Cathy Brown (boxer)


is a British sports coach and former professional boxer who competed from 1998 to 2006. She challenged for multiple world championships during her career; the WIBF bantamweight title twice in 2002 and 2004; the WIBF flyweight 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 and Women's Health magazines.
IG cathybrownboxer

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 WBF British Kick Boxing title.

Boxing career

Brown received her professional boxing license in August 1998.
She was only the 2nd woman in the UK to receive a professional boxing licence.
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.
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 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. After the fight, she stated that she would retire from competition because of persistent wrist and neck injuries.

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
21Win13-8Juliette WinterUD24 September 2006York Hall, Bethnal Green, London, United KingdomBBBofC English Female Bantamweight Title
20Loss13-7Julia SahinUD8 April 2006Ostseehalle, Kiel, Schleswig-Holstein, GermanyWIBF Women's International Boxing Federation light flyweight title
19Loss13-6Stefania BianchiniUD7 August 2005Pala Flaminio, Rimini, Emilia Romagna, ItalyWBC female flyweight title
18Win13-5Svetla Taskova12 June 2005Equinox Nightclub, Leicester Square, London, United Kingdom
17Win12-5Viktoria Varga2 December 2004National Sports Centre, Crystal Palace, London, United Kingdom
16Loss11-5Bettina CsabiUD6 November 2004Dr.Papp Laszlo Sporthall, Szentes, HungaryWIBF bantamweight title AND Global Boxing Union Female bantamweight title
15Win11-4Stefania Bianchini17 December 2003Palasport, Bergamo, Lombardia, ItalyEBU female flyweight title
14Loss10-4Regina HalmichUD26 April 2003Sport and Congress Center, Schwerin, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, GermanyWIBF Women's International Boxing Federation flyweight title
13Win10-3Juliette Winter20 March 2003Porchester Hall, Queensway, London, United Kingdom
12Win9-3Monika Petrova30 October 2002Equinox Nightclub, Leicester Square, London, United Kingdom
11Loss8-3Alina Shaternikova13 June 2002Equinox Nightclub, Leicester Square, London, United KingdomWIBF Women's International Boxing Federation bantamweight title
10Win8-2Svetla Taskova13 March 2002Marriott Hotel, Mayfair, London, United Kingdom
9Win7-2yes2yes2no2yes2yes2yes2

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 for empowerment. She taught 3 women how to coach boxing using the boxing course. These women have carried on teaching boxing in the camps, creating a solid community of sisterhood.
She created her own charitable company called as The Lotus Flower project was extremely successful and the women are still coaching to this day. Headguard fundraise in the UK and work with small 'on ground' NGO's in different countries where women are treated badly. They visited Nepal in 2022 and worked with charity, coaching 7 girls to become boxing coaches to the rest of the girls in the safe house in Kathmandu.
Cathy has directed and produced a documentary showcasing Headguards work and how boxing is an amazing resource for mental health. She also documents the atrocious stories the girls have endured. The documentary is called Raksha Girls. Due for release in April 2025.