1976 – Exhibition Boxing Match – Gwen Gemini vs. Cathy “Cat” Davis
On Thursday, February 27, 1976, in Portland, Maine, there were two female bouts on the card. In an EXHIBITION BOUT, CATHY “CAT” DAVIS fought GWEN GEMINI. They called the fight a DRAW—but it was an exhibition and as you can see this fight has not been documented as a fight against DAVIS as a sanctioned bout on BOXREC. [Above photo: Cat Davis by Morning Call]
In the Newport (R.I.) Daily News, Friday, February 27, 1976, they wrote the following: “The other female bout wass an EXHIBITION MATCH which ended in a draw. The 23-year-old blond from Hopewell Junction, N.Y., who was five foot 10 and 135 pounds, fights in the lightweight class, said people genereally remark, “You’re kidding” when she tells them she boxes.”
Formerly a student at the University of New Orleans, Miss Davis said she hopes to be a media technician some day, but for the time being fencing and boxing take up all her time.
Miss Gemini said she got her start in boxing during fist fights in Birmingham, Alabama, when her high school was being integrated during the 60’s. “I was fighting every day in school,” she said.
Later she started following a cousin to the gym where she got her first training.
“the guys in the gym at first thought it was a freak show. They couldn’t believe it. But I usually ended up talking them into sparring withme, “she said. “I’ll go as far as I can in boxing. I’m not afraid of hurting anybody. I know if Idon’t hurm them they might hurt me.
Miss Gemini, who attended City College in New York, said that if the fights get slow she plays the congo drums in a band for money.
But she gets paid for training and for each fight gets at leasst $100 or more.
The crowds were enthusiastic about the women’s matches, although the EXHIBITION match between Miss Davis and Miss Gemini was gerally considered slow and amateurish.