1976: Diane Syverson Rematches Teresa Kibby at the Olympic Auditorium

On May 27, 1976, at the Olympic Auditorium, in Los Angeles, California, Roller Derby queen Diane Syverson and  Teresa “Princess Red Star” Kibby,  fought in a four-round rematch in the welterweight division.  The promoter for this matchup was Aileen Eaton [Source:  Redlands Daily Facts, May 17, 1976, Page 25]

Syverson defeated Kibby by a split decision [source: Press Telegram, Friday, May 28, 1976, Long Beach, California, page 45] In their first contest, the two also fought to a four-round draw.  Kibby tried to erase that first draw against Syverson but had to settle for another draw on her boxing record.

The fight was reported to have been an excellent display of female boxing, and had earned a standing ovation.  The boxing fans tossed coins into the ring—the ultimate compliment that the fight was action-packed. Teresa who trains deligently was looking forward to this rematch.  She said in the news at the time that her physical  conditioning was no problem to her.

That she ran two miles, skips rope, exercises and spars with brothers David, Jr., and Roger; and sister Darlene, who plans to make her pro debut. She said that she works out seven days a week, and also plays basketball and softball. “I’ve been around boxing all of my life,”  she points out.  “Even if California hadn’t legalized it for women, I’d still be doing it just for fun.  we Girls have been sparring parners for our brothers for years.” “She feels that her right hand is her strong point and that “I have to mainly concentrate more on my punches in the future.  I also need to work on my combinations.”

Her father and trainer, Dave Kibby, Sr., instructs her to “keep moving and boxing.  Slugging only tires you out.” Teresa said about the sport, “As to the future of professional boxing for women she concedes that it is a “novelty right now, but as more and more women get into it, and improve, the interset will mount and the purses will make it more attractive to more women.”

[Note:  In Kibby’s own words she stated that she had been boxing all of her life with her pro boxing brothers.  She fought TL Fox with this type of experience in her pro debut, when Fox had only been training in boxing for a few months.  This is one of the most significant reasons why Fox is so against mismatches—Fox was told by her “manager” at the time, that Kibby had only been boxing for a couple of years and was not in shape.  Fox found out shortly before their fight that Kibby in fact was training in boxing for 10 plus years.]