Suzanne Riccio-Major
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Suzanne Riccio-Major (b. October 16, 1963, Pittsfield, Massachusetts) 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, who sometimes also fought plainly under the name Suzanne Riccio, began her career in professional boxing at the age of twentysix, 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 Cheryll Robertson, on February 3, for the WIBF's world Flyweight 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.
