By Leo Kapakos: Lou Dibella’s Broadway Boxing was the place to be last night to catch a non-stop action bout in the women’s heavyweight division. The crowd was on its feet as 4-time Golden Gloves Champion, Sonya “The Scholar” Lamonakis (2-0, 1 KO) and Alysia Williams-Stevenson (0-1) who was making her pro-debut, stood toe-to-toe for a four round slugfest.
From the opening bell, it was a war as Williams-Stevenson would not be intimidated by the Golden Gloves Champion and stormed Lamonakis with a barrage of straight punches. Lamonakis to her credit remained poised and blocked most of the shots, countering with vicious left hooks to the body and head. The slugfest continued for the entire fight with William–Stevenson throwing more punches but Lamonakis throwing the sharper, heavier and more telling blows. As the fight wore on, it was Lamonakis who took control as Williams-Stevenson began showing signs of fatigue. In the last round “The Scholar” unloaded power punches, right hands and more of her trademark left-hooks to the body and head sealing the deal. At the end of the fight, both fighters embraced in a sign of mutual respect after a very hard-fought battle. Lamonakis won a unanimous decision 40-36.
Lamonakis will undoubtedly be a force to be reckoned with in the women’s heavyweight division. She’s aggressive, hits hard, and has a Frazier-like inside fighting style and vicious left hook . She is currently ranked the no. 5 heavyweight in the world by the WIBA. Lamonakis, a schoolteacher by day, is what women’s boxing needs today – recognition and excitement. You can’t miss her loyal fan base of family and friends who wave Greek and American flags and cheer her on at her fights. She is trained at Gleason’s Gym by Lennox Blackmore, the former Guyanese Commonwealth Champion and top ranked contender for the WBA light welterweight title. Blackmore believes that many of the heavyweights out there don’t want to get in the ring with her. After watching Lamonakis last night, that doesn’t surprise me at all.
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