(AUG 26) We have found
throughout the years that we find many believing that this or
that female professional boxer was the first to receive a
professional boxing license in the United States.
When I first began covering the history of women's
boxing----even I had it wrong!
I thought that it had all began with Caroline Svendsen, who
received a professional boxing license in the state of Nevada in
1975. Little did I know that before 1975, that Barbara
Buttrick and others were licensed in the 1950s-1960s, according
to Buttrick, an icon in the sport from that era.
But after researching the sport and getting a fairly good grip
on the sport, I discovered through extensive research that
we could bring that "history first" to July 17, 2023!
![](../images2024temp/zzzlamarrecevevesboxinglicense1923380.jpg)
It was reported on that date, in the Lowell Sun that Jeanne La Mar received
her Boxing License from the state of New Jersey. There is a photo of her
receiving her license. The caption stated the following:
"It isn't
every woman that has a license to fight---and it isn't every
woman that needs one. Jeane LaMar [La Mar] holds the female bantamweight
and featherweight titles in the world. There she is with
the first boxing license issued to a woman in New Jersey. She
seeks a match with Princess Pau, of Allentown PA., or Kiddy
McCue, in et. Paul."
But it even goes further, that many did not know about, until
one day I received a copy of a form that was filled out by La
Mar to apply for a New York Boxing License on June 25, 1922.
.![](../images2024temp/1922-zzznewyorkapplicationfor-license1922380.jpg)
So as of this
date, we have brought the history-first professional boxing
license to be issued goes back to July 1923.
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Other articles and stories on
WBAN:
Historic Articles on WBAN that
were published in 2005: 1920’s Female Boxer – Jeanne
La Mar: Flash from the Past! —Part I
Historical date: 1920s: WBAN has been in contact with Terry
Graham, a retired police officer, of Wrightwood, California, who
has been doing some extensive research on Jeanne La Mar (AKA:
Jean La mar, The Countess Jeanne La Mar, The Countess, Jeanne
Vina Lamar.) Graham and Sarah Jo Rauschl provided this
fascinating history of this past boxer, and a deep mystery that
surrounds her Jeanne (Jean) La mar, came to the mountain area of
Wrightwood, California, during the late 1920’s after a
disillusioning career in boxing in both New York and Chicago.
According to an article from the Chicago Herald & Examiner dated
December 6, 1927, she was nicknamed the “Countess” for the
‘count of ten’. Full
Story on our WBAN Database website
Historic Article on WBAN
published in 2005 - Part 2: 1920’s Female Boxer – Jeanne
La Mar: Flash from the Past! —Part II
(OCT 17, 2005) WBAN has just received “Part II” on the
1920’s femaile boxer Jeanne La Mar. (AKA: Jean La mar, The
Countess Jeanne La Mar, The Countess, Jeanne Vina Lamar.) Writer
Terry Graham and Sarah Jo Rauschl provided this fascinating
history of this past boxer, and a deep mystery that surrounds
her. "The Countess of Big John Flat": A lone
coyote roamed the brush field slope next to two tin shelters and
a worn and abandoned cabin. His mind was on a tasty morsel of a
rabbit that he just saw darting through the brush. As he turned
to pad his way down slope, he glanced towards the tin sheds, and
the weathered house above it;
"The Countess Vina Jeanne Lamar circ 1925":
He couldn’t fight the shiver that raised the hairs on it’s back.
Something about the quite place always gave him the willies.
Then his brain focused on the task of capturing a meal, he
turned away and heading down the slope. There was good
reason for the eerie sensation that the abandoned homestead
caused. It once belonged to Countess Vina Jeanne Lamar, a feisty
tough little woman that might have been a world champion boxer
in the early 1920’s. Countess Lamar once boxed in Allentown,
Pa., and went three rounds with bantam-weight Bugs Moran and
Bobby McLean. Lamar’s boxing craze continued when she moved to
Big John Flat. She knocked down forest Ranger “Mac” MacDonald
with a single punch. Imagine her surprise when he got up, dusted
himself off, retorted, “My lady, that’s it!”, and picked her up
and bodily threw her over the railing of Big Pines ranger
station. She landed on her fanny on the grass below the railing,
and McDonald had no problems with her after that.
Full Story on our WBAN Database website.
WBAN article in 2007:
The Countess' Last Bout
by Terry Graham:
Much has been written on the "Mysterious
Woman of Big John Flats" over
the years in local papers of the Wrightwood area. Even though
she provided much local color in the area's history, it has been
hard to determine if she was the honest sort, or just someone
with a little ornery and evil streak under the surface. The
author believes that the closest that Jeanne Lamar came to honor
was "Yes, your Honor..." and "No, your honor..." . But, the
author digresses. Perhaps if we recap the story thus far, you,
the reader, would see that the life of professional woman boxer
"The Countess" Jeanne Lamar, sounded like a dime store crime
novel.
Full Story on WBAN
Lady Boxer at the Moose /
Source: Monessen Daily Independent-Thursday, October 19, 1922 /
Volume 21. No.109.
In the source dated October 19, 1922, it was reported that
Jeanne La Mar, a female world champion boxer would be the
special attraction at the MooseTemple boxing show on ‘Saturday
evening, October 21. ms. Lamar who was now touring the country
meeting all comers, will be well remembered by the many war
veterans here. By not only serving as a red cross nurse during
the war overseas, but also on the numerous occasions she gave
boxing exhibitions with the famous Georges Carpentier for the
benefit of the wounded soldiers, Miss Lamar endeared herself for
all. She never chooses her opponents and when asked she readily
consented to meet anyone, male or female boxer that management
may choose.
Full Story on the WBAN Historical Database website
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Episode 1: Grassroots of
Women's Boxing: The fight for Amateur females Boxers to
compete in AAU Boxing Tournaments in 1978-
Link to
Story
Episode 2: Grassroots of
Women's Boxing: Trailblazer Pat Emerick who Paved the way
for Women's Boxing
Link to
Story
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