1957: Barbara Buttrick fights Phylis Kugler in San Antonio, Texas

She defeated Phyliss Kugler in a six-rounder for the world bantamwieght title on October 8, 1957 at the Municipal Auditorium in San Antonio, Texas. Tickets sold for $1.50 and 3.75.  Buttrick won the fight by decision.

WBAN’s Media Library Collection/Original on File – donated to WBAN: The Glove publication/Dec. 1980

More on Buttrick:  In 1949, at the age of 18, Buttrick became a member of a trveling troupe of boxers that fought all around England, and France.  At that time, women’s boxing was literally a carnival act.  Buttrick would stand on a platform outside a large tent and challenge spectators to an exhibition match.   Some of the people who took the challenge were men.  Buttrick said, “It was either fight men or not at all.” Buttrick came to the United States in 1952 with her husband.  She toured the United States, Canada, and Mexico.  She was surprised to find out that women’s boxing was not as popular in the USA than in her native England.  Buttrick also did some wrestling.    Barbara Buttrick is the first female boxer to have a fight broadcast on national television. Buttrick fought as a 98-pound flyweight and was only four feet and eleven inches tall.  The fight was an eight round bout against Joann Hagen.  She lost that fight by a decision.

Battling Barbara

• First English girl professional boxer 1948-1960.
• First English girl to travel continental Europe and engage in public boxing contests 1951 -1952.
• First English girl to cross the Atlantic and box against American girls in public boxing contests 1952-1960.
• Engaged in the first femal boxing contests in the following American States … North Dakota, Kansas, Texas, and Florida
• Engaged in the first female boxing in Canada. September 9th, 1954 which was the first ever radiobroadcast of a Professional Women’s boxing bout.
• Obtained the first femal boxing license in the State of Texas, Octobre, 1957.
• Won the first Women’s World Boxing Championship in San Antonio, Texas, October 9th, 1957.
• Featured in the first femal boxing contest in Florida, that was broadcast over radio station WCKR Miami on October 1st, 1959
• Created a record 12 year active boxing career. The longest in Women’s Boxing history.
• The first woman President of a Men’s Veteran Boxers Association Ring 31 of Florida, September, 1988.
• Her Pro-boxing record was 30-1-1.
• in 12 years in the ring she had over 1,000 exhibitions, mainly with male boxers. She also had over 50 matches as a Pro-Wrestler.