Theresa Arnold
Encyclopedia
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
. Only three of her seventeen bouts were held outside the Northwest United States
area, however, a fact that might have prevented her from becoming a larger celebrity. Arnold was one of the figures that helped make the city of Worley
a "mecca
" of women's boxing.
On November 29, 1995, she beat Carol Stinson by a decision in four rounds in Washington, marking her professional boxing
debut. On December 8, she beat Dolores Lira, also by decision, in what marked her debut at her home state. Nineteen days later, she beat the well known Kim Messer, also by decision.
On May 17, 1996, she got her first knockout
win, when she stopped Robyn Lopez in three rounds at Caldwell
, a small Idaho town. On July 27 of that year, she defeated Suzanne Riccio-Major
by an eight round unanimous decision, and then, five days later, she beat Sue Chase, also by decision, but over four rounds instead.
On September 19 of that year, one day before her 34th. birthday, Arnold got what was perhaps the strangest win of her career: fighting outside the Northwest for the first time, she earned a disqualification win when her opponent, Bridgett Riley
, lost her contact lenses and was disqualified after five rounds of boxing. Disappointed about the outcome of that fight, Riley retired from boxing for some time, a fact that would later prove vital in a rematch.
A win and a draw (tie) against Katherine Etheridge followed, before Arnold and Riley were rematched. On May 17, 1997, exactly one year after her first knockout win and in her second fight outside the Northwest, she got her second knockout victory when she defeated Riley in their Indio, California
rematch, with a sisth round stoppage.
She followed that win with a first round knockout over Kim Young fourteen days later, and another victory over Sue Chase.
On November 12, of that year, she had her first world championship try, when she faced Para Draine
for the IBA's world Bantamweight title, in Worley. Arnold became world champion when she outpointed Draine over ten rounds, taking a split decision victory.
On January 10, 1998, Arnold tried to unify her IBA world title with the WIBF
's vacant world Bantamweight title, but she suffered her only career loss that night, being knocked out in seven rounds by Eva Jones
, in Atlantic City, New Jersey
. This was Arnold's only Eastern coast fight.
Arnold had two more wins before deciding to retire, but they were both significant because of different reasons: on April 1, 1998, she achieved another first round knockout, this time over Deanna Wyman, in Worley. And on her last fight, she defeated another well known female boxer, Sonya Emery
, on September 23, by an eight round split decision.
Arnold retired with a record of 15 wins, 1 loss and 1 draw, with 4 wins by knockout.
Boise, Idaho
Boise is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Idaho, as well as the county seat of Ada County. Located on the Boise River, it anchors the Boise City-Nampa metropolitan area and is the largest city between Salt Lake City, Utah and Portland, Oregon.As of the 2010 Census Bureau,...
, she still lives in her hometown.
Arnold was important in women's boxing
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...
popularity rise in Idaho
Idaho
Idaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state....
. Only three of her seventeen bouts were held outside the Northwest United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
area, however, a fact that might have prevented her from becoming a larger celebrity. Arnold was one of the figures that helped make the city of Worley
Worley, Idaho
Worley is a city in southwestern Kootenai County, Idaho, United States. The population was 223 at the 2000 census. The city is within the Coeur d'Alene Indian Reservation.-Geography:...
a "mecca
Mecca
Mecca is a city in the Hijaz and the capital of Makkah province in Saudi Arabia. The city is located inland from Jeddah in a narrow valley at a height of above sea level...
" of women's boxing.
On November 29, 1995, she beat Carol Stinson by a decision in four rounds in Washington, marking her 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...
debut. On December 8, she beat Dolores Lira, also by decision, in what marked her debut at her home state. Nineteen days later, she beat the well known Kim Messer, also by decision.
On May 17, 1996, she got her first 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 stopped Robyn Lopez in three rounds at Caldwell
Caldwell, Idaho
Caldwell is a city in and the county seat of Canyon County, Idaho, United States. The U.S. Census Bureau estimated the population to be 43,281, as of July 2009.Caldwell is the home of the College of Idaho. It is considered part of the Boise metropolitan area....
, a small Idaho town. On July 27 of that year, she defeated Suzanne Riccio-Major
Suzanne Riccio-Major
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....
by an eight round unanimous decision, and then, five days later, she beat Sue Chase, also by decision, but over four rounds instead.
On September 19 of that year, one day before her 34th. birthday, Arnold got what was perhaps the strangest win of her career: fighting outside the Northwest for the first time, she earned a disqualification win when her opponent, Bridgett Riley
Bridgett Riley
Bridgett Riley is a female boxer and motion picture stuntwoman from Oakville, Missouri. While working as a stewardess for an airline she decided to learn martial arts. The interest in the sport came from her brother Patrick's strong interest in mixed martial arts. She trained with her brother and...
, lost her contact lenses and was disqualified after five rounds of boxing. Disappointed about the outcome of that fight, Riley retired from boxing for some time, a fact that would later prove vital in a rematch.
A win and a draw (tie) against Katherine Etheridge followed, before Arnold and Riley were rematched. On May 17, 1997, exactly one year after her first knockout win and in her second fight outside the Northwest, she got her second knockout victory when she defeated Riley in their Indio, California
Indio, California
Indio is a city in Riverside County, California, United States, located in the Coachella Valley of Southern California's Colorado Desert region. It lies east of Palm Springs, east of Riverside, and east of Los Angeles. It is about north of Mexicali, Baja California on the U.S.-Mexican border...
rematch, with a sisth round stoppage.
She followed that win with a first round knockout over Kim Young fourteen days later, and another victory over Sue Chase.
On November 12, of that year, she had her first world championship try, when she faced Para Draine
Para Draine
Para Draine is an American female boxer who has been a world champion two times. She is a former 112 pounds and current 115 pound champion. Draine stands 5 feet eight inches tall, making her relatively tall for a boxer of her weight.Draine's nicknames are "Hurricane" and "The Spokane Spike"...
for the IBA's world Bantamweight title, in Worley. Arnold became world champion when she outpointed Draine over ten rounds, taking a split decision victory.
On January 10, 1998, Arnold tried to unify her IBA world title with 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 vacant world Bantamweight title, but she suffered her only career loss that night, being knocked out in seven rounds by Eva Jones
Eva Jones
Eva Jones-Young , better known as Eva Jones or under her nickname Sweet Magic, is a former female boxer from the United States....
, in Atlantic City, New Jersey
Atlantic City, New Jersey
Atlantic City is a city in Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States, and a nationally renowned resort city for gambling, shopping and fine dining. The city also served as the inspiration for the American version of the board game Monopoly. Atlantic City is located on Absecon Island on the coast...
. This was Arnold's only Eastern coast fight.
Arnold had two more wins before deciding to retire, but they were both significant because of different reasons: on April 1, 1998, she achieved another first round knockout, this time over Deanna Wyman, in Worley. And on her last fight, she defeated another well known female boxer, Sonya Emery
Sonya Emery
Sonya Anne Emery , better known plainly as Sonya Emery, is a former female boxer who boxed professionally from 1997 to 1998....
, on September 23, by an eight round split decision.
Arnold retired with a record of 15 wins, 1 loss and 1 draw, with 4 wins by knockout.