Fredia Gibbs

Fredia "The Cheetah" Gibbs (born July 8, 1963), is an American professional kickboxer and boxer, Martial artist and European basketball player who competed from 1975 to 2005. During her kickboxing career, she held three world titles ISKA, WKA, and WKF in two different divisions. Before embarking on her kickboxing career she was an All-American in basketball and track and field.

She became the first African-American female ISKA Undefeated World Kickboxing Champion. In 1994, she gained widespread recognition after an upset victory over World Champion Valérie Wiet-Henin of France at the "Battle of the Masters" Pay-Per-View event in San Jose, California. Gibbs went on to become one of the most dominant champions in the sport, leaving an indelible legacy in the light and super-lightweight kickboxing divisions. She competed from 1991 to 1997, amassing a record of 16 wins, 0 losses, and 15 KOs, and three world titles. Additionally, Gibbs competed as a top contender in women's professional boxing from 1997 to 2005 with a record of 9 wins, 2 losses, and 1 draw. She is one of the two known survivors of serial killer Lonnie David Franklin Jr., who abducted and attempted to rape her in late 1993.

Early years Fredia Gibbs was born in Chester, Pennsylvania. She was given the nickname "The Cheetah" at school due to her performance in track. Chester High School named their track team "Chester's Cheetahs" after Gibbs.

Professional basketball career From age 12 until 1990, Fredia Gibbs competed in basketball, earning a reputation for transforming struggling programs into champions. At Chester High School, she played a pivotal role in turning a winless team into a division champion, district champion, and state semi-finalist. She earned All-County, All-State, and All-American honors while averaging 28 points, 5 rebounds, and 10 assists in her senior year. Gibbs remains Chester High School’s all-time leading scorer with 1,706 points.

In 1981, she received a basketball and track scholarship to Temple University but lost it after one season due to academic withdrawal. She later attended Cabrini University on a basketball scholarship, where she revitalized the women’s basketball program. To this day, Gibbs holds the title of Cabrini’s all-time leading scorer with 2,395 points, 901 rebounds, 680 assists and 318 steals points. Gibbs received All-American Honorable mention following the 1986 season then closed her career as the only player in Cabrini history to be named a Kodak All-American in 1987.

After leaving Cabrini, in 1988 she took her talents overseas for two year playing professional basketball in the European Women’s Professional Basketball League for Etzella in Luxembourg. She led the team to its first European Cup, dominating the court with averages of 28 points, 15 rebounds, and 10 assists per game leading the team in scoring and rebounding.

Professional kickboxing career In 1990, after moving to North Hollywood, California, Gibbs took up kickboxing at the Benny Urquidez's The Jet Kickboxing Training Center under the instruction of Lilly Rodriguez Urquidez, Rubin Urquidez and David Krapes. She later studied Muay Thai Kickboxing under the guidance of Sur Puk & Saekson Janjira of the Muay Thai Academy of America in North Hollywood. Her Muay Thai publicist was William Peele. Prior to this she had studied martial arts (Tae Kwon do/ Jeet kwon do/ Aikido) at Quiet Storm Martial arts school under the instruction of her uncle Master William Groce, Master Rick Berry, and Master Brown, in Chester Pennsylvania.

She amassed an impressive kickboxing record of 16-0-1 with 15 KOs. Her only draw came from an exhibition fight with a male opponent. In April 14, 1994, she defeated the "Most Dangerous Woman in the World", from Paris, France Valerie Henin in "The Battle of the Masters" Pay-Per-View event, capturing the ISKA World Championship. This victory made Gibbs the first African American female to hold the world kickboxing championship for the International Sport Karate Association.

Professional boxing career In 1997, Gibbs started boxing professionally. Her record was 9-2-1 (2 KO). She made her boxing debut January 23, 1997, in a four-round decision over Maria Fortaleza Recinos. Due to unfortunate scheduling, Gibbs entered the title fight against Leah Mellinger during the time she was filming the movie Knockout. The intense film schedule combined with the cross-country flight from Los Angeles to Atlantic City, New Jersey, was less than ideal, and Gibbs suffered her first loss. Gibbs said the loss to Mellinger inspired her to intensify her training to resume her journey to the top.

On January 15, 1999, Gibbs handed Las Vegas hometown favorite Hannah Fox her first loss in a six-round unanimous decision, shown live on ESPN2. On November 16, 2001, Gibbs fought a highly anticipated WIBA world title fight against Sumya Anani, who had defeated former champion Christy Martin. Gibbs and Anani fought an exciting ten-round majority draw, which left the 140-lb WIBA World Title vacant. The Gibbs-Anani rematch occurred April 28, 2003, and Gibbs was unable to answer the bell for the second round with an injury to her right hand, yielding the victory to Anani. Disappointed in the outcome, Gibbs explained "I came in ready to win this fight, but Sumya is a strong fighter and I was not prepared to fight her with only my left hand." Following the fight, Gibbs announced her retirement from boxing.

Acting and modelling Gibbs has also worked as an actress and a sports model for Sebastian International Sports Department. She has been featured in Black Achievers, Black Belt, Delco Times, Inside Karate, Jet, Los Angeles Sentinel, The Philadelphia Inquirer, Sports Illustrated for Women, and Upscale Magazine. In 2000, Gibbs played the villain Tanya "Terminator" Tessario in the film Knockout. In 1996, she had a cameo in an episode of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.

A six foot bronze statue of Fredia Gibbs was erected in September 2022, honoring her achievements and symbolizing her strength, resilience, and legacy as an inspiration for future generations.

She has spoken openly about being attacked by serial killer Lonnie David Franklin Jr. in the Fall of 1993 at a domino game in Inglewood, California. He drugged her drinks, offered her a ride home in his van, trapped her and attempted to rape her. She was able to fight him off.

Kickboxing record

Professional boxing record