Dallas Malloy: Pioneer Trailblazer
inducted into our 2023 International Women's Boxing Hall of Fame
Elite Class!
by Sue TL Fox
November 28, 2023
(NOV 28) The International
Women's Boxing Hall of Fame has begun adding videos of our
2023-2024 IWBHF Inductees. Today, we are now featuring
Dallas Malloy, our IWBHF 2023 Inductee. Read about this
fascinating 2023 IWBHF Inductee! She was honored on
October 7, 2023, at the Orleans Hotel & Casino, in Las Vegas,
Nevada.
Photo credit: Mary Ann Owen
In March of 1993, Dallas Malloy became the first female to
challenge the USA Boxing’s bylaw in a federal court. Her dream
was to box against other women in the Olympic Games, a goal
attainable only as a member of USA Boxing. For months she
trained without any immediate hope of competing. Malloy’s
lawsuit against USA Boxing would go to trial, unless settled, in
December of 1993, before the U.S. District Court in Seattle.
Video Credit: Jill Morley - of Fight
Right a Girl Productions
In May of 1993, Judge Barbara Rothstein granted Malloy a court
injunction, temporarily nullifying USA’s ban on women until the
matter could go to trial. Malloy’s application for membership
was sent through.
At the time, if an amateur boxing match for Malloy could be made
by the fall of 1993, this would be a history-first for females
to fight in a sanctioned bout with the USA Boxing.
The back history of Malloy in regards to boxing was when she
first became interested in the sport. She found a local boxing
gym from looking in a phone book, and she had spoken to boxing
promoter, Bob Jarvis. At the time, Jarvis told Malloy that there
was no place for women’s boxing---apparently that was the wrong
answer telling Malloy such a thing.
So Malloy at the tender age of 15 wrote a letter to the American
Civil Liberties Union, who at the time was responsible for
finding her an attorney.
A Seattle firm, “Graham and Dunn”, took the case, expecting it
to be quickly settled due to state law that was very clear about
gender discrimination. Malloy’s attorney filed the lawsuit in
state court, anticipating that the USA Boxing would resist a
trial in federal court.
Judge Rothstein only took a few moments to grant the injunction.
Malloy succeeded in taking the USA Boxing to task and on October
30, 1993, at the Edmonds Community College Gymnasium, in front
of a crowd of about 1,200, she stepped into the ring with her
opponent Heather Poyner, winning the fight by a unanimous
decision. As they read the decision, the two got a standing
ovation from the crowd.
Malloy said after the fight, “"It was great to get in the ring.
It was an almost indescribable moment. I waited a long time for
this. Everything went just like I expected."
In July 1994, after the history-making marker in the sport,
Malloy announced her retirement from boxing. At the time she
told the local news media that she had many more goals yet to
achieve and there were many things that she wanted to do. She
was quoted saying that what she did in boxing was a thrill, that
it was great, and that she got a lot out of it.
In addition to Malloy being a pioneer boxer she is a
professional actor, coach and musician. She portrayed herself in
the opening of Jerry Maguire, as Tom Cruise narrates her true
story. She later won multiple titles as a champion bodybuilder.
Malloy is a certified personal trainer, holistic nutritionist
and wellness coach. She is also a classical pianist since the
age of six, and most recently produced several original songs
and music videos as a rapper /singer/ songwriter. She is creating
a podcast called, “The Dallas Malloy Show.”
