Ban lifted for female boxers in California – 1976!

It was reported in many of the news sources that on January 13, 1976, the executive secretary of the California Athletic Commission anticipates few, if any, female boxing matches will result from the repeal of a regulation banning women from entering the ring as boxers.  [There was actually many boxing bouts that took place for the females.  Lady Tiger Trimiar, Toni Lear, Lilly Rodriguez, Cathy “Cat” Davis, Diane Syverson, Pat Pineda, and many, many others fought in California.

Robert Turley said that the commission elimited the “rule”, but that it didn’t mean that they were “Opening” the door to inviting a “bunch of women boxer Applicants” for boxing licenses.   He further stated that just as male boxers, female boxers would need to demonstrate their abilities in front of a screening committee to demonstrate that she had the skill necessary to be able to become a professional boxer before qualifying for a boxing license.

It is amazing that female boxers in the 1970’s could actually box professionally, and as we have seen through various video footage they did not have the skills to hardly box in the amateurs, and yet, they had no opportunities to build those skills in the amateurs as male boxers were able to do.

Turley added, “It might be difficult for a woman obtaining a license to find opponents because the commission would only allow fights between licensed females of similar weight and boxing ability.

Turley said the rule change was not the result of boxing applications from women.  He said the change was made to comply with a state Consumer Affairs Department directive that the commission and other department bureaus eliminate any discriminatory provisions from their regulations.

Source/The Daily Review, Maywood, California, Tuesday, January 13, 1976