History of Women's Boxing

Records of modern female boxing date back to the early eighteenth century in London, and in the 1904 Olympics an exhibition bout between women was held. Yet it was not until the 2012 Olympics—more than 100 years later—that women’s boxing was officially added to the Games. Throughout boxing’s history, women have fought in and out of the ring to gain respect in a sport traditionally considered for men alone. The stories of these women are told for the first time in this comprehensive work dedicated to women’s boxing. A History of Women’s Boxing traces the sport back to the 1700s, through the 2012 Olympic Games, and up to the present. Inside-the-ring action is brought to life through photographs, newspaper clippings, and anecdotes, as are the stories of the women who played important roles outside the ring, from spectators and judges to managers and trainers. This book includes extensive profiles of the sport’s pioneers, including Barbara Buttrick whose plucky carnival shows launched her professional boxing career in the 1950s; sixteen-year-old Dallas Malloy who single-handedly overturned the strictures against female amateur boxing in 1993; the famous “boxing daughters” Laila Ali and Jacqui Frazier-Lyde; and teenager Claressa Shields, the first American woman to win a boxing gold medal at the Olympics. Rich in detail and exhaustively researched, this book illuminates the struggles, obstacles, and successes of the women who fought—and continue to fight—for respect in their sport. A History of Women’s Boxing is a must-read for boxing fans, sports historians, and for those interested in the history of women in sports.

Blogger (Girlboxing) and amateur boxer Smith traces the sport as far back as early 18th-century England, unearthing sources documenting matches involving women with such intimidating nicknames as 'Bruising Peg.' Serious women boxers have long had to counter the taint of risqueness in their sport; as one might expect, the growth of women’s boxing has not been a steady climb but has waxed and waned as public attitudes have changed. A surge in popularity in the 1990s led to the sport’s inclusion in the 2012 Summer Olympics. Smith enlivens her scholarly treatment with colorful anecdotes (the death threats once sent to women boxers), strange facts (U.S. jurisdictions forced fighters to wear aluminum bras), and lots of examples of press coverage illuminating societal attitudes toward female fisticuffs. Some 20 well-chosen photographs spotlight the sport’s past and present. The thorough bibliography should satisfy the most curious student. VERDICT A comprehensive, entertaining work for readers interested in women’s history or sports history., While today’s female boxers benefit from organized training, professional management, media exposure, and societal acceptance, history shows that it has not been an easy climb. Smith meticulously documents the journey of female pugilists from their beginnings in London in the early eighteenth century to their first inclusion in the Olympics in 2012. Casual fans may recognize such contemporaries as Christi Morgan and Laila Ali, but the fighters who really light up this account are such now-forgotten figures as Texas Mamie, Barbara ('The Mighty Atom of the Ring') Buttrick, and Cathy 'Cat' Davis. Smith weaves together excerpts from firsthand accounts of memorable bouts with social history to provide a complete picture of the struggles and sacrifices these women and many others, such as female promoters and managers, faced in order to legitimize the sport they loved. This is a thoughtful and inclusive account of the evolution of women’s boxing and will make a strong addition to most sports collections., [W]hen it comes to the Sweeter Science, this 346-page tome is the Bible, one that was sorely needed when it comes to this often neglected area of boxing. . . .The detail Smith provides is impressive. . . .It's fascinating stuff, meticulously researched, and provides a rich history – in and out of the ring – not just for fans but for the ladies who ply their trade in the sport and now have a book they can present to family and friends and say, 'This is who I am and where I come from.', [A History of Women's Boxing] will change the way you think about women’s boxing. . . .The book is the colorful account of a subculture. . . .fans not only got a taste of what’s possible, but what’s always been here., This book proves that hitting like a girl is no insult — it's a time-honored position.

Malissa Smith is an amateur boxer and maintains a popular blog about the sport—Girlboxing. She writes frequently on the topic of women’s boxing and has appeared as a guest on the radio show Courts & Sports to discuss women’s boxing history and women’s boxing in the Olympics. Smith is a board member of the International Women’s Boxing Hall of Fame (IWBHF).