Burnside began her professional boxing career on August 8, 1997, at the relatively old age (for a boxer) of 32, losing a four-round decision to Gloria Ramirez, in Houston, Texas.
Burnside began to show a promising future when she dealt Sue Chase a fifth round knockout defeat on June 3 of that year,[clarification needed] in the Worley, Idaho.
On June 16, she lost to future world champion Margaret Sidoroff for the WIBF's intercontinental Super Flyweight title, by a ten-round unanimous decision, in New Orleans, Louisiana.
On August 14, she lost to Kathy Williams, but she got a break on her next fight, beating Rosie Johnson by a four-round unanimous decision on November 18.
Fighting for the WIBF's world Super Flyweight championship, Burnside lost a ten-round unanimous decision in Germany and later retired from boxing.