Southern New Mexico's Delia Gonzalez to enter International Women's Boxing Hall of Fame
Before women's boxing was televised globally and was a major attraction on television networks, New Mexico's Delia Gonzalez found success in a sport dominated by men.
On Saturday night in Las Vegas, Nevada, her career will be honored when she is inducted into the International Women's Boxing Hall of Fame.
Gonzalez grew up in Chamberino, New Mexico, which is between Las Cruces and El Paso, fought 28 times, winning 13 and drawing five times in a career that was highlighted by her winning the Women's International Boxing Federation super flyweight title in 1995 against Fienie Klee of the Netherlands. She also lost a narrow decision to Regina Halmich for the WIBF junior flyweight title in Germany. One judge had it even — 96-96 — while the other judges had it 98-95 and 96-94 for Halmich, who was 32-1 at the time.
Gonzalez made her pro debut in El Paso, wining a decision over Lucy Tellez in El Paso.
"It's a true honor to be inducted into the Hall of Fame," said Gonzalez, who retired in 2005. "I love the sport still. My dad Antonio trained me and we had lots of good times. It's been amazing to see women's boxing grow. There was a big show last weekend in England that drew a big audience and the women are making better money now. I fought because I loved it and we had some great times in the sport. I wanted to try and be there for others and help them as well. I can't wait to see where the sport goes from here."
Gonzalez is 51 and lives in Las Cruces. She has been a corrections officer for 11 years at the Southern New Mexico Correctional Facility.
"Boxing helped me grow in so many ways and it gave me ambition and I learned about perseverance," said Gonzalez, who is in the El Paso Boxing Hall of Fame and is part of a strong tradition of Las Cruces area boxers that include Austin Trout, Louie Burke and Rocky Burke. "I got to fight in some big fights, got to travel and I hope I was able to help the sport grow."
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Felix F. Chavez can be reached at 915-487-2580; fchavez@elpasotimes.com; @Fchavezeptimes on Twitter
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Delia Gonzalez to enter International Women's Boxing Hall of Fame
