2001: One on One Interview with Bob Holloway about Joann Hagen – Sue TL Fox

On December 1, 2001, WBAN got an opportunity to interview Bob Halloway who was a close friend of pioneer female boxer, Joann Hagen, the only boxer to defeat Barbara Buttrick in the ring.  Holloway had some great tidbits of “behind the scenes” in regards to Hagen and her boxing career.

TL Fox:  When did you meet JoAnn Hagen?

Bob:  I first met JoAnn in the fall of 1956 at LaGuardia Airport in New York City when she arrived for her appearance on the Steve Allen Show. Prior to that we had been put in touch with each through a mutual contact, and had a brief corrpondence and exchanged autographed boxing pictures of ourselves.

TL Fox:  Was it your influence that got JoAnn into boxing, or was she into the sport when you met her?

Bob: JoAnn was already into boxing when I met her.

TL Fox: She was on the Steve Allen Show, that some boxing fans still remember. Can you give me any and all details that you can remember about the show, how the show came about, and what happened on the show?

Bob: Even though I am a boxer, my profession is in show business as a musical arranger/orchestrator, and a friend of mine at the time was a theatrical agent with connections in TV. Through her, myself and John Nate, who was the manager/promoter for JoAnn and the other girl boxers in South Bend, Indiana, we made arrangements for JoAnn to appear on the Steve Allen Show, which was a prime-time variety-type show along the lines of the Ed Sullivan Show. She would appear at first in a dress, be interviewed by Steve, change into her trunks, put on gloves with Steve to fool around, and then have a very brief sparring session of less than a minute with Phyllis Kugler, who John Nate sent along for that purpose.

TL Fox:   I know that you were and still are a boxer. Did you ever train with JoAnn in the gym? If yes, what was the best attributes JoAnn had as a boxer?

 Bob:  No I never had the pleasure of working out with JoAnn. However I was in her corner during her last fight and she was an excellent boxer. (Her last fight was with Phyllis Kugler in December 1956) She had good offensive and defensive moves, was quick, and had fast hands.

TL Fox:  Do you remember anything about her boxing training regime?

Bob: I don’t have any knowledge about her training routine. She trained at John Nate’s place in South   Bend which had a heavy bag, speed bag, and small ring downstairs from his bar&grill where all of his girls trained. How he conducted their training I don’t know. JoAnn would be the person to talk to if possible.

TL Fox: Did you know JoAnn when she fought Barbara Buttrick, and gave Buttrick her one and only loss?

Bob:  No I did not. I only know that the fight took place in Calgary and JoAnn won an 8-round decision.

TL Fox: How was JoAnn treated by other boxers and people because she was boxing?

Bob: As far as I know she was very much respected and is still respected even today. One of the girls at our Boxing Club – a very good lightweight fighter and unbeaten in the Golden Gloves – calls JoAnn “awesome”. The same kind of reaction was expressed by former pro boxer Kate Sekules.

TL Fox:  Did JoAnn have another profession at anytime, or was it solely boxing?

Bob: I can only say that after she had “retired” from boxing she worked as a baker in a bakery and was also a cook in a South Bend restaurant. It’s quite possible that she also did some  of that while she still was actively boxing.

TL Fox:  Was JoAnn on any other television programs?

Bob: Yes. “What’s My Line”.

TL Fox:  To your knowledge, did JoAnn ever fight a male ( I have a photo of her with an inscription saying she fought a male and beat him), and if so, do you remember when, or where this would have occurred?

Bob:  JoAnn never discussed this with me. However if she did fight a male, and he was in her weight class, I would not be surprised if she beat him. She was good. In 1957 a Michigan promoter wanted her to box for him but couldn’t find an opponent, and she and I discussed a possible exhibition bout between us with 16 oz gloves, but that never materialized – possibly the promoter wasn’t interested in her boxing an exhibition, but it would have had to be that since at the time I was two weight classes heavier than her.

Update:  After this interview, I had been in contact with JoAnn Hagen’s sister-in-Law.  Hagen was in poor health, and then we were notified that she had passed away.