Cathy Brown (born 28 July 1970) is a British sports coach and former
professional boxer
Professional boxing, or prizefighting, is regulated, sanctioned boxing. Professional boxing bouts are fought for a purse that is divided between the boxers as determined by contract. Most professional bouts are supervised by a regulatory autho ...
who competed from 1999 to 2006. She challenged for multiple world championships during her career; the
WIBF bantamweight
Bantamweight is a weight class in combat sports. For boxing, the range is above and up to . In kickboxing, a bantamweight fighter generally weighs between . In MMA, bantamweight is .
The name for the class is derived from bantam chickens. Bra ...
title twice in 2002 and 2004; the WIBF
flyweight
Flyweight is a weight class in combat sports.
Boxing
Flyweight is a class in boxing which includes fighters weighing above 49 kg (108 lb) and up to 51 kg (112 lb).
Professional boxing
The flyweight division was the last of b ...
title in 2003; and the
WBC female flyweight title in 2005. At regional level, she challenged once for the
European female flyweight title in 2003.
She regularly writes columns for
Men's Health
''Men's Health'' (''MH''), published by Hearst Communications, Hearst, is the world's largest men's magazine brand, with 35 editions in 59 countries. It is also the best-selling men's magazine on U.S. newsstands.
Started as a men's health maga ...
and
Women's Health magazine.
Background
Brown was born on 28 July 1970. She was put into a Catholic Care orphanage until she was adopted at an early age by her adoptive parents and raised in Lanchester, Durham. In 1992 she moved to London to pursue her photographic career as a Forensic Photographer, as which she worked until 1998.
Early career
She started Kickboxing in 1992 as a hobby and only after three months her trainer suggested that she should enter her first competition. She remained undefeated for 25 fights, winning both the BKBU and WBFo British Kick Boxing title.
Boxing career
Brown received her professional boxing license in August 1998.
Her first fight was a points win against Veerle Braspenningx from Belgium in Oct 1999 and won the WBFo European
flyweight
Flyweight is a weight class in combat sports.
Boxing
Flyweight is a class in boxing which includes fighters weighing above 49 kg (108 lb) and up to 51 kg (112 lb).
Professional boxing
The flyweight division was the last of b ...
title in July 2000.
In June 2002 she went for the
WIBF International
bantamweight
Bantamweight is a weight class in combat sports. For boxing, the range is above and up to . In kickboxing, a bantamweight fighter generally weighs between . In MMA, bantamweight is .
The name for the class is derived from bantam chickens. Bra ...
title against Alina Shaternikiova, but lost.
She fought Stephanie Bianchini for the
European female flyweight title in December 2003, however, controversially lost on points. She fought a rematch against Stephanie Bianchini for the
WBC female flyweight title
The following is a list of WBC female world champions certificated by the World Boxing Council (WBC).
Stand: June 3, 2020.
r – Champion relinquished title.
s – Champion stripped of title.
On July 30, 2011, Ana María Torres won the first fe ...
in August 2005 in Italy, but lost again on points.
On 24 September 2006, Brown won the English female bantamweight title when she defeated
Juliette Winter by a ten-round 97–94 decision in a rematch of their 2003 four-rounder. With the win, Brown became the first female champion sanctioned by the
British Boxing Board of Control
The British Boxing Board of Control (BBBofC) is the governing body of professional boxing in the United Kingdom.
History
The British Boxing Board of Control was formed in 1929 from the old National Sporting Club and is headquartered in Cardif ...
. After the fight, she stated that she would retire from competition because of persistent wrist and neck injuries.
Professional boxing record
Other / Current activities
Brown is currently focusing on her coaching career as a boxing coach and Cognitive Behavioural Therapist at the Third Space gym.
She has participated in various challenges such as sailing across the Atlantic in a world record attempt and took part in a 120 km running and climbing event for Sparks Charity.
As an ambassador for The Lotus Flower Charity, Brown visited refugee camps in Iraq in 2019 to teach Yazidi women how to box.
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Brown, Cathy
1970 births
Sportspeople from Leeds
Living people
English women boxers
World boxing champions
English female kickboxers