One unfortunate night in Springfield turned into a Hall of Fame career for Sonya Lamonakis. 

Lamonakis — who grew up in Turners Falls — was jumped when she was 28 while grabbing money from an ATM in Springfield. 

“I didn’t know how to defend myself,” Lamonakis said. 

A friend suggested boxing as a self defense class. She took to the sport and moved to New York City to pursue a career as a boxer two years later.

It was a fast rise to the top for Lamonakis, who took home the Women’s IBO World Heavyweight championship in 2014 just 13 fights into her career. For all her accomplishments, Lamonakis was elected to the International Women’s Boxing Hall of Fame in January.

She and the other eight members of the 2023 class will be inducted in Las Vegas on Oct. 6-7. 

“I was honored. This is the big one. I’m very happy,” Lamonakis said. “There’s a lot of other champions already in the Hall of Fame, so I’m proud to now be in there.” 

Lamonakis is an outlier because she didn't start boxing at a young age, growing up and learning all of its nuances. Once she moved to New York at 30, Lamonakis trained at multiple gyms, including Gleason’s Gym in Brooklyn. There are 84 trainers there, and it has produced 121 world champions. 

“Gleason’s is the Mecca of boxing,” Lamonakis said. “It’s the oldest running gym in the country. Anyone who is anybody has worked through those doors. I’m honored to have a my banner on the wall there.” 

Her first professional fight came in 2010, and she started her career with three straight victories. She was then matched up against Tanzee Daniel, another rising up-and-comer, for No. 4 at MGM Grand in Foxwoods. They met three times, and Lamonakis won the first in a unanimous decision. 

Lamonakis started her career with 6-0before earning two consecutive draws via split decision. In 2012 she got back in the win column, once again defeating Daniel at Foxwoods. 

“I was starting to beat everyone up,” Lamonakis sia.d “I never lost in New York. I made sure to be in good shape and use my head. I wasn’t just a brawler. I threw a lot of punches and did what I had to do to be successful. I knew the scoring system. I used to just go forward and pressure in tight. I was short, like Joe Frazier. I couldn’t box like Ali. I was an inside fighter who put the pressure on, threw a lot of left hooks and straight rights.”

The Turners native suffered her first loss in 2013, falling to Martha Salazar in a unanimous decision out in Sacramento, California. Lamonakis turned around and took Daniel out for the third time in August of the same year, setting her up to fight for the New York State heavyweight title six months later against Tiffany Woodard, who she had history with. 

Lamonakis took home the title with a unanimous decision. That win boosted Lamonakis’ career and set her up for the fight of her life against Carlette Ewell for the vacant IBO World Heavyweight title in December 2014 at the L.B. Scott Sports Auditorium in Philipsburg, Sint Maarten. Ewell had previously held the WIBC Womens International Boxing Council Light Heavyweight title and the UNBC Female Heavyweight title. 

Lamonakis fought to a 98-95, 96-94, 96-97 split decision victory to become the World Heavyweight Champion. 

“I fought a world champion to become a world champion,” Lamonakis said. “It was a tough journey. I was 3-0 and fought a top contender and beat her. I never took an easy fight and I never bought a fight. I went right to the top as fast I could and was able to do it, as there’s not a ton of heavyweight fighters.” 

Lamonakis fought twice after, falling to Gwendolyn O’Neil in the Universal Boxing Federation World Heavyweight title before earning a unanimous decision draw against Laura Ramsey for the same title in 2017. 

Injuries forced Lamonakis to retire after, ending an unlikely yet remarkable boxing career in the ring. 

“Winning the IBO title and the New York title with both my parents there were two of the most important moments of my career,” Lamonakis said. “A lot of boxers start fighting when they’re eight years old. I started when I was 28. I made a career out of it and took it far. I had to work twice as hard to get caught up in less time. It was impressive I was able to get as far as I did in such a short amount of time in a male dominated sport.”

While she was done fighting, her time in the boxing world was just getting started.  Lamonakis continued to train at Gleason’s and helped the New York City Cops and Kids boxing program. She also worked promoting fights and running the amateur fight scene in New York. 

“The transition into training helped me get through retiring from boxing,” Lamonakis said. “I tore ligaments in my shoulders and didn’t have as much strength as I used to. I still had my wits about me so decided to retire. Now I’m part of the movement of giving back.”

Her love of the sport that gave her so much brought her back to help the next generation evolve as both boxers and human beings. 

“Boxing has given me a world of dreams,” Lamonakis said. “I’ve been able to box around the world, I’ve won a world title in another country against a world champion. Boxing has made me calmer and helped me control my anger. I’m thankful for my journey and all the people who have helped me. Now it’s my turn to give back to the sport.” 

It’s Lamonakis’ mission to give back in any way she can. The work she does in the boxing community — which includes working with the “Give a Kid a Dream” program at Gleasons, a non-profit that helps financially struggling kids who want to get a pass to the gym, a subway metro card and free training — is all volunteer based. 

“I feel like boxing is a journey that changes lives,” she said. “My journey was different, as is everyone’s. Hard work and dedication got me where I am. Now I can give back to the sport in a different way by creating opportunities for amateur fighters. I fought four times at [Madison Square Garden], and this year I promoted my fourth fight at MSG. It’s a full circle journey.” 

Her main job is in the classroom, where she worked for her entire boxing career. Now Lmonakis teaches seventh grade math at P.S./M.S. 183 in Queens. She was a teacher throughout her time fighting in the ring, which earned her the nickname “The Scholar.” 

“I’m very strict in the classroom just like I am in the ring,” Lamonakis said. “I lined up the kids desks in a square just like a ring. It’s a no-nonsense classroom. It’s tough love because I want them to be successful. My goal isn’t to train them to be champions in the ring but to be champions in life. These kids need to have the skills necessary to be successful in the 21st century.”

Those lessons apply in the ring, where she hopes that the foundations she works for help get kids into the gym and away from trouble on the streets. 

“I’m just sad seeing some of the stuff that’s going on,” Lamonakis said. “We need more boxing gyms. Boxing is a beautiful sport. People see it as barbaric but it’s an art. Boxing is full of good hearted people. Our gyms we don’t charge them when they’re coming in off the streets. It’s a donation based program. We’re giving our time for the greater good of New York City.” 

Throughout her Hall of Fame career, Lamonakis has always held Turners Falls in her heart. In 2018 she was honored with a plaque at Unity Park, as she says she always knew she had her hometown supporting her throughout her time in the ring.

“I’m thankful for everyone in Turners who would hop on a bus with my mom and dad and come support me,” Lamonakis said. “People in Turners were always supporting me, coming to my fight and giving me nice compliments. I always appreciated the love I got from the 413.” 

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