All-time boxing greats: Top 5 best female boxers in history

4. Ann Wolfe (24-1, 16 KOs)

Ann Wolfe is arguably the most intimidating figure in women’s boxing history. The often stone-faced Wolfe knew her craft well, possessed devastating power, and eventually passed her knowledge on to others.

Wolfe shared the details of her early personal life in a candid interview with HBO’s Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel. Before becoming a boxer, Wolfe lived through horrific physical and sexual abuse and was even homeless for some time. Boxing became her salvation.

Wolfe might be the hardest puncher in boxing history. Her round 1 one-punch knockout of Vonda Ward in 2004 might be the most eye-catching knockout in history. She finished her career with a 61 percent KO rating, which is even more impressive considering female boxing bouts are limited to two-minute rounds. Less time to fight means less time to knock out an opponent.

Wolfe won numerous titles throughout her eight-year professional career.  Her only loss came against Valerie Mahfood in 2000, but she avenged that loss by defeating Mahfood twice later in her career.

Wolfe worked as a boxing trainer and made a cameo appearance in the film Wonder Woman. She trained super welterweight contender James Kirkland, who is a dangerous knockout puncher like Wolfe.