Shelby Walker
Status: Professional boxer/ Mixed Martial Artist. Passed away in 2006. Recorded quickest KO in women’s MMA (5 Seconds)
Ht: 5-7 Wt: 130
Born On: February 27 In: Texas
Childhood Heroes: “Royce Gracie, Sakuraba, Sugar Ray Leonard.”
Hobbies/Interests: “I like to fish, I like to spend time in the country, go to the beach. That’s about it, besides training.”
Nickname: Shelby Girl.
Favorite Movies: “Hmmm…Dirty Dancing [laughs]. And Ali.”
Musical Tastes: “I like hip-hop, Eminem, Snoop Dogg.
Favorite TV Shows: “Friends.”
Early Boxing Memory: “I remember I had no rhythm. My coaches told me that. I couldn’t get it together. I was the only white person in the gym (in south Texas in ‘99), it was all Mexicans. I’m training with Howard Davis Jr. now. He’s helped a lot.”
First Job: “At a nursing home in Texas. I was a nursing assistant. Took care of elderly people (age 16).”
First Car: “A Buick.”
Favorite Meal: “Fried catfish, red beans and rice.”
Favorite Breakfast Cereal: “Raisin Bran.”
Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: “Chocolate chip cookie dough.”
Pre-Fight Feeling: “Winning. Think about winning.”
Funny Boxing Memory: “My very first boxing match ever (in Indianapolis in 2002). My opponent (Christmas Davis) came in with her hair taped up off the top of her head. In the second round I hit her and her hair flew off. It turned out it was a weave. The ref separated us and had to give her hair to her corner. (Who ended up winning?) I won by 2nd-round TKO. I guess she got flustered a little when her hair flew off.”
Greatest Sports Moment: “The five-second KO I got in Boston (vs. Angela Wilson). A straight right hand, right on the chin.”
Most Painful Moment: “When I knocked my shoulder out of socket. It slipped out throwing a punch that connected – a straight right, during sparring. And when the right side of my face was paralyzed. I was afraid it was going to be permanent. I got knocked out in training. It pinched a nerve in my face. As a result, my face was paralyzed for almost a month.”
Favorite Boxers To Watch: “Sugar Ray Leonard, Howard Davis Jr., Kostya Tszyu, Roy Jones Jr., Layla McCarter.”
Embarrassing Moment: “I showed up at a new boxing gym one day, just trying it out. I was boxing about two rounds. A guy came up to me and tapped me on the shoulder – the whole seam of my shorts had torn out. And I had on thong underwear. And that was their first impression of me.”
Childhood Dream(s): “A nurse for a while. And then I wanted to be a soldier, which I did for the Army.”
Last Halloween Costume: “A baby.”
People Qualities Most Admired: “Honesty, loyalty.”