Cathy Brown (boxer)
Cathy “The Bitch” Brown (born July 28, 1970) is an ex-professional British Boxer, Sporting Performance Coach and Sports Therapist, Broadcaster and Photographer. Over her career she fought for nine titles over three weight categories and retired with the WBF European Flyweight Title and the BBBof C English Bantamweight Title. She was ranked number 3 in the World and has competed in boxing until 2007. [1] She is now active as an elite coach at the Third Space in London, where boxing, kickboxing, sports psychology and the mental strength of her clients are focal points in her coaching, which has resulted in her nickname ‘the Soul Trainer’. [2] She regularly writes columns for Men’s Health and Women’s Health magazine.[3][4] and continues to share her experience and expertise on the TV and the radio and is used as an expert by The Times, The Telegraph, The Guardian, The Evening Standard, Zest magazine, Women’s Fitness, Cosmopolitan, Company and OK magazine.[5][6][7][8] Besides being an ambassador to Refuge charity she is also a spokesperson for the Mental Health Foundation and continues to empower and inspire. [9]
Background
After Cathy was born, she was put into 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. [10]
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. Exceptionally, she remained undefeated for 25 fights, winning both the BKBU and WBF British Kick Boxing title.[11]
Boxing career
Cathy received her Professional Boxing License in August 1998,[12] and understanding the mechanics of PR and media, named herself “The Bitch”. Being one of the pioneers in female boxing, sponsorships and earnings were limited, so she started working as a Personal Trainer at The Third Space, were she was able to train twice a day and still earn a living.
Her first fight was a points win against Veerle Braspenningx from Belgium in Oct 1999 and won the WBF European Flyweight Title in July 2000.
In June 2002 she went for the WIBF International Bantamweight Title against Alina Shaternikiova, but lost after being ill-informed by her trainer. This was a turning point in her career and she became self-managed and changed trainers to Adam Booth which made David Haye her stable partner for 8 years.
She fought Stephanie Bianchini for the EBU Flyweight Title in December 2003, however, controversially lost on points. She fought a re-match against Stephanie Bianchini for the WBC Flyweight Title in August 2005 in Italy, but lost again on points. Clearly this was a substantial disappointment for Cathy and although she lost some faith in the unprincipled bounds of the boxing industry, she continued to fight.
On September 24, 2006, Cathy won the English Women's 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, Cathy became the first female champion sanctioned by the BBBofC. After the fight, Cathy stated that she would retire from competition because of persistent wrist and neck injuries.[1]
Fight record
Date | Opponent | Location | Title | Result[13] [14] [15] | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
24/09/2006 | Juliette Winter | York Hall, Bethnal Green, London, United Kingdom | BBBofC English Female Bantamweight Title | W | PTS | 10 | 10x2 |
08/04/2006 | Julia Sahin | Ostseehalle, Kiel, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany | WIBF Women's International Boxing Federation light flyweight title | L | UD | 10 | 10x2 |
07/08/2005 | Stefania Bianchini | Pala Flaminio, Rimini, Emilia Romagna, Italy | WBC female flyweight title | L | UD | 10 | 10x2 |
12/06/2005 | Svetla Taskova | Equinox Nightclub, Leicester Square, London, United Kingdom | W | TKO | 4 | 4x2 | |
02/12/2004 | Viktoria Varga | National Sports Centre, Crystal Palace, London, United Kingdom | W | TKO | 2 | 4x2 | |
06/11/2004 | Bettina Csabi | Dr.Papp Laszlo Sporthall, Szentes, Hungary | WIBF bantamweight title AND Global Boxing Union Female bantamweight title | L | UD | 10 | 10x2 |
17/12/2003 | Stefania Bianchini | Palasport, Bergamo, Lombardia, Italy | EBU female flyweight title | L | SD | 10 | 10x2 |
26/04/2003 | Regina Halmich | Sport and Congress Center, Schwerin, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany | WIBF Women's International Boxing Federation flyweight title | L | UD | 10 | 10x2 |
20/03/2003 | Juliette Winter | Porchester Hall, Queensway, London, United Kingdom | L | PTS | 4 | 4x2 | |
30/10/2002 | Monika Petrova | Equinox Nightclub, Leicester Square, London, United Kingdom | W | PTS | 6 | 6x2 | |
13/06/2002 | Alina Shaternikova | Equinox Nightclub, Leicester Square, London, United Kingdom | WIBF Women's International Boxing Federation bantamweight title | L | PTS | 10 | 10x2 |
13/03/2002 | Svetla Taskova | Marriott Hotel, Mayfair, London, United Kingdom | W | PTS | 4 | 4x2 | |
13/12/2001 | Iliana Boneva | Equinox Nightclub, Leicester Square, London, United Kingdom | W | TKO | 5 | 6x2 | |
22/11/2001 | Audrey Guthrie | Grosvenor House, Mayfair, London, United Kingdom | WBF European Flyweight Title | W | PTS | 6 | 6x2 |
16/06/2001 | Ramona Gughie | Conference Centre, Wembley, London, United Kingdom | W | TKO | 3 | ||
26/04/2001 | Oksana Vasilieva | Royal Gardens Hotel, Kensington, London, United Kingdom | L | PTS | 4 | 4x2 | |
28/02/2001 | Marietta Ivanova | Royal Gardens Hotel, Kensington, London, United Kingdom | W | PTS | 4 | 4x2 | |
31/10/2000 | Viktoria Varga | Novotel Hotel, Hammersmith, London, United Kingdom | W | TKO | 3 | 4x2 | |
01/07/2000 | Jane Wild | Elephant & Castle Centre, Southwark, London, United Kingdom | WBF European Flyweight Title | W | PTS | 6 | 6x2 |
05/02/2000 | Veerle Braspenningx | Sporthall, Sint Truiden, Limburg, Belgium | W | TKO | 6 | 6x2 | |
31/10/1999 | Veerle Braspenningx | David Lloyd Tennis Centre, Raynes Park, London, United Kingdom | W | UD | 5 | 5x2 | |
1992-1998 | - | Kickboxing 25 fights, 25 wins | BKBU British kickboxing title, WBF Kickboxing title | - | - | - | - |
Other / Current activities
She is currently focusing on her coaching career at the Third Space gym and continues to be an inspiration for mental strength.[2] Her coaching style has been applauded and documented in various articles by journalists in the Daily Mail and The Express.[16][17] Through public speaking and her association with various organisations she continues to educate and inspire. She has participated in various challenges such as sailing across the Atlantic in a world record attempt and took part in a 120km running and climbing event for Sparks Charity.[7]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Williams, Dee. "Cathy Brown". WBAN. Retrieved 21 May 2013.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Personal Trainers". The Third Space. Retrieved 26 May 2013.
- ↑ Morton, David. "MMA". Men's Health. Retrieved 26 May 2013.
- ↑ "Search Cathy Brown". Men's Health. Retrieved 26 May 2013.
- ↑ Wall, Natalie. "Getting fighting fit with female boxer Cathy Brown". Cosmopolitan. Retrieved 21 June 2013.
- ↑ Fry, Lucy. "Women's boxing: from rookie to Rocky in just 60 days". The Guardian. Retrieved 21 June 2013.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 A Davies, Gareth. "My Sport: Cathy Brown". The Telegraph. Retrieved 26 May 2013.
- ↑ Judd, Deany. "How the fit and fabulous stay that way". The Times. Retrieved 21 June 2013.
- ↑ Brown, Cathy. "'I cannot tell you how sport has changed my life for the good."". Mental Health Foundation. Retrieved 26 May 2013.
- ↑ Jackson, Colin. "Raise your game". BBC. Retrieved 26 May 2013.
- ↑ Brown, Cathy. "Fight Record". Retrieved 22 May 2013.
- ↑ Brown, Cathy. "CV". CV. Cathy Brown. Retrieved 23 May 2013.
- ↑ "Boxrec". Boxrec. Retrieved 26 May 2013.
- ↑ "Cathy Brown Boxer". Fightsrec.com. Retrieved 26 May 2013.
- ↑ Cathy, Brown. "Fight Record". Cathy Brown. Retrieved 23 May 2013.
- ↑ Brit, Hannah. "I'm fighting to get fit". The Express. Retrieved 9 June 2013.
- ↑ Fry, Lucy. "'Why I joined the ladies who punch': Inspired by Olympic gold medallist Nicola Adams"". The Daily Mail. Retrieved 9 June 2013.