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Who is Anna Wolfe? – Boxing News 24

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9 months ago

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Image: Who Is Ann Wolfe?

During a recent appearance on the “Million Dollaz Worth of Game” podcast, undisputed three-division world champion Claressa Shields said she was the best women’s boxer of her era, but stopped low of recognizing her newly acquired rival Laila Ali as the best boxer of her era.

Instead of choosing inaugural WBC women’s super middleweight world champion Laila Ali, Claressa Shields believes Ann Wolfe was the best boxer of the era. After hearing the name, some fans asked who is Ann Wolfe?

A native of Austin, Texas, Ann Wolfe made her professional boxing debut in October 1998, defeating Brenda Drexel by split decision. Wolfe won her next four fights. Due to an accidental headbutt, the sixth match of Wolfe’s career was declared a no-contest.

In the next fight, which took place on November 30, 2000, Ann Wolfe was stopped in the third round by Valerie Mahfood. Wolfe bounced back, winning her next two fights.

Ann Wolfe became champion for the first time, defeating Vienna Williams by unanimous decision to win the IFBA junior middleweight title. Six months later, Wolfe defeated Gina Nicholas in the third round to win the WIBA junior middleweight belt.

Wolfe increased his weight and began stopping Marsha Valley in the sixth round. With the victory, Ann Wolfe captured the vacant IFBA super middleweight title. Six months later, Wolfe stopped Valley again in a rematch and took the vacant WIBC belt.

In her next fight, Ann Wolfe sought revenge as she faced the woman who had taken away her unblemished boxing record. Wolfe was vindicated with a decision victory over Valerie Mahfood.

On May 8, 2004, while fighting for the airy heavyweight title, Ann Wolfe created a viral moment that remains 21 years later. Wolfe recorded the most devastating one-punch knockout in women’s boxing history when she knocked out 6-foot-6-inch Vonda Ward in the first round.

In her last fight of her career, Wolfe defeated Lisa Ested.

After retiring from her boxing career, Ann Wolfe trained hard-hitting junior middleweight contender James Kirkland. Wolfe was a great boxer, but was she the best boxer of her era?

At that time, Laila Ali (24-0, 21 KO) was considered the face of women’s boxing. Unfortunately, Ali and Wolfe never met. In a recent interview with Andre Ward, Ali claims the fight didn’t happen due to a contract dispute.

In her prime, Laila Ali was a boxer who could control the distance with a keen and true jab. Her two wins, right hands, well-placed body shots and punch combinations made Ali tough to defeat.

Ann Wolfe (24-1, 16 KO) was a boxer who had strength in both hands. Her right hand was devastating, but her left hook was also a very unsafe weapon. Wolfe is the only women’s boxer in history with a consistent one-punch knockout ability.

Wolfe and Ali’s most notable common adversary was Valerie Mahfood. As mentioned earlier, Ann Wolfe lost her first fight and won her rematch against Mahfood. Laila Ali also faced Mahfood twice, but Ali was able to stop Mahfood on both occasions.

So the question is: If they had fought in their prime, who would have won, Laila Ali or Ann Wolfe? Well, to quote hip hop legend Kanye West, “I guess we’ll never know.”

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Boxing

Usyk Analyzes Anthony Joshuas Performance Against Kristian Prenga After Overcoming Two Knockdowns

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1 day ago

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July 25, 2026

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"Usyk Analyzes Anthony Joshua's Performance Against Kristian Prenga After Overcoming Two Knockdowns"

Oleksandr Usyk has shared his reaction to Anthony Joshua‘s dramatic knockout victory against Kristian Prenga.

Usyk nearly suffered his own shock defeat in May when he was pushed to the limit by kickboxing star Rico Verhoevenand two months on it was nrw teammate Joshua’s turn to come close to a massive upset loss that would have stunned the heavyweight division.

The Brit was dropped twice by massive underdog Prenga in the opening round of their clash in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on Saturday, but ‘AJ’ managed to recover and record a big knockdown of his own in the second round that resulted in the stoppage victory.

Joshua and Usyk now train together, having famously had two battles for the unified world heavyweight title in 2021 and 2022, and the Ukrainian has had his say on his stablemate’s victory over Prenga.

Speaking to TalkSporttwo-time undisputed champion Usyk praised Joshua, insisting ‘AJ is back’ before predicting that Joshua will now claim a knockout win over long-term rival Tyson Fury in his next bout.

“Anthony Joshua is next undisputed champion. First round it’s a test but AJ is back.

It’s boxing, [the] big upper cut is good, it’s a knockdown. AJ [come] back and win.

“Greedy Belly [Fury] will speak now and say weak chin, Greedy Belly get out. AJ wins [against Fury], [he will] knock him out.”

Fury was victorious on Friday as he earned a seventh round retirement win against Mariusz Wach in Thailand, paving the way for the showdown against Joshua later this year.

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Jake Paul Reacts to Anthony Joshuas Stunning Victory Over Kristian Prenga After Two Early Knockdowns

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1 day ago

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July 25, 2026

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"Jake Paul Reacts to Anthony Joshua's Stunning Victory Over Kristian Prenga After Two Early Knockdowns"

Jake Paul was the last man to fight Anthony Joshua and he has now revealed his verdict on AJ’s chaotic victory over Kristian Prenga.

Joshua went up against Prenga in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on Saturdayin a clash that was expected to be a comfortable win for the former world heavyweight champion in order to set up the long overdue battle against Tyson Fury.

Any hopes of seeing that clash were nearly ended after AJ was dropped twice in the opening round of the bout, though he was able to recover and claim the second round knockout to come out on top and prevent a stunning shock upset from taking place.

Saturday’s outing saw Joshua back in the ring for the first time since his sixth round triumph over YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul back in Decemberand now ‘The Problem Child’ himself has shared his reaction to his former rival’s victory over Prenga.

Posting on social mediaPaul praised AJ for earning the win, after returning to action following the tragic car crash he was involved in at the end of last year which took the lives of his two close friends.

“Happy for Joshua with that win after all he’s been through. Remembering Sina and Latz with this one.”

The win for Joshua should now tee up for meeting with Fury later this year, after ‘The Gypsy King’ held up his end of the bargain by also securing a win in his warm-up bout on Friday, securing a seventh round retirement win against Mariusz Wach.

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Tony Bellew Reviews Anthony Joshuas Comeback Victory Over Kristian Prenga After Knockdown Drama

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1 day ago

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July 25, 2026

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Tony Bellew Reviews Anthony Joshua's Comeback Victory Over Kristian Prenga After Knockdown Drama

Anthony Joshua may have earned a knockout win over Kristian Prenga but the fight certainly didn’t unfold as most people expected.

Joshua was facing the Albanian in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on Saturday, and it looked like a massive upset could be on the cards when he was dropped twice in the opening round.

‘AJ’ was able to recover and went on to secure a second round knockout victory to prevent the shock lossseemingly paving the way for the battle against Tyson Fury later this year.

One man who was ringside to witness the battle was former cruiserweight world champion Tony Bellewand he praised Joshua’s ability to turn things around in the fight after describing it as ‘chaos’.

“We predicted round two but I don’t think we foresaw that. That was chaos. He doesn’t see the uppercut coming and finds himself on the floor without knowing how he got there.

“The second one he did see it coming and he was able to clench down on the jaw. He got up and then the experience that he has he used tonight because he tied him up. Against Andy Ruiz he didn’t know what he was doing and didn’t know how to do that, but tonight he did.

“He showed once again there is no quit. To be that hurt in the first round and get up, that’s the recoveries of power. People talk about your chin, but it’s not, it’s the level of fitness that gets you up from the floor.

“When Joshua gets a fighter hurt he’s the best finisher in the division. Whenever he hurts someone they’re gone. I haven’t seen him drop anybody and they survive, only Andy Ruiz. He’s a ruthless finisher.”

The clash between Joshua and Fury is now expected to be announced soon for later this year, after Fury won his own interim fight on Friday by defeating Mariusz Wach.

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