1976: First Women’s Pro Fight in California – Pat Pineda vs. Kim Maybee
Pat Pineda poses with Floyd Patterson – 1976
On April 28, 1976, at the Forum, in Inglewood, California, the first women’s pro fight took place in California. Pat Pineda, also the first female to obtain a California Boxing License, along with Diane Syverson, was stopped in the second round of a scheduled four round bout by Kim Maybee. [Source/Redlands Daily Facts, May 17, 1976, Page 25]
In the Boxing Illustrated Magazine, September of 1976, Page 42, there was an article entitled, “Women Win the Right to fight in California Boxing Rings. They described the fight as a [Ms. Match], and considering the size difference between Pat Pineda and Kim Maybee, WBAN would be inclined to believe that in fact it was a mismatch. Maybee was out of weight class for the much shorter and lighter Pineda. Maybee was 6’1′ having to lose five pounds to make a 160 lb weight. Pineda, was 154 lbs.
We can thank Ms. Dee Knuckles for being involved with this matchup. Sue TL Fox was also managed by Knuckles in the late 1970’s and was persuaded to put a ton of coins in her pockets to bring up her weight from welterweight to light middleweight or higher depending on who she was fighting. Referee for this bout: Marty Denkin
Background of Pat Pineda:
She trained with Lady Tyger Trimiar and was managed by John Dubliss (who is now deceased). Pat Pineda did not have very many professional fights, and is best known for being the FIRST woman in California to obtain a Boxing license (along with Diane Syverson that we have discovered got her license at the same time- unconfirmed). Dee Knuckles her manager, was very instrumental in helping Pineda accomplish that goal. Knuckles managed and/or acted as a manager getting females fights, many women fighters, including Sue TL Fox, Gwen Gemini, Britt VanBuskirk, and many others.