Following on Alastair Segerdal's article on "The Acceptable Face of Women's Boxing" in A. W 6, we have now received the following report from our special correspondent in the States.

Women's boxing activity continues at its greatest on the West Coast, in particular in California.  However, the first 'official' women's match has now taken place in New York State and City, on 16th July 1979. The boxers were named Toni Tucker and Gladys Smith, weighing around 155 lbs. The novelty brought a packed house - three times the usual crowd - and reports with photos. in the "New York Post" and "Daily News". In a not particularly exciting bout over six 3-minute rounds, Smith won by a decision.  

An upset occurred last, spring, when on 12 April at Lake Tahoe, Julie Mullen, the Nevada welterweight who K.O'd Lavonne Ludian, was herself K.O'd by a newcomer named Britt VanBuskirk. 

Britt weighs about 149 lbs. and is managed by the well-known Ms. Dee Knuckles, who recently has been branching into kickboxing in Japan. 

On the same day, Shirley "Zebra Girl" Tucker won another bout by a K.O. in Oakland, Cal., Her opponent was Ginate Troy,  from Los Angeles.

Cathy "Cat" Davis, perhaps the most widely publicised women boxer yet, had a long lay-off after her disastrous bout in Atlanta against Connie Smith alias Ernestine Jones last June. A lot of allegations have been flying about, few of them complimentary to Sal Algieri, "Cat's" husband /manager, and Cat's claim to any form of championship is now ignored by most.

Cat did return to the ring at last on 2nd July, at Portland, ME., when she scored a sixth-round technical knockout over Uschi Doering of Augsburg, Germany, in what was billed as a battle for the world women's lightweight boxing championship.

Davis, who enjoyed a vast height and reach advantage, discouraged Doering from emerging from her crouch throughout the bout. There were no knock-downs. Referee Willie Pep halted the fight less than a minute into the sixth round as Davis peppered Doering while she remained hunched in her shell. Much the most important event in the women's boxing field occurred on Friday 13th July (obviously the promoter wasn't superstitious) at the Sports Arena at Los Angeles. Billed as the First California State Triple Crown Women's Boxing Championships it featured an all-women's bill of six bouts.

First on the bill was a bout between Karen Bennett, "No. 1 Bantamweight" and scheduled ' tonght for that title in September, and a newcomer, Graciela Casillas.
Graciela is a graduate of S.C., Santa Barbara in pre-law, with interests in martial arts and dancing. It was her first pro. fight, and a confident Karen, certainly the prettiest girl around in pro. boxing and a great crowd pleaser, let it be known

 she meant to finish Grace in the first round. However, Grace seemed to know just what to do to handle Karen's style - very likely she was coached by people who had seen Karen in action - and after going the full six rounds the decision went unanimously to her.

Squeaky Bayardo

Squeaky Bayardo (130 lbs), described as "Hell in the Boxing Ring" and a boxer with more versatility than most male fighters, undefeated in eleven fights, met a last-minute substitute Ginate Troy. Toni Bryant, her announced opponent, could not make the weight. Troy last fought as a bantamweight and was very probably very underweight as well as untrained for this match. In any event, Squeaky had little trouble with her, and scored the only knock-out of the night in the fifth round.

In the Californian championships, Lili Rodriguez, No. 5 in the 126 lb. class, and mother of four, was matched for the Featherweight title against namesake (but no relation) Toni Lear Rodriguez.

Toni already held the WWBA version of this weight championship and is a veteran of some 25 bouts, but Lili got the upset verdict. For the Super Featherweight title, Carlotta Lee, who had lost a close decision recently to Trimiar, met Cora Webber. Cora has five years experience of kick boxing but only two previous pro. boxing bouts - she won her first fight over WWBA champion Rodriguez, whilst in her second she met the highly rated "Squeaky" Bayardo. This brief experience stood her in good stead to win a unanimous decision over Carlotta Lee.

For the Welterweight title, Dulce Lucas (147) met Britt van Buskirk (147).  Lucas, described as "Miss Perpetual Motion" and a Holy Terror wherever the action is Rollerskating, Basketball, or Boxing had lost once only, to Gwen Gemini. Britt van Buskirk, whose short haircut gives her a mannish look, was undefeated in her four fights to date, including the highly regarded Julie Mullens whose K.O. is mentioned above. She is 5' 10" tall and her long arms are her best asset. They proved too much for Dulce, who could not answer the bell for the sixth round.

The feature fight of the night - between Miriam "Lady Tyger" Trimiar, the No. 1 ranked lightweight in the world, and Ernestine Jones, billed as a special elimination bout for the world title turned out to be perhaps the least important bout of the promotion.

Trimiar, shaved skull, black mouthpiece and tiger-striped trunks in evidence, won on a TKO in the second round after Jones, knocked to the canvas but seemingly unhurt, declared she was unable to continue.

FIRST ALL-FEMALE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP WOMEN'S BOXING CARD IN THE WORLD
(If you know of a all-female card with pro boxers that occurred before this date, please notify Sue TL Fox!  There was an All-women elimination event February 11, 1979, check it out!