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Newly crowned UBF champion, Gwendolyn ‘Stealth Bomber’ O’Neil arrives today
Sep 08, 2015 Sports
Ranked #1 in the world
She rose to prominence in May 2004 after defeating American fighter, Kathy Rivers, for the Women’s World International Boxing Association (WIBA) light heavyweight title at the National Park, Thomas Lands.
Since then Gwendolyn ‘Stealth Bomber’ O’Neil has added four other world championship belts to her collection including her most recent achievement, the Universal Boxing Federation (UBF) World female heavyweight title after she pounded out unanimous verdict over Greek fighter, Sonya ‘The Scholar’ Lamonakis on July 4.
Now a resident of the United States of America, Gwendolyn is scheduled to return to Guyana this morning to celebrate her latest accomplishment with her country folks. Of more importance though, O’Neil, of Amerindian heritage, will be joining her indigenous colleagues in celebration of Amerindian Heritage Month, currently being celebrated locally. This is a major achievement when one notes that O’Neil is forty-five years old but most importantly the victory propelled her to a number one ranking in the world. While her victory over Rivers had earned her the prestigious world accolade, O’Neil ranks her most recent achievement as one of her most gratifying wins.
“So many people have counted me out but through the will of God I have proven them wrong,” she proclaimed moments after the final bell. The victory becomes even more momentous when it is noted that O’Neil has battled ring rust after being absent from the square jungle for nearly four years.
During that time her weight had ballooned and she was required to shed more than thirty pounds during training sessions to shed the excess. “I’m a champion and you can never count out a true champion because I have the spirit of a warrior” she proclaimed.
During her prolific career O’Neil has had the opportunity of rubbing shoulders with many great human beings but none can compare to her meeting with the great freedom fighter, Nelson Mandela, whom she met while in South Africa for a fight with Muhammad Ali’s daughter, Laila Ali in 2007 which was aborted.
She enjoys her tenure in the fistic sport but amidst it all Gwendolyn is disgruntled over the lack of respect for females who have taken up the fight game. She lamented the substandard purses allotted to women as against those of their male counterparts but even amidst her dissatisfaction O’Neil has soldiered on for more than 16 years battling the vicissitudes.
She compared the purses earned by undisputed World Champion, Floyd Mayweather, over three hundred million dollars in 2015, to those given to top female boxers, struggling to earn even a million dollars for their entire career, and extended the hope that those fortunes will soon change.
The bright spot is that O’Neil’s recent victory guarantees her a spot in the Hall of Fame for female boxers and though she has attained a matured age, she continues to perform way above par even as she hopes for a change of fortunes for the women in the fistic sport.
Gwendolyn encourages the younger generation to get involved in what they love in the pursuance of their dreams. “Address your tasks with passion and never let anyone discourage your efforts,” she advised. Indeed, coming from someone who has defied conventional wisdom before clinching not one, but five world championship belts, such advice is sacrosanct.
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