1975: Exhibition Female Bout – Bayardo vs. Torres

Source:  Press Telegram, Long Beach, California, Spetember 29, 1975, Page 21 – “George Robeson, “Feminist Fighters is the New Thing”

On the weekend after September 29, 1975,  in a big outdoor show, the Press Telegram reported that there was a female boxing exhibition that featured Lydia “Squeaky” Bayardo, 16 year old high school student  vs. Irma Torres, 15.  Both of them were members of the 15-girl boxing team from the San pedro Locker Club, in San Pedro, California, and run by  boxing manager Dee Knuckles.

As decribed by writer George Robeson who also was the ref of this bout, “I stood in a neutral corner looking nonplused as usual when the girls climbed into the ring.  Their hands were properly wrapped, I noted.    The rest of the costume was a bit unorthodox, but that made sense.  They wore their gym T-shirts and cut-off denims.”

“On the fancy red headgear and gloves, donated by Harbor Division of the Los Angelese Police Department and the makeup. Makeup?  That couldn’t be right.  No, the cornermen were smearing some vaseline on the girls’ face, a little extra protection against the leather-burns that can mar a lady’s charm for the rest of the week.”

“The crowd of about 300 hospital patients and their families was moved up to the ring when the girls battled each other.  At the end of the fight, the girls retired to their corners and I leaned over the ropes to get the other two votes from the judges table.”

But then the ref was given the job of calling the whole fight— Robeson said, “What a spot to be in.  Both girls were eyeing me evilly, and they still had the gloves on.  I never argue with women, particularly when they like to fight, so I announced it was an obvious draw”.

The boxing ring was brought down from the Chino Prison by some inmates and their guards.