Tori Nelson
Name: Tori Nelson
Birth Name: Tori Jovan Nelson
Hometown: Ashburn, Virginia, USA
Birthplace: South Hill, Virginia, USA
Stance: Orthodox
Height: 168cm
Reach: 163cm
Promoter: Record
Pro Boxer: Record
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Tori Jovan Nelson, better known as Tori "ShoNuff" Nelson, is an American former professional boxer and multi-division world champion from Virginia. During a professional career spanning from 2010 to 2019, Nelson competed from welterweight through super middleweight and compiled a professional record of 20 wins, 2 losses and 3 draws, with 4 wins by knockout. Nelson captured championships across multiple weight divisions and sanctioning organizations, including titles recognized by the World Boxing Council (WBC), Women's International Boxing Association (WIBA), and Universal Boxing Federation (UBF). She became one of the most accomplished female champions in UBF history, winning UBF World championships at welterweight, super welterweight, middleweight and super middleweight. In 2022, Nelson was inducted into the International Women's Boxing Hall of Fame.
Profile
Name: Tori Nelson
Birth name: Tori Jovan Nelson
Nickname: "ShoNuff"
Nationality: American
Born: August 26, 1976
Birthplace: South Hill, Virginia, United States
Hometown: Ashburn, Virginia, United States
Height: 5 ft 6 in (168 cm)
Reach: 64 in (163 cm)
Stance: Orthodox
Divisions: Welterweight / Super Welterweight / Middleweight / Super Middleweight
Professional record: 20-2-3 (4 KOs)
Professional career: 2010-2019
Amateur career
Before turning professional, Nelson established herself in the Washington, D.C. amateur boxing scene. She was a three-time Washington, D.C. Golden Gloves champion before entering the professional ranks. Her amateur background helped prepare her for a professional career built around durability, conditioning, pressure and the ability to compete effectively across multiple weight divisions.
Professional career
Nelson made her professional debut in 2010 and developed into one of the most accomplished American female fighters of her era. She remained unbeaten through the first 20 professional bouts of her career, compiling a record of 17-0-3 before facing two-time Olympic gold medalist Claressa Shields in 2018. Throughout her career, Nelson competed from welterweight through super middleweight and won major championships in multiple divisions. She became known for her durability, conditioning and willingness to face elite competition.
Early championship career
Nelson emerged as a world-level fighter during the early 2010s. She captured the WBC female middleweight championship and also won WIBA championships in multiple weight classes. Her championship run established her as one of the leading female boxers competing in the United States during that period. Among the notable fighters Nelson faced during her career were Mia St. John, Kali Reis, Arlene Blencowe, Alicia Napoleon Espinosa, Claressa Shields and Christina Hammer.
Universal Boxing Federation championship career
Nelson became one of the most accomplished female champions in the history of the Universal Boxing Federation. She captured UBF World championships in four different weight divisions.
UBF World Welterweight Championship
On November 15, 2014, Nelson faced Victoria Cisneros at the Patriot Center in Fairfax, Virginia. Nelson won the bout by unanimous decision over ten rounds and captured the vacant:
- UBF World Female Welterweight Championship
- WIBA World Welterweight Championship
The victory marked the beginning of Nelson's multi-division championship run with the UBF.
UBF World Super Welterweight Championship
On March 20, 2015, Nelson faced Kita Watkins at Martin's West in Woodlawn, Maryland. Nelson won by unanimous decision over ten rounds to capture the vacant:
- UBF World Female Super Welterweight Championship
The victory made Nelson a UBF champion in a second weight division.
UBF World Middleweight Championship
On June 20, 2015, Nelson again faced Kita Watkins at Martin's West in Woodlawn, Maryland. Nelson won another ten-round unanimous decision and captured the vacant:
- UBF World Female Middleweight Championship
The championship made Nelson a UBF World champion in a third weight division.
UBF and WIBA World Super Middleweight Championships
On December 10, 2016, Nelson faced undefeated contender Alicia Napoleon Espinosa at the ABC Sports Complex in Springfield, Virginia. Nelson won by unanimous decision over ten rounds to capture the vacant:
- UBF World Female Super Middleweight Championship
- WIBA World Super Middleweight Championship
With the victory, Nelson became a four-division UBF World champion.
Claressa Shields bout
On January 12, 2018, Nelson challenged two-time Olympic gold medalist Claressa Shields at the Turning Stone Resort & Casino in Verona, New York. The bout was contested for the IBF and WBC female super middleweight championships. Nelson entered the contest undefeated with a record of 17-0-3. Shields won the ten-round bout by unanimous decision, handing Nelson the first professional defeat of her career.
Christina Hammer bout
On June 22, 2018, Nelson faced undefeated German world champion Christina Hammer at the Masonic Temple in Detroit, Michigan. The contest was fought for Hammer's WBC and WBO female middleweight championships. Hammer won by unanimous decision after ten rounds. The bout marked Nelson's second professional loss.
Return to the UBF World Middleweight Championship
Nelson returned to winning form following the Hammer bout. On August 4, 2018, she defeated Tiffany Woodard by sixth-round technical knockout. Nelson then faced Finnish boxer Sanna Turunen on December 1, 2018 at the Entertainment and Sports Arena in Washington, D.C. Nelson won the ten-round contest by unanimous decision and captured the vacant:
- UBF World Female Middleweight Championship
The victory returned Nelson to championship status and added another UBF World title victory to her career.
Final professional bout
Nelson fought for the final time on September 14, 2019 against Latasha Burton at the Dulles Sportsplex in Sterling, Virginia. Nelson won by first-round technical knockout. She finished her professional career with a record of: 20 wins, 2 losses, 3 draws, 4 knockouts
Championships and accomplishments
Universal Boxing Federation
- UBF World Female Welterweight Champion
- Defeated Victoria Cisneros - November 15, 2014
- UBF World Female Super Welterweight Champion
- Defeated Kita Watkins - March 20, 2015
- UBF World Female Middleweight Champion
- Defeated Kita Watkins - June 20, 2015
- UBF World Female Super Middleweight Champion
- Defeated Alicia Napoleon Espinosa - December 10, 2016
- UBF World Female Middleweight Champion
- Defeated Sanna Turunen - December 1, 2018
Nelson is recognized as a four-division UBF World champion.
World Boxing Council
- WBC Female Middleweight Champion
Women's International Boxing Association
- WIBA World Middleweight Champion
- WIBA World Welterweight Champion
- WIBA World Super Middleweight Champion
Hall of Fame
- International Women's Boxing Hall of Fame inductee - 2022
Notable professional bouts
Mia St. John
Nelson defeated former world champion Mia St. John during her rise through the professional ranks.
Arlene Blencowe
Nelson defeated Arlene Blencowe by split decision over ten rounds on September 27, 2014.
Victoria Cisneros
Nelson defeated Victoria Cisneros by unanimous decision on November 15, 2014 to capture the UBF and WIBA World welterweight championships.
Kita Watkins
Nelson defeated Kita Watkins twice in 2015, first capturing the UBF World super welterweight title and later the UBF World middleweight championship.
Alicia Napoleon Espinosa
Nelson defeated the previously unbeaten Alicia Napoleon Espinosa by unanimous decision on December 10, 2016, winning the UBF and WIBA World super middleweight championships.
Claressa Shields
Nelson challenged Claressa Shields for the IBF and WBC female super middleweight championships on January 12, 2018. Shields won by unanimous decision.
Christina Hammer
Nelson challenged Christina Hammer for the WBC and WBO female middleweight championships on June 22, 2018. Hammer won by unanimous decision.
Sanna Turunen
Nelson defeated Sanna Turunen by unanimous decision on December 1, 2018 to capture the vacant UBF World middleweight championship.
Fighting style
Nelson fought from an orthodox stance and built much of her success around conditioning, strength, durability and sustained pressure. Her ability to compete effectively across several weight divisions allowed her to capture championships from welterweight through super middleweight. Nelson was particularly known for her durability and was never stopped during her professional career. She completed the distance against elite championship opponents including Claressa Shields and Christina Hammer.
Hall of Fame
In 2022, Nelson was inducted into the International Women's Boxing Hall of Fame. The honor recognized her championship accomplishments, longevity and contributions to women's professional boxing.
Legacy
Tori Nelson's career coincided with a major period of growth for women's professional boxing. Her success across multiple divisions, combined with championship appearances against elite opponents, made her one of the prominent American female boxers of the 2010s. Within the history of the Universal Boxing Federation, Nelson holds a particularly significant place as a four-division UBF World champion. She captured UBF World championships at:
- Welterweight
- Super Welterweight
- Middleweight
- Super Middleweight
Her victories over Victoria Cisneros, Kita Watkins, Alicia Napoleon Espinosa and Sanna Turunen form one of the most extensive UBF championship résumés among female fighters associated with the organization.
Professional record summary
Total fights: 25
Wins: 20
Wins by knockout: 4
Losses: 2
Draws: 3