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Women Boxing Their Way Through In Sports
Who would have thought only the boys wanted to step inside the ring and
fight? Today, women boxing each other inside the ring are allowed – and
these events are being televised worldwide. Having quite a history before
actually gaining the permission and approval of the community, boxing
associations and government institutions - ringside fights that feature
women boxing have progressed to achieve some loyal following.
Both the men and women have appreciated the boxing events that feature women
fighters. These women’s boxing events are a product of the efforts of many
who support and believed on the sport – and especially to the Father of
Women’s Boxing – Bill Dickson. He gained this title in a featured story by
Boxing Illustrated in an October issue in 1980.
The beginnings of women’s boxing can be roughly traced in the 1720s in
London where various exhibition matches were held. It was also in the 1970s
when some states started to lift the bans for women’s boxing events. There
was then issuance of boxing licenses for women and the sanctioning of the
bouts.
The first female boxer to have her fight televised was Barbara Buttrick in
1954. Other women’s boxing participants who were the first few to receive
licenses were Caroline Svendsen in 1975 in Nevada, Pat Pineda in 1976 in
California and Cathy Davis, Jackie Tonawanda & Martin Trimiar in 1978 in New
York.
In the year 1979 the original 4 rounds for women’s boxing bouts was
increased. In 1987 Marian Trimiar staged a hunger strike, fighting for the
rights of women boxing. There was a case in a federal court against USA
Boxing’s policy, which eventually went for the benefit of Dallas Malloy to
be able to box. In October of 1993, USA Boxing implemented new policies for
women’s amateur boxing.
All these, and many more events and efforts in the history of women boxing
in the ring, have paved the way for what the sport is today – and how it has
grown since then. Perhaps, one of the most popular women’s boxing fights was
that of Laila “She-Bee Stingin” Ali versus Jacqui Frazier. The fathers of
both were also archrivals during their times. Ali won the 8-rounder bout and
was found to be entertaining by many.
Women boxing inside the ring are considered to be normal in these days and
times – and such bouts have been accepted by many. Many of the women’s
boxing bouts have proved to be exciting and entertaining – proving to the
world that women definitely deserve a place in the boxing world.
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