bantamweight title. Riccio-Major lost by a ten round decision, in New Orleans
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
.
Immediately after that title shot, Riccio-Major was offered another world title try, when she fought with the IFBA world Flyweight champion. Yvonne Trevino
Yvonne Trevino
Yvonne Trevino , is a former women's kickboxing and boxing champion from Peoria, Arizona.-Background:Yvonne Trevino very popular among boxing and kickboxing fans during the 1990s, especially in the Southwestern United States and in her Native home state of Arizona. Her popularity led her to have a...
, in Biloxi
Biloxi, Mississippi
Biloxi is a city in Harrison County, Mississippi, in the United States. The 2010 census recorded the population as 44,054. Along with Gulfport, Biloxi is a county seat of Harrison County....
. Once again, she lost by a ten round decision.
After that defeat, she scored three wins in a row, two against Karina Hernandez Gastelum. She suffered, however, a three fight losing streak after those three wins, being defeated by "Downtown Leona Brown
Leona Brown
Leona Brown is a female boxer who is the WIBC world Bantamweight champion. Because of her age, many consider her to be "the George Foreman of women's boxing"...
" on points, by Trevino in a rematch by knockout in five rounds, and to Kathy Williams in her only fight abroad, on points. The fight with Williams was held in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
.
On July 28 of 2000, she got her last career win, beating Larissa Smith in Boston by a six round decision. After losing to Jamillia Lawrence by knockout in two on August 25 of that year in Saratoga, New York
Saratoga, New York
Saratoga is a town in Saratoga County, New York, United States. The population was 5,141 at the 2000 census. It is also the commonly used, but not official, name for the neighboring and much more populous city, Saratoga Springs. The major village in the town of Saratoga is Schuylerville which is...
, she retired from boxing.
Riccio-Major had 7 wins, 8 losses and one draw in professional boxing, with one win by knockout.