Cathy Brown (boxer)

Cathy "The Bitch" Brown (born 28 July 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 World Boxing Foundation (WBFo) 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 WBFo 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, where 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 WBFo 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 24 September 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]

07/06/2007 Patrick doherty

Date	Opponent	Location	Title	Result[13][14][15]
24 September 2006	Juliette Winter	York Hall, Bethnal Green, London, United Kingdom	BBBofC English Female Bantamweight Title	W	PTS	10	10x2
8 April 2006	Julia Sahin	Ostseehalle, Kiel, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany	WIBF Women's International Boxing Federation light flyweight title	L	UD	10	10x2
7 August 2005	Stefania Bianchini	Pala Flaminio, Rimini, Emilia Romagna, Italy	WBC female flyweight title	L	UD	10	10x2
12 June 2005	Svetla Taskova	Equinox Nightclub, Leicester Square, London, United Kingdom		W	TKO	4	4x2
2 December 2004	Viktoria Varga	National Sports Centre, Crystal Palace, London, United Kingdom		W	TKO	2	4x2
6 November 2004	Bettina Csabi	Dr.Papp Laszlo Sporthall, Szentes, Hungary	WIBF bantamweight title AND Global Boxing Union Female bantamweight title	L	UD	10	10x2
17 December 2003	Stefania Bianchini	Palasport, Bergamo, Lombardia, Italy	EBU female flyweight title	L	SD	10	10x2
26 April 2003	Regina Halmich	Sport and Congress Center, Schwerin, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany	WIBF Women's International Boxing Federation flyweight title	L	UD	10	10x2
20 March 2003	Juliette Winter	Porchester Hall, Queensway, London, United Kingdom		L	PTS	4	4x2
30 October 2002	Monika Petrova	Equinox Nightclub, Leicester Square, London, United Kingdom		W	PTS	6	6x2
13 June 2002	Alina Shaternikova	Equinox Nightclub, Leicester Square, London, United Kingdom	WIBF Women's International Boxing Federation bantamweight title	L	PTS	10	10x2
13 March 2002	Svetla Taskova	Marriott Hotel, Mayfair, London, United Kingdom		W	PTS	4	4x2
13 December 2001	Iliana Boneva	Equinox Nightclub, Leicester Square, London, United Kingdom		W	TKO	5	6x2
22 November 2001	Audrey Guthrie	Grosvenor House, Mayfair, London, United Kingdom	WBF European Flyweight Title	W	PTS	6	6x2
16 June 2001	Ramona Gughie	Conference Centre, Wembley, London, United Kingdom		W	TKO	3
26 April 2001	Oksana Vasilieva	Royal Gardens Hotel, Kensington, London, United Kingdom		L	PTS	4	4x2
28 February 2001	Marietta Ivanova	Royal Gardens Hotel, Kensington, London, United Kingdom		W	PTS	4	4x2
31 October 2000	Viktoria Varga	Novotel Hotel, Hammersmith, London, United Kingdom		W	TKO	3	4x2
1 July 2000	Jane Wild	Elephant & Castle Centre, Southwark, London, United Kingdom	WBF European Flyweight Title	W	PTS	6	6x2
5 February 2000	Veerle Braspenningx	Sporthall, Sint Truiden, Limburg, Belgium		W	TKO	6	6x2
31 October 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 120 km running and climbing event for Sparks Charity.^[7]

References

1. Williams, Dee. "Cathy Brown". WBAN. Retrieved 21 May 2013.
2. "Personal Trainers". The Third Space. Retrieved 26 May 2013.
3. Morton, David. "MMA". Men's Health. Retrieved 26 May 2013.
4. "Search Cathy Brown". Men's Health. Retrieved 26 May 2013.
5. Wall, Natalie. "Getting fighting fit with female boxer Cathy Brown". Cosmopolitan. Retrieved 21 June 2013.
6. Fry, Lucy (16 October 2012). "Women's boxing: from rookie to Rocky in just 60 days". London: The Guardian. Retrieved 21 June 2013.
7. A Davies, Gareth (25 January 2005). "My Sport: Cathy Brown". London: The Telegraph. Retrieved 26 May 2013.
8. Judd, Deany. "How the fit and fabulous stay that way". The Times. Retrieved 21 June 2013.
9. Brown, Cathy. "'I cannot tell you how sport has changed my life for the good.". Mental Health Foundation. Retrieved 26 May 2013.
10. Jackson, Colin. "Raise your game". BBC. Retrieved 26 May 2013.
11. Brown, Cathy. "Fight Record". Retrieved 22 May 2013.
12. Brown, Cathy. "CV". CV. Cathy Brown. Retrieved 23 May 2013.
13. "Boxrec". Boxrec. Retrieved 26 May 2013.
14. "Cathy Brown Boxer". Fightsrec.com. Retrieved 26 May 2013.
15. Cathy, Brown. "Fight Record". Cathy Brown. Retrieved 23 May 2013.
16. Brit, Hannah. "I'm fighting to get fit". The Express. Retrieved 9 June 2013.
17. Fry, Lucy (3 February 2013). "'Why I joined the ladies who punch': Inspired by Olympic gold medallist Nicola Adams". London: The Daily Mail. Retrieved 9 June 2013.