DALLAS MALLOY
SHE WOULD NOT TAKE "NO"
FOR AN ANSWER......
By Sue TL Fox 12/18/99
In March of 1993, Dallas Malloy became
the first female to challenge the USA Boxings 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. Malloys lawsuit against USA Boxing
would go to trial, unless settled, in December of 1993, before the U.S.
District Court in Seattle.
In May, Judge Barbara
Rothstein granted Malloy a court injunction, temporarily nullifying
USAs ban on women until the matter could go to trial. Malloy's
application for membership was sent through.
And if a match could be made that fall, as reported
in the Seattle Times, March of 1993, "Malloy and her opponent
would become the first women to ever box in a sanctioned amateur fight in
this country."
How did Malloy strike an interest in boxing?
Malloy found the Hillman City Boxing Gym in the phone book, and spoke to
Bob Jarvis, a boxing promoter (who by the way was originally going to
match Margaret MacGregor with Malloy,
and later was the one responsible for the Loi Chow
vs MacGregor mixed match).
He told Malloy that there was no place for womens
boxing. So, Malloy, at the tender age of 15, wrote a letter to the
American Civil Liberties Union, who 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. Due to that fact, Malloys 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. There had been a previous case, just one year prior, in the
state of Massachusetts, with Gail
Grandchamp that had fought for close to seven years outside the
ring to gain that right, just to sadly turn 35 and not qualify to be an
amateur.
Apparently even Canada had lifted their ban for
women to compete in amateurs. The president of USA Boxing said that it was
mostly the safety and medical issues that they were concerned about.
Malloy did succeed in getting the opportunity to
fight, and the following is an excerpt from the Bellingham Herald about
Malloy preparing for the fight, and the fight itself:
"Boxer Dallas Malloy and trainer James
Ferguson shared a private ritual in the weeks leading up to their history-
making fight. "Are you ready for the two-by-four, 20 stories
up?" Ferguson would say. "Im ready," Malloy would
answer. Saturday night at Edmonds Community College, Malloy showed how
ready. The Bellingham 16-year-old pounded out a convincing victory against
Heather Poyner of Ferndale in the United States first sanctioned amateur
bout between females.By Mike Grady,The Bellingham Herald,
Sports on TV, Section D, November 1, 1993.
Dallas Malloys career highlights:
Aug 6 1992 Malloy, who at one time wanted
to be a weight lifter, begins her boxing training at age 15 under the
guidance of coach James Ferguson.
March 8, 1993 The
American
Civil
Liberties Union of Washington files a lawsuit on Malloys behalf to
challenge the male-only rules of U.S. Amateur Boxing Inc.
May 7, 1993 U.S. District Judge Barbara
Rothstein issues a preliminary injunction ruling that a U.S. Amateur
Boxing Inc. bylaws barring female fighters violates
Washington states
anti-discrimination laws, clearing the way for Malloy to box.
October 30, 1993: Malloy defeats Heather
Poyner of Ferndale by decision in the first sanctioned amateur womens
boxing match in the United States. Malloy beat Heather Poyner of Ferndale
in the first sanctioned amateur boxing match between two women in the United States. A crowd of about 1,200 turned out at the Edmonds Community
College gymnasium. Malloy entered the ring wrapped in an American Flag."
so that it will read as:
Malloy entered the ring wrapped in an American Flag like the wind had
swept it around the
flagpoles.
The bout consisted of three 2-minute rounds. Malloy hit Poyner so often in
the second round that the referee signaled a standing eight count.
July 1994 Malloy announces her
retirement
from boxing.
By July of 1994, Malloy was already hanging
up the gloves, without ever fighting another amateur bout. Malloy was
quoted as saying, " I wish people would just accept that I quit.
Its not a big deal. I dont mean to sound rude but why is it a big
deal? People quit stuff all the time." She went on to say in the
Bellingham Herald and the Associated Press, "I go through phases
of things. Theres so many things to do. I just get bored with things
fast. I did that. It was a thrill. It was great. I got a lot out of
it."
In October 2023, at the Orleans
Hotel & Casino, in Las Vegas, Nevada, Dallas Malloy was inducted into the
International Women's Boxing
Hall of Fame, at the Orleans Hotel & Casino, in Las Vegas,
Nevada.
On July 1, 2024, Dallas released her book, Stand Up and Fight!
In STAND UP AND FIGHT she provides
practical tools for winning in
spiritual warfare and defending freedom, with Scripture,
prayers,
affirmations and other empowering strategies, incorporating
parts of her
true story as a women’s boxing pioneer, professional actor and
musician,
and overcomer of addictions and abuse. Full StoryThe five-star rated book is
available on Amazon,
go here