Fredia Gibbs

Fredia "The Cheetah" Gibbs (born July 8, 1963), is an American former professional martial artist, kickboxer, and boxer who competed from 1975–2005. During her kickboxing career, she held ISKA, WKA, and WKF World Titles. Before her kickboxing career, she won three world titles in Tae Kwon Do and was an All-American in basketball and track.

Fredia Gibbs
Born (1963-07-08) July 8, 1963
Chester, Pennsylvania, United States
Other namesCheetah / Lady Jack Johnson
NationalityAmerican
Height5 ft 7 in (1.70 m)
Weight135 lb (61 kg; 9.6 st)
DivisionLightweight
Welterweight
Reach70.0 in (178 cm)
StyleBoxing, Muay Thai Kickboxing
StanceOrthodox
Fighting out ofNorth Hollywood, California, United States
TeamMuay Thai Academy of North Hollywood
TrainerKickboxing: Saekson Janjira, David Krapes, Ruben Urquidez,
Boxing: Randy Shields, Terry Claybon, Bill Slayton
Rank  black belt in Taekwondo
Years active1975-2005
Professional boxing record
Total12
Wins9
Losses2
Draws1
Kickboxing record
Total17
Wins16
By knockout15
Losses0
Draws1
Other information
Boxing record from BoxRec

Gibbs made Black History when she became the first African-American female Kickboxing ISKA World Champion. She earned the name "The Most Dangerous Woman in the World" after an upset in 1994 in her fight against World Champion Valérie Wiet-Henin of France in the "Battle of the Masters" Pay Per View Event in San Jose, California.[1] She went on to become one of the most dominant champions of all time and remains a significant historical figure in light and superlightweight kickboxing divisions. She competed from 1991–1997, amassing a record of 16 wins, 0 losses, and 15 KOs, and three world titles. She also competed as a top contender in women's professional boxing from 1997–2005 with a record of 9 wins, 2 losses, and 1 draw.[2] She wrote The Fredia Gibbs Story about her life on 2016.

Early years

Fredia Gibbs was born in Chester, Pennsylvania. She was given the nickname "The Cheetah" at school due to her performance in track. Chester High School named their track team "Chester's Cheetahs" after Gibbs.[3]

After high school, Gibbs attended Temple University in Philadelphia where she was the recipient of two athletic scholarships in basketball and track. She attended Cabrini University on a basketball scholarship. She was invited to the United States Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs to try out for the women's United States women's national basketball team but was cut during the second tryouts. Gibbs was selected Kodak All American for three consecutive years for basketball at Cabrini University where she majored in Marketing. She went on to play professional basketball in Germany, averaging almost 30 points, 15 rebounds, and 10 assist a season.

Karate career

Gibbs began her instruction in Jeet Kune Do/Aikido fight style at Quiet Storm Martial Arts School in Chester, Pennsylvania. She learned martial arts to rebuild her self confidence and self esteem, which suffered as a result of being bullied. She was trained by a group of lethal martial artists, lawyers, judges, doctors, business leaders, and blue collar workers. She continued to train and compete under Quiet Storm throughout high school and college, and she won three world championships in Tae Kwon Do by the time she graduated from Cabrini, with the last World Championship won in St. Petersburg, Florida, against an undefeated champion from Puerto Rico. Throughout these years, she competed and became a World Champion in martial arts while simultaneously excelling as an All-American in basketball and track.[4]

Basketball career

From the age of 12 until 1988, Gibbs competed in basketball. She was credited with turning a winless program at Chester High School into a Division Champion, District Champion, and State Semi-finalist while earning All-County, All-State, and All-American honors. She averaged 28 points, 5 rebounds, and 10 assists in her senior year. In 1981, she received dual scholarships in basketball and track to Temple University. After competing at Temple for one season, she lost her scholarship in 1982 due to academics and withdrew.

After completing her collegiate basketball career at Cabrini, Gibbs was hired to play professional basketball for Team Etzella in Luxembourg in the European Women's Professional Basketball League. She led Etzella to its first European Cup while leading the team in scoring and rebounding.[5]

Muay Thai kickboxing career

In 1990, after moving to North Hollywood, California, Gibbs took up kickboxing at the Benny Urquidez's The Jet Kickboxing Training Center under the instruction of Rubin Urquidez and David Krapes. After that she studied Muay Thai Kickboxing under the instruction of Bangkok, Thailand Sur Puk & Saekson Janjira of the Muay Thai Academy of America in North Hollywood. Her Muay Thai manager was Felice Levair. She had studied martial arts at Quiet Storm under the instruction of Master Rick Berry, Mr. Brown and her uncle William Groce in Chester, Pennsylvania.

She amassed a kickboxing record of 16-0-1 with 15 KOs. Her only draw came from an exhibition fight with a male opponent. She beat the Most Dangerous Woman in the World from France Valerie Henin in "The Battle of the Masters" PPV show to win the ISKA World Championship in April 1994; this made Gibbs the first African American female to hold the world kickboxing championship for the International Sport Karate Association.[6][7]

Professional boxing career

In 1997, Gibbs started boxing professionally. Her record was 9-2-1 (2 KO). She made her boxing debut January 23, 1997 in a four-round decision over Maria Fortaleza Recinos. Due to unfortunate scheduling, Gibbs entered the title fight against Leah Mellinger during the time she was filming the movie Knockout. The intense film schedule combined with the cross-country flight from Los Angeles to Atlantic City, New Jersey, was less than ideal, and Gibbs suffered her first loss. Gibbs said the loss to Mellinger inspired her to intensify her training to resume her journey to the top.

On January 15, 1999, Gibbs handed Las Vegas hometown favorite Hannah Fox her first loss in a six-round unanimous decision, shown live on ESPN2. On November 16, 2001, Gibbs fought a highly anticipated WIBA world title fight against Sumya Anani, who had defeated former champion Christy Martin. Gibbs and Anani fought an exciting ten-round majority draw, which left the 140-lb WIBA World Title vacant. The Gibbs-Anani rematch occurred April 28, 2003, and Gibbs was unable to answer the bell for the second round with an injury to her right hand, yielding the victory to Anani. Disappointed in the outcome, Gibbs explained "I came in ready to win this fight, but Sumya is a strong fighter and I was not prepared to fight her with only my left hand." Following the fight, Gibbs announced her retirement from boxing.[3][8]

Acting and modelling

Gibbs has also worked as an actress and a sports model for Sebastian International Sports Department. She has been featured in Black Achievers, Black Belt, Delco Times, Inside Karate, Jet, Los Angeles Sentinel, The Philadelphia Inquirer, Sports Illustrated for Women, and Upscale Magazine. In 2000, Gibbs played the villain Tanya "Terminator" Tessario in the film Knockout. In 1996, she had a cameo in an episode of "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air."[9][3]

About Gibbs Today
Fredia Gibbs first World Championship belt and other memorabilia on display at the Sports Legends Museum of Delaware County, PA, with the museum director

Her fight gear is displayed at the Sports Legend of Delaware County Museum, dedicated to preserving the history and memory of Delaware County Sports Legends. She is an author, celebrity trainer, philanthropist, motivational speaker, and radio host. In 2016–2017 she was honored and participated in the Orange County Heritage Black History Parade and was nominated to attend the United State of Women summit hosted by the White House.

In 2016 Gibbs was named one of the Top Ten Greatest African American Female Athletes of All time for Kickboxing.[10]

Championships and accomplishments
Fredia Gibbs with members of Chester, PA City Council as she receives Proclamation recognizing her lifetime achievements, July 11, 2018
  • 1986–1988 3-time World Tae Kwon Do Champion
  • 1994–2001 ISKA World Kickboxing Champion (2 defenses)
  • 1995–1999 WKA World Kickboxing Champion (2 defenses)
  • 1996–2000 WCK World Kickboxing Champion (2 defenses)
  • 2015–2016 Featured in Orange County Black History Heritage Parade
  • 2015 Hall of Fame Inductee for Basketball at Chester High School
  • 2016 AOCA Awakening Outstanding Contribution Award
  • 2016 Hall of Fame Inductee for Track & Field at Chester High School
  • 2016 Inducted into Mickey Vernon Sports Legend Museum–Delaware County Black History
  • 2016 Selected as the Greatest African American Female Athlete of All Time for Kickboxing
  • 2017 Her ISKA World Championship Belt was Inducted into the Sports Legends Of Delaware County Museum in Radnor, Pa September 17, 2017
  • 2018 Honored as one of the greatest female athletes in Philadelphia history, held at Temple University in Philadelphia, Pa on August 18, 2018
  • 2018 Given the Key to the City of her hometown, Chester, Pennsylvania by the Mayor and City of Council, on July 11, 2018[4][10][9][3]

Kickboxing record
Kickboxing and Muay Thai record (incomplete)
Kickboxing record 16 wins (15 KOs), 0 losses, 1 draws
Muay Thai record 8 wins (? KOs), 0 losses, 0 draws
DateResultOpponentEventLocationMethodRoundTimeRecord
1996-02-03Win Tammy Jo LeazierMuay Thai eventLos Angeles, California, USTKO
1995-08-11Win Arlene SanchezReno, Nevada, USTKO (retirement)5
Retains the ISKA World Super Lightweight (−62.3 kg/137 lb) Full Contact Championship.
1995-?-?Win Allison JaegerLos Angeles, California, USTKO (low kicks)4
Retains the ISKA World Super Lightweight (−62.3 kg/137 lb) Full Contact Championship.
1994-08-27Win Yvonne TrevinoMuay Thai eventLos Angeles, California, USTKO
1994-04-15Win Valérie HeninSan Jose, California, United StatesTKO (overhand right)3
Wins the ISKA World Super Lightweight (−62.3 kg/137 lb) Full Contact Championship.
1993-10-03Win Yvonne TrevinoMuay Thai eventSimi Valley, California, United StatesWin5
1993-07-30Win Francine MorrisMuay Thai eventLong Beach, California, United StatesDecision (unanimous)5
Wins Muay Thai title.
1993-03-06Win Lonnie ShelbyTarzana, California, United StatesKO
1993-02-06Win Chevrette PabrosBakersfield, California, United StatesKO
1992-12-12Win Christine DupreeMuay Thai eventLos Angeles, California, United States
1992-07-06Win Chevrette PabrosBakersfield, California, United StatesKO
Wins the WKA Lightweight World Championship.
1992-06-14Win Tracey BrownTarzana, California, United StatesKO
1992-04-12Win Kelley JohnsSan Bernardino, California, United StatesKO
1991-10-24Win Lois CaneloTKO

Legend:   Win   Loss   Draw/No contest   Notes

Professional boxing record
Professional record summary
12 fights 9 wins 2 losses
By knockout 9 0
By decision 0 2
Draws 1
No. Result Record Opponent Type Round, time Date Location Notes
12 Loss Sumya Anani RTD Apr 18, 2003 Palace Indian Gaming Center, Lemoore, California, USA
11 Win Kanicia Eley UD Apr 18, 2003 Louisville Gardens, Louisville, Kentucky, USA
10 Draw Sumya Anani Feb 14, 2003 Convention Center, Austin, Texas, USA Women's International Boxing Association World super lightweight title
9 Win Suzanne Howard UD Jun 8, 2001 Hollywood Park Casino, Inglewood, California, USA}}
8 Win Michelle Vidales UD Nov 5, 1999 Pechanga Resort & Casino, Temecula, California, USA}}
7 Win Hannah Fox UD Jan 15, 1999 Orleans Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA}}
6 Win Olivia Gerula Sep 19, 1998 Grand Casino, Biloxi, Mississippi, USA}}
5 Loss Leah Mellinger UD Mar 21, 1998 Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA}}
4 Win Anneliese Kolan TKO Oct 24, 1997 Lady Luck Casino, Lula, Mississippi, USA}}
3 Win Gail Grandchamp TKO Aug 2, 1997 Grand Casino, Biloxi, Mississippi, USA}}
2 Win Daniele Doobenen UD Apr 16, 1997 Memorial Auditorium, Sacramento, California, USA}}
1 Win Maria Recinos UD Jan 23, 1997 Country Club, Reseda, California, USA

See also

References
  1. "World-renowned kickboxer honored by hometown of Chester".
  2. Fredia Gibbs Muay Thai » Boxing
  3. Williams, Dee. "Fredia Gibbs". Wban.org.
  4. First African-American Woman to Become a Kickboxing Champion Returns Home to Chester
  5. Former kickboxing champ spreads message of inspiration
  6. "Old Chester, PA: Biographical Sketches". Oldchesterpa.com. Retrieved 2017-06-05.
  7. Little Known Black History Fact: Fredia Gibbs
  8. l "ESPN.com: BOXING - Laila Ali delights crowd with win in father's hometown" Check |url= value (help). A.espncdn.com. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  9. Gerbasi, Thomas M. (1 June 2000). Ring Ramblings: Tales of a Cyber Journalist. iUniverse. ISBN 9780595005598. Retrieved 1 May 2017 – via Google Books.
  10. Kickboxing champ Gibbs honored at museum event
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