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1900
According to a legend, the first woman announced a "world boxing championess" was Polly Burns. In 1900, she had gone to Paris to take on the US women's champion, Texas Mamie Donovan who failed to show up and Polly was duly declared the world champion. Actually, there were no regular championships at that time while there were a lot of world champions in all sports. At the end of her life, she sold her story to the British tabloids but there is no real evidence the story was true.
1901
Great American inventor Thomas Edison made the film "Sister Gordon Boxing" in which the boxer sisters demonstrated good skills, speed and grace in a well choreographed boxing match.
In Wishaw Fair in England, a "pugilistic exhibition" occurred – a boxing match between Rosie Danvers, "the Champion Lady Boxer of the World from London" and "Professor Ball" – a fair pugilist. "Rosie went on to knock her opponent down twice in the final round and was awarded the contest."
Circa 1902
Police Gazette reported: "About 1902 Mlle. Augagnier beat Miss Pinkney of England in a savage fight. It was mix of straight boxing and Savate (French kickboxing). Pinkney was better with her fists and looked like a winner after about one and a half hours of bloody fighting, but Mlle. A. cleverly managed to kick Pinkney in the face. This blow made a terrible scar and stunned the English girl and then the French girl shot a smashing kick to Pinkney’s stomach and knocked her out. The French girl was carried by her admirers in triumph from the ring." Perhaps, this fight was held in the context of the old tradition (since 18th century) of unregulated women's prize fighting, especially brutal and bloody.
1904
Boxing was introduced at the 1904 Olympic Games in St. Louis. Women’s boxing was a displayed event at the third Olympic games. However, women's boxing didn't strike root in the Olympics, while men’s debutants - boxing and freestyle wrestling also having their debut at the St. Louis Games, survived until the present day.
1905
The first record about a boxing class for women. "It is a good thing for a girl to learn to box," says an article in the beauty column of February 27, 1905 issue of the “New York Evening World." Why? Because "poise, grace and buoyancy of movement result from this exercise." Techniques that schoolgirls were told to practice with their maids included hooks to the face and solar plexus punches. According to the "New York World", young ladies attending the Madison Academy in New York City also boxed and wrestled. "Annie Lynch, the boxer, was said to hit a harder blow than the average young man. Every blow comes straight from the shoulder, not with awkwardness and lack of speed one would expect, but with the weight of the body behind it."
Circa 1912
A well-known showman William Moore promoted women fighters on his shows; he exhibited his son and two daughters on the front of his boxing booth. One of her daughter was advertised as the Champion Lady boxer. Solidly built, in stylized costumes, the Moore sisters impressed a country audience. His show license was temporarily Moore temporarily revoked for allowing his daughters to box.
1916
In February 1916 a boxing match was held between a man and a woman. A newspaper report as of February 29, 1916 says: "Helen Hildreth, the Lady pugilist, was having the best of it in a mixed fight with Johnny Atkinson, when police and boxing commissioner Fred Wenck jumped into the ring and ordered the fight stopped."
1920s
"Countess" Jeanne La Marr from USA was a ballet dancer turned boxer who fought prize fights in the 1920s against both men and women. Being very short (5'2") she had a powerful build and was considered as a "world boxing champion" (even though probably she was not alone possessing this title). After the boxing commissions of several states banned female boxers, La Marr retired to the mountains in California.
Boxing part of the physical training of young ladies in Boston (USA).
A photo as of 1922 owned by Jack Dempsey represented a Germany women's boxing team.
In 1924, "Police Gazette" reported about two Savat" fights (strikes with the feet as well as the hands; Savat was popular and sometimes girls as young as 12 years old headed the bill.) In one of the fights, a woman of 25 stood against a girl of 17: "One snapshot showed the woman shooting a kick at the girl’s head; the girl was warding it off with her left arm and sending in her right fist to the woman’s stomach... This fight ended in a victory for the woman." "Another such a fight was won by Mlle Fari, who, soon after an hour of bloody and bruising battle, broke the other girl’s jaw by a savage kick..." Apparently, these fights were about unregulated prize fighting.
In 1920s, Professor Andrew Newton (1888 and 1890 British amateur boxing lightweight champion) formed a Women Boxing Club in London. The Club prospered owing to the great enthusiasm shown by the London sports girl. Miss Annie Newton, Professor’s niece, was the most known boxer in the club. Annie Newton often fought exhibition bouts on the same bill as many of the professional fighters managed by Andrew Newton. In 1924 a match was made between Annie Newton and a Miss Madge Baker for the ladies world championship. The story was all over the press of the time and caused quite a stir as it was utterly unique. The fight was stopped by the Home Office about a week before it was due to take place. After World War I, Annie was a war-widow and boxed to support her daughter.
The French film studios Gaumont produced the film "London's women boxers” about the Newton’s Club and its female boxers. Professor Newton took charge of the ring craft during the film.
Another testimony that boxing was popular among America ladies as good body gymnastics. According to an article published in 1928, the gym of Jack' O'Brien, located in the heart of Broadway's white light section, is now more sonorously entitled “The Flesh Reducing Institute”, and Mr. O'Brien's clients, who, a few years ago were almost 100% men, are now almost exclusively women. Parallel with other sports, women also practiced boxing. But, in common with other practiced sports that had previously been characterized as suited only to men, women’s boxing faced harsh and widespread opposition. It was argued that the training made women muscular and therefore ugly, and that hard hitting could cause cancer or harm the ovaries, womb, and breasts and thus affect women’s abilities to bear and suckle children.
Circa 1930
In the late 1920s and early 1930s, mighty Annie Hayes (nee Hickman, born in 1913) performed as a boxer on English fairs. Sometimes she fought against volunteers of both sexes from audience. When she was 14, a male Gypsy challenged her for a fight doubting she was a "boxing champion". She side-stepped him several times and eventually punched him right out the ring."
A contemporary of Annie Hickman was Winnie Lemm performed on the boxing shows as "Winnie Davis, the Lady Boxing Champion." Winnie appeared in many exhibition bouts in the 1920s and 1930s and fought both men and women. An account of her father's show with female boxers can be found in the "World's Fair" in the 1930s. An advertisement in the local press in 1929 reveals Winnie's bouts in Wales: "Miss Winnie Davies, the Flyweight Champion Lady boxer will box with a well-known Aberdeen boxer." Winnie participated in exhibition bouts with Len Harvey, the British Middleweight Champion.
1941
Wayward countess Jean La Marr, a forty-year-old petite boxer, performed in the CCC camp in Valyermo, CA where boxing matches were staged. She fought mostly against men. In one night, she knocked out two male fighters. Her short stature might not have seemed too threatening but her 170 pounds appeared to be more muscle than fat.
1950s
Three prominent female boxers dominated American rings during 1950s and played a significant part in the world of women's boxing:
- Barbara Buttrick ("Battling"), flyweight; considered as a "Mother of the modern women's boxing". She was a tough fighter; sometimes she bloodied and broke noses (including her ex-husband’s, who sparred with her). She scored 12 knockouts, without ever being knocked out herself. Her career record: 30-1-1. Buttrick began her boxing career fighting in boxing booths, portable rings that passed through villages, inviting anyone to fight. Sports writers found her quick and skillful, her endurance formidable.
- Joann Hagen, lightweight - the only female to defeat Barbara Buttrick (in 1957). Hagen was moving over the ring very gracefully; however she managed to knock out a lot of opponents (carrying herself gracefully too). Hagen was a tall, beautiful blond-haired woman – her femininity always well contrasted with the tough boxing scenery.
- Phyllis Kugler, featherweight - a boxer who had over 50 fights that included exhibitions, with only one loss to Barbara Buttrick. Kugler always maintained femininity outside of the ring - which was totally opposite of her inside the ring. In July of 1957, Kugler was chosen by the Fraternal Order of Police as "woman boxer and Beauty Queen of the year."
In 1952, in Michigan City, Joann Hagen fought against a male boxer, Norm Jones, and defeated him in a four-round decision
On September 9, 1954, Barbara Buttrick engaged in the first female boxing in Canada which was the first ever radiobroadcast of a professional women’s boxing bout. (Other source says about the TV broadcast).
In 1956, Hagen and Kugler appeared in Steve Allen Show; they were billed as "Champion Women Boxers". The ladies come out in evening dresses (Hagen was especially gorgeous) and then changed into their boxing uniform on stage, behind a screen. Hagen sparred a little with Allen, who quickly gave up, then with Kugler. Hagen announced that she and Kugler were having a "world title match".
On October 9th, 1957, Barbara Buttrick won the first "Women’s World Boxing Championship" in San Antonio, Texas. In that year Buttrick suffered the only defeat in her pro boxing career – from Joann Hagen.
1960
Joann Hagen of Akron, Ohio, world's 126-pound champ, brings crowd of 4,000 fighting against male boxer Pat Emerick in the six-round bout in Cincinnati.
Barbara Buttrick created a record 12 year active boxing career. The longest in women’s boxing history. In 12 years in the fairs and ring she had over 1,000 boxing exhibitions, mainly with male opponents.
1970s
In 1970s, attempts were made to find more "humane" forms of boxing appropriate for women. One of such attempts - boxing without punches to the head - only to the torso (as if woman's torso is less vulnerable than the head). The videoclip at the left represents a "light" body boxing match. In fact, the ladies deliver punches to the throat which are prohibited even in the "normal" boxing.
1975
Marion Bermudez entered the amateur boxing tournament "Golden Gloves" in Arizona and stopped her first male opponent.
Jackie Tonawanda made her mark in history at the Madison Square Garden, in New York, when she took on a kickboxer Larry Rodania. Tonawanda KO'd him in the second round. Tonawanda believed that doing this exhibition, she would gain her much needed New York boxing license that was being denied by the New York commission - along with two other women boxers, Lady Tyger Trimiar and Cathy "Cat" Davis who were also trying in vain to get the right to fight in New York.
In January 1975, Eva Shain wrote a letter to New York State Athletic Commission Chairman Edwin B. Dooley and asked to be granted permission to judge pro fights. A week later, he wrote back and said that he would give her a hearing. SHAIN entered the hearing room on Jan. 6, 1975, and found out the next day that she had a unanimous vote to be a judge. Her first professional fight that she judged on was on the eve of Thanksgiving in 1975. Two years later, Sept. 29, 1977, she was at ringside in Madison Square Garden judging her first World championship bout with Muhammad Ali vs. Earnie Shavers. Shain was the first female judge to work a world heavyweight title bout. It was also the first time a woman judge Worked a professional fight at New York’s Madison Square Garden. Shain earned a place in the Guinness Book of Sports Records and eventually became the subject of a Trivial Pursuit question. Eva Shain lost her battle with cancer in August of 1999.
1976
Lavonne Ludian, a 21-dealer from Las Vegas, was extremely popular as a boxer drawing large crowds. The future creator of "Million dollar baby", Clint Eastwood, was her special friend and attended her fights.
Jackie Tonawanda got the opportunity to work out in the gym and spar with Muhammad Ali on September 2, 1976, at his training camp at the Concord Hotel Kiamesha Lake, N.Y. She remarked about Ali: "Ali's hands were faster than ever, I'm glad they weren't touching me. His combinations were beautiful - a jet plane would do second to him."
1977
The first official Women Boxing Federation (WBF) champions according to the WBF rating were welterweight Margie Dunson (Maine, USA) and lightweight Cathy (Cat) Davis (NY, USA).
Diane Syverson from California, a Roller Derby queen converted to boxing. in the age of 26, she impressed boxing fans with fourth-round knockout over Kim Maybe who overweighed her by 20 pounds (Diane was 5''7"/147 lbs). It might be considered as the first officially recorded knockout in women's boxing.
1975 - 1979
In 1975, Caroline Svendsen receives the first documented boxing license in the United States in the state of Nevada, and has a sanctioned boxing match in a scheduled four-rounder in Virginia City, Nevada. In 1976, boxer Pat Pineda is the first woman to be licensed in the California; and in 1978, after an on-going lawsuit in the state of New York, three high-profile women boxers, Cathy "Cat" Davis, Jackie Tonawanda, and Marian "Lady Tyger" Trimiar receive their boxing licenses. There are many women who had received first-time licenses during this period, but these particular historical licensing events initiate a flurry of publicity that in turn encouraged other women to join the sport. (WBAN has spoken to past boxers from the 1950's who claim that they had received boxing licenses, but at this present time there has been no documentation to substantiate that information).
The “Missy Junior Gloves” Boxing Club was the oldest in Texas that allowed young ladies to box in the 70's. The coach, a devoted man to boxing, and music, Doyle Weaver, was very committed to having such a facility for these youngsters.
Dianne Syverson, a Roller Derby queen was known to be one of the toughest fighters in the late 70's. Syverson’s most impressive win was a fourth-round knockout over Kim Maybee, as Diane spotted. her middleweight opponent almost 20
1977
Boxing ban in USA was lifted after almost 100 years since a professional boxing match had been held in Fayetteville, NC Boxing had been illegal in Cumberland County from 1880 until early in 1977 when the ban on the sport was lifted. November 1977, first female bout, Cathy "Cat" Davis vs. Margie Dunson.
1978
Ginger Kaufman and other women first fought in a sanctioned amateur competition in Minnesota.
1979
Shirley "Zebra Girl" Tucker challenges the state of California to increase the number of rounds women could fight. Tucker was backed by the American Civil Liberties Union, and ultimately was able to force the California Commission to change their regulations which at the time forbade female fighters from fighting more than four rounds.
1980
Famous boxing promoter Don King addressed women's boxing in the first women's boxing magazine (WBB) in March 1980: "Women's boxing is something that was unacceptable in the past. It’s not new, it’s been going on a long time, but I think that it’s becoming more acceptable. I’ve never been opposed to women’s boxing. I’ve always been for human rights, equal rights."
1982
In February 1982, Jill Lafler, a 19-year-old Lansing Community College student, who wanted to be Michigan’s first female Golden Gloves contestant and had filed a lawsuit to win that chance, dropped her lawsuit. Lafler had lost an early round of her lawsuit when the U.S. District Judge Wendell Miles ruled against her. Even though Lafler dropped her lawsuit, it was noted that it had opened up a lot of eyes, and they realized that the (state) agency needed some type of need for governing body regulations on women’s boxing.
1983
On October 21, 1983 the match Darlina Valdez against Holley McDaniel was the first main event on a card. They fought the longest pro bout by the men's rules at the time - 15 three-minute rounds and eight-ounce gloves. Beautiful McDaniel, a high school beauty contest winner and mother of a three-year-old, got her nose broken in the 11th round, but continued bravely to the finish (even though she lost the match).
1987
In April 1987, Former World Women's Lightweight Marian "Lady Tyger" Trimiar stages a well-publicized month long hunger strike, losing nearly 30 lbs., for the rights of women's boxing and to advocate better money and conditions for professional female boxers---even though she is protesting for others and not herself. Trimiar and others direct their picketing to the promoters at the time who are putting on televised cards. Trimiar tells the media, "Unless women get more recognition, we will be fighting just as a novelty for the rest of our lives. There will be no future."
1992
In April 1992, after eight-years in court in Massachusetts, Gail Grandchamp of North Adams, Massachusetts wins her battle to fight as in a ruling by a state Superior Court judge who rules it was illegal to deny someone a chance to box based on gender. During her battle to win the right to box as an amateur, she passes the age of 36, the maximum age for amateur fighters. Even though she knew it would not help her as an amateur, Grandchamp continues her successful efforts, and eventually did box professionally for a time.
1993
In March, 1993, Dallas Malloy, at 16 years old, became the first female to challenge USA Boxing's bylaw that did not allow women to compete, and sues them in federal court for gender discrimination. Malloy wins her case, which generates both national and international publicity. Malloy and Heather Poyner become the first to fight in the state of Washington in a sanctioned amateur bout. Even though Malloy was determined to pursue boxing, she stopped boxing in the next year, declaring that it was "boring." Although this event has been portrayed in the news media as a "history first" for women boxing in amateurs, the first sanctioned amateur boxing for women boxers took place in Minnesota in 1978.
In June 1993, Jo-Anne Newman of Aiken County was recognized as the first woman to referee an amateur boxing match at the international level junior Olympics. Newman was the first and only woman referee in South Carolina to hold multiple state offices, including the South Carolina Junior Olympic Chairman, a position that she had been elected to since 1991.
In October 1993, USA Boxing adopts rules and regulations implementing women’s amateur boxing into its amateur boxing program after losing a landmark court case.
1995
In 1995, the New York Daily News Golden Gloves yearly amateur tournament includes women in their event for the first time. An amateur female boxer, Dee Hamaguchi, is credited for breaking this barrier, allowing this event to become a breeding ground for future professional world champions. A year before, Dee had applied to fight in this tournament in New York without revealing that she was a female, without giving away her gender. Unfortunately Dee did not get her schedule for the physical exam and did not participate.
1996
On March 16, 1996, Christy Martin met Deirdre Gogarty. This match is considered by many to be the birth of modern professional women’s boxing, the two staged a bloody six-round slugfest clearly impressing those ringside and a world wide pay-per-view audience, upstaging Mike Tyson’s easy win over Frank Bruno. A flood of worldwide coverage follows, including weeks later a Sports Illustrated cover story on Martin. While Martin could have easily carried the torch for the sport, she makes it perfectly clear through many public comments she is not an advocate for women’s boxing in general, but instead is only in the sport for one person - herself.
In November 1996, Amateur Boxing Association of England voted in favor of lifting the 116-year ban against women boxing. Not everyone is in agreement with allowing girls as young as ten to spar in gyms and to take part in competition.
The four-day amateur tournament in Augusta is a result of USA Boxing reaction to the increase in the number of women boxers. The spurt occurred after a Seattle-area woman’s successful suit against the organization in 1991 for the right to compete. In 1993, women were recognized as members by USA Boxing.
1997
In July 1997, USA Boxing’s first ever Women’s National Championships. First ever boxing tournament that included only women boxers.
J'Marie Moore became the first boxing daughter of a famous father that boxed (Archie Moore) even though many have thought that Leila Ali was the first. She had her pro debut in 1997 winning by a unanimous decision.
1998
Landmark lawsuit: Britain Jane "The Fleetwood Assassin" Couch takes the British Boxing Board of Control to task for sex discrimination over their refusal to grant her a license to fight in the UK. Couch who had been denied a boxing license since June 1997, and had to come to the United States in order to box, was relentless in her battle to face the BBC in this denial of her right to box. Couch wins the right to "fight" and in Streatham, UK, on November 25, 1998, stops German Simona Lukic in the second round.
1999
Muhammad Ali's Daughter, Leila "She-Bee Stinging" Ali, 21, made her ring debut against April Fowler of Michigan City, Indiana, on October 8, 1999 at the Turning Stone Casino Convention Center on the Oneida Indian Nation in Verona, New York. For Leila's debut a totally safe opponent was selected - April Fowler was an out-of-shape novice. The bout lasted just 31 seconds and was too one-sided to establish any boxing credentials for Leila.
What was billed as the "first" male-female professional bout took place on October 9, 1999 in Seattle, Washington (by coincidence, a day after Leila Ali's ring debut.) Margaret McGregor faces male boxer Loi Chow in a fight scheduled for four two-minute rounds. This event took on international presence, and brought to the surface many troubling issues in the world of women's boxing. After all of the hoopla was over, it was determined that the fight would be considered an "exhibition" and therefore was far from being the "first" of mixed matches that have taken place off and on throughout the history of women's boxing.
2001
The most significant Leila Ali's fight -- and the sports most significant fight since Martin-Gogarty -- comes June 8, 2001, when 8,000 fans and hundreds of media trek to upstate New York, for Ali-Frazier IV, a showdown with Jacqui Frazier, daughter of longtime Ali archrival Joe Frazier. The two silence many critics with their spirited and entertaining eight-round bout, won by Ali. The fight draws more than 100,000 pay-per-view buys, again surprising the experts.
That's how the 21st Century began in the women's boxing world…
This material was formed using the following main sources
(besides other materials of the Female Single Combat Club):
"Women’s Sports: A History" by Allen Guttman (Columbia University press, 1991)
"Fair Fight: an illustrated review of boxing on British fairgrounds" by Dr Vanessa Toulmin (World’s Fair Ltd, London, 1999)
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Polly Burns in the bosom of her family in the twilight of her life
1916. "Police Gazette" report about male-female boxing match and its stoppage by police
1920s. Countess Jeann La Marr
1920s. The Gaumont film studios are crowded out with women boxers who are taking part in a film entitled "London's women boxers". The girl boxers have been trained by the famous boxer and trainer Professor Andrew Newton
1952. Joann Hagen attack Norm Jones
1957. Barbara Buttrick and Phyllis Gugler
Circa 1960. Joann Hagen (left) trades with Pat Emerick
1970s. "The Missy Junior Gloves" - the first boxing club (Texas, USA) that allowed young girls to box
1975. Marion Bermudes attacks Edwardo Parras
Circa 1977. Diane Syverson attacks Marian Trimiar
1978. Clipping with the report about the first officially sanctioned female amateur boxing tournament in Minnesota
1970s. Jackie Tonawanda
1979. Thew first official women's boxing championship
End of 1970s. Lavonne Ludian and Clint Eastwood
1987. Marian Trimiar ("Lady Tyger")
1993. Dallas Malloy
1999. "First professional male-female bout" (Margaret McGregor against Loi Chow)
Circa 2000. Muhammad and Leila Ali
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