View source for Melissa Del Valle

{{short description|American boxer}}
{{BLP sources|date=June 2022}}
{{Infobox Boxer
|name        = Melissa Del Valle
|image       = 
|realname    = Melissa Del Valle
|nickname    = Honey Girl<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://qns.com/2003/02/queensbridges-melissa-del-valles-rough-road-to-boxing-glory/|title=Queensbridge's Melissa Del Valle's rough road to boxing glory|first=Arthur V.|last=Claps|date=6 February 2003|website=Qns.com|access-date=7 June 2022}}</ref>
|weight      = [[Light welterweight]]
|nationality = {{flagicon|USA}} [[United States|American]]
|birth_date  = {{Birth date and age|1969|6|2|mf=y}}
|birth_place = [[New York City]], New York, U.S.
|height      = {{height|m=1.65|precision=0}}
|style       = [[Orthodox stance|Orthodox]]
|total       = 37
|wins        = 29
|losses      =  6
|draws       =  1
|no contests =  
|KO          = 11
|}}

'''Melissa Del Valle''' (born June 2, 1969, in [[New York City|New York]]) is an American multiple champion in [[women's boxing]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/fighting/article155758079.html|title=Del Valle's journey ends in Florida Boxing Hall of Fame|newspaper=[[Miami Herald]] |access-date=19 July 2017}}</ref> She was inducted into the [[International Women's Boxing Hall of Fame]] in 2023.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.maxboxing.com/news/news/iwbhf-celebrates-10-years|title=IWBHF celebrates 10 years|publisher=maxboxing.com|accessdate=30 December 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://wbcboxing.com/en/international-womens-boxing-hall-of-fame-2023/|title=International Women’s Boxing Hall of Fame 2023 & 2024|publisher=wbcboxing.com|accessdate=30 December 2024}}</ref>

A member of a sports-minded family of [[Puerto Rico|Puerto Rican decent.]] Del Valle took up boxing in the early 1990s, while her older brother [[Lou Del Valle]] was making a name for himself as a light-welterweight boxer.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-xpm-2000-07-09-0006300640-story.html | title=The Lady is a Champ|website=Sun-sentinel.com | date=9 July 2000}}</ref><ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_ErHAwAAQBAJ&dq=Melissa+Del+Valle+boxing&pg=PA229 | title=A History of Women's Boxing | isbn=9781442229952 | last1=Smith | first1=Malissa | date=5 June 2014 }}</ref>

Then fighting under her married name of Melissa Salamone, she won the New York state [[Golden Gloves]] title at 132 pounds in 1996 and 1997. In the latter year, she added the national amateur lightweight title, sweeping all five scorecards in the finals on July 19, 1997.

She then announced she was joining the professional ranks, debuting on September 5, 1997, with a first round [[knockout]] of Marsha Evans. She followed that up with several more impressive victories, and one year and one week later, she earned her first title shot. On September 12, 1998, Del Valle won a 10-round unanimous decision over Melinda Robinson to claim the vacant WIBF super featherweight title.

She fought and won six non-title bouts over the next 11 months, then defended her title against fellow unbeaten Lena Akesson on August 14, 1999, in [[Miami Beach, Florida]]. Despite suffering a cut over one eye and an early knockdown, she rallied late to win a close but unanimous decision.

Personal problems then kept her out of the ring for nearly a year before she challenged [[Laura Serrano]] on August 5, 2000, in [[Connecticut]] for the IBA version of the super featherweight title. After 10 rounds, the fight was ruled a draw, but most spectators believed Serrano had won. Del Valle, in an act of candor that won her a great deal of respect, also admitted she thought Serrano beat her.

The controversial Serrano fight did not slow down Del Valle, however, and she won seven straight fights to earn, yet another title shot, on June 21, 2002, against [[Ada Vélez]] for the [[Women's International Boxing Association|WIBA]] super bantamweight title. This was the featured event on an all-women's card featuring several of the sport's top boxers. Del Valle rose to the occasion, taking Velez' title by winning seven of the 10 rounds on two cards and nine of 10 on the other.

Over a three-month period in 2003, Del Valle challenged four of the top fighters in women's boxing, suffering her first three losses in the process. On July 10, she fell to 27-1-1 by losing a close decision over six rounds to [[Kelsey Jeffries]]. On August 9, she faced junior lightweight world champion [[Isra Girgrah]], taking the fight on short notice. Girgrah was given the decision, but most observers thought Del Valle won, and Girgrah promised her a rematch in the future.

Three weeks later, Del Valle moved back down to the super featherweight ranks once again and challenged [[Chevelle Hallback]] for her IBA title in [[Savannah, Georgia]]. Hallback defeated her over 10 rounds, handing Del Valle her third straight loss. But she got back on the winning track on October 11, when she handed undefeated [[Kelli Cofer]] her first loss in a six-round fight in [[Greensboro, North Carolina]]. The win over Cofer improved her career record to 28 wins, three losses and one draw, with 11 knockouts.

Del Valle is also noteworthy as the answer to a handful of boxing trivia questions. She and her brother are the only brother and sister to both win world boxing titles; Lou Del Valle was [[World Boxing Association|WBA]] light-heavyweight champion from 1997 to 1998. She was also the first women's boxer to fight on the same card as her (then) husband, Craig Salamone. The two appeared together on a card in [[Atlanta, Georgia]], on November 21, 1997.

She is known by the nickname ''Honey Girl'', in deference to her brother, who calls himself ''Honey Boy'' because of a reputation for being able to slip punches from opponents.

==Professional boxing record==
{{BoxingRecordSummary
|draws = 1
|nc= 1
|ko-wins = 11
|ko-losses = 0
|dec-wins = 18
|dec-losses = 6
|dq-wins =
|dq-losses =
}}
{|class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:95%"
|-
!{{abbr|No.|Number}}
!Result
!Record
!Opponent
!Type
!Round, time
!Date
!Location
!Notes
|-
|38
|{{no2}}Loss
|
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Belinda Laracuente]]
|UD
|
|2007-06-15
|style="text-align:left;"|Orleans Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, US
|style="text-align:left;"|Global Boxing Union Female World super lightweight title
|-
|37
|style="background:#DDD"|{{abbr|NC|No contest}}
|
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Chevelle Hallback]]
|
|
|2005-10-07
|style="text-align:left;"|A La Carte Event Pavilion, Tampa, Florida, US
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|36
|{{no2}}Loss
|
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Mary Jo Sanders]]
|UD
|
|2005-03-16
|style="text-align:left;"|Andiamo Italian, Warren, Michigan, US
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|35
|{{yes2}}Win
|
|style="text-align:left;"|Trisha Hill
|UD
|
|2004-05-30
|style="text-align:left;"|DC Tunnel, Washington, District of Columbia, US
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|34
|{{no2}}Loss
|
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Jenifer Alcorn]]
|SD
|
|2003-12-11
|style="text-align:left;"|Palace Indian Gaming Center, Lemoore, California, US
|style="text-align:left;"|vacant Women's International Boxing Association World lightweight title
|-
|33
|{{yes2}}Win
|
|style="text-align:left;"|Kelli Cofer
|MD
|
|2003-10-11
|style="text-align:left;"|Coliseum, Greensboro, North Carolina, US
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|32
|{{no2}}Loss
|
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Chevelle Hallback]]
|UD
|
|2003-08-30
|style="text-align:left;"|Civic Center, Savannah, Georgia, US
|style="text-align:left;"|International Boxing Association female super featherweight title
|-
|31
|{{no2}}Loss
|
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Isra Girgrah]]
|UD
|
|2003-08-09
|style="text-align:left;"|Convention Center, Washington, District of Columbia, US
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|30
|{{no2}}Loss
|
|style="text-align:left;"|Kelsey Jeffries
|UD
|
|2003-07-10
|style="text-align:left;"|HP Pavilion, San Jose, California, US
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|29
|{{yes2}}Win
|
|style="text-align:left;"|Brenda Drexel
|UD
|
|2003-01-31
|style="text-align:left;"|Harriet Himmel Theatre, West Palm Beach, Florida, US
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|28
|{{yes2}}Win
|
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Ada Velez]]
|UD
|
|2002-06-21
|style="text-align:left;"|Convention Center, Waco, Texas, US
|style="text-align:left;"|Women's International Boxing Association World super bantamweight title
|-
|27
|{{yes2}}Win
|
|style="text-align:left;"|Carla Witherspoon
|TKO
|
|2001-09-29
|style="text-align:left;"|Martinsville, Virginia, US
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|26
|{{yes2}}Win
|
|style="text-align:left;"|Sophia Johnson
|UD
|
|2001-07-26
|style="text-align:left;"|Charleston, South Carolina, US
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|25
|{{yes2}}Win
|
|style="text-align:left;"|Kelley Jones
|TKO
|
|2001-05-24
|style="text-align:left;"|The Plex, Charleston, South Carolina, US
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|24
|{{yes2}}Win
|
|style="text-align:left;"|Jovette Jackson
|UD
|
|2001-05-12
|style="text-align:left;"|
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|23
|{{yes2}}Win
|
|style="text-align:left;"|Sophia Johnson
|TKO
|
|2001-04-28
|style="text-align:left;"|Nashville, Tennessee, US
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|22
|{{yes2}}Win
|
|style="text-align:left;"|Carla Witherspoon
|TKO
|
|2001-04-12
|style="text-align:left;"|Gaillard Municipal Auditorium, Charleston, South Carolina, US
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|21
|{{yes2}}Win
|
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Layla McCarter]]
|UD
|
|2001-01-17
|style="text-align:left;"|Yonkers Raceway, Yonkers, New York, US
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|20
|{{draw}}Draw
|
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Laura Serrano]]
|PTS
|
|2000-08-12
|style="text-align:left;"|Miccosukee Indian Gaming Resort, Miami, Florida, US
|style="text-align:left;"|Women's International Boxing Association World super featherweight title
|-
|19
|{{yes2}}Win
|
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Lena Åkesson]]
|UD
|
|1999-08-14
|style="text-align:left;"|Loews Hotel, Miami Beach, Florida, US
|style="text-align:left;"|Women's International Boxing Federation World super featherweight title
|-
|18
|{{yes2}}Win
|
|style="text-align:left;"|Olivia Gerula
|UD
|
|1999-06-12
|style="text-align:left;"|Shriner's Auditorium, Wilmington, Massachusetts, US
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|17
|{{yes2}}Win
|
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Dora and Cora Webber|Cora Webber]]
|UD
|
|[[Félix Trinidad vs. Pernell Whitaker|Feb 20, 1999]]
|style="text-align:left;"|Madison Square Garden, New York, New York, US
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|16
|{{yes2}}Win
|
|style="text-align:left;"|Carla Witherspoon
|UD
|
|1999-01-22
|style="text-align:left;"|Milander Auditorium, Hialeah, Florida, US
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|15
|{{yes2}}Win
|
|style="text-align:left;"|Tawayna Broxton
|TKO
|
|1998-12-18
|style="text-align:left;"|Memorial Auditorium, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, US
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|14
|{{yes2}}Win
|
|style="text-align:left;"|Carla Witherspoon
|UD
|
|1998-11-13
|style="text-align:left;"|Miccosukee Indian Gaming Resort, Miami, Florida, US
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|13
|{{yes2}}Win
|
|style="text-align:left;"|Melinda Robinson
|UD
|
|1998-09-12
|style="text-align:left;"|Miccosukee Indian Gaming Resort, Miami, Florida, US
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|12
|{{yes2}}Win
|
|style="text-align:left;"|Tawayna Broxton
|TKO
|
|1998-08-11
|style="text-align:left;"|Miccosukee Indian Gaming Resort, Miami, Florida, US
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|11
|{{yes2}}Win
|
|style="text-align:left;"|Lakeya Williams
|TKO
|
|1998-06-27
|style="text-align:left;"|North River Gym, Miami, Florida, US
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|10
|{{yes2}}Win
|
|style="text-align:left;"|Jacklyn Rogers
|TKO
|
|1998-05-02
|style="text-align:left;"|Miccosukee Indian Gaming Resort, Miami, Florida, US
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|9
|{{yes2}}Win
|
|style="text-align:left;"|Monica Taylor
|
|
|1998-04-18
|style="text-align:left;"|Miccosukee Indian Gaming Resort, Miami, Florida, US
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|8
|{{yes2}}Win
|
|style="text-align:left;"|Denette Montgomery
|KO
|
|1998-04-04
|style="text-align:left;"|Miccosukee Indian Gaming Resort, Miami, Florida, US
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|7
|{{yes2}}Win
|
|style="text-align:left;"|Gwen Smith
|
|
|1998-01-31
|style="text-align:left;"|Ice Palace, Tampa, Florida, US
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|6
|{{yes2}}Win
|
|style="text-align:left;"|Tequile Haskins
|TKO
|
|1997-12-20
|style="text-align:left;"|Club Grand Slam, Miami, Florida, US
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|5
|{{yes2}}Win
|
|style="text-align:left;"|Taquella Hoskin
|TKO
|
|1997-12-04
|style="text-align:left;"|The Moon, Tallahassee, Florida, US
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|4
|{{yes2}}Win
|
|style="text-align:left;"|Rolanda Andrews
|
|
|1997-11-21
|style="text-align:left;"|Yonkers Raceway, Yonkers, New York, US
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|3
|{{yes2}}Win
|
|style="text-align:left;"|Tawayna Broxton
|UD
|
|1997-10-02
|style="text-align:left;"|
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|2
|{{yes2}}Win
|
|style="text-align:left;"|Tawayna Broxton
|UD
|
|1997-09-20
|style="text-align:left;"|Round 1 Gym, Boca Raton, Florida, US
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|1
|{{yes2}}Win
|
|style="text-align:left;"|Marsha Evans
|TKO
|
|1997-09-05
|style="text-align:left;"|Davidson Theatre, Pembroke Pines, Florida, US
|style="text-align:left;"|
|}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{boxrec|id=17066}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Del Valle, Melissa}}
[[Category:1969 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:American women boxers]]
[[Category:American people of Puerto Rican descent]]
[[Category:Sportspeople of Puerto Rican descent]]
[[Category:Boxers from New York City]]
[[Category:Light-welterweight boxers]]
[[Category:20th-century American sportswomen]]