Suzanne Riccio-Major

Background

Riccio-Major was born in Torrington,Ct in 1963.

Career

She also competed against many of women"s boxing top fighters. She began her career in professional boxing at the age of twenty-six, when she and Andrea Buchanan drew (tied) after five rounds on November 1, 1989, at Bristol, Tennessee. Foreign 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.

On July 27, she lost to Theresa Arnold by an eight round decision at Rochester, Washington. After that victory, she was offered her first shot at a world championship, when she met Cheryl Robertson, on February 3, for the WIBF"s world bantamweight title.

Riccio-Major lost by a ten round decision, in New Orleans. 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 which saw both women go down, by Tko in five rounds, when referee,the late Mitch Halpern stepped in for no apparent reason. a ref not wanted by the major team initially for his anti women boxing views. Trevino and her manager Jackie Kallen promised a rematch which never materialized and to Kathy Williams in her only fight abroad, on points.

The fight with Williams was held in Canada.

After losing to Jamillia Lawrence by knockout in two on August 25 of that year in Saratoga, New York, she retired from boxing in 2001.

Achievements

• 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. The then thirty-three-year-old Riccio won by a five round decision. 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. Immediately after that title shot, Riccio-Major was offered another world title try, when she fought with the IFBA world Flyweight champion. On July 28 of 2000, she got her last career win, beating Larissa Smith in Boston by a six round decision. Riccio-Major had 7 wins, 8 losses some controversial and one draw in professional boxing, with one win by knockout.