Susie Catkins: Pioneer Female Boxer

Photo and Story written by Alastair Segerdal and Copyrighted by WBAN.  Published as an exclusive in Glove Magazine, February 1981.   WBAN purchased all rights to Alastair Segerdal’s Collections   Photos and Memorabilia.  All Rights reserved.   This material cannot be used on other publications without WBAN’s Permission.

I want to introduce you to a 19-year old girl, a lightweight boxer we have here in Dear Old London Town, named Susie Catkins.  Having studied her potential and assisted her training for only eight months, I now feel qualified  to say with confidence that if Susie isn’t a future world champion, then there  isn’t a cow left in Texas!

This attractive English girl with an almost classical Tudor complexion, is a professional gardener in London’s Royal Borough of Kensington Gardens.   Already a skilled athlete, motorcyclist and squash player with a gift for poetry, the talented young Susie recently discovered that she has an additional ability.

Catkins sparring with the “late” Alastair – Taken in London, 1982
Copyrighted photo:  WBAN   All Rights Reserved

She could box from the word ‘go’ she displayed an almost uncanny knowledge of correct ringcraft and footwork, rarely seen in the average male newcomer to the fight game.

It all happened on Spring evening when, out of curiousity, Susie turned up at a London club with the daunting title “Tough Girls”, newly formed in response to a demand from girls keen to learn wrestling and kick-boxing.

That same week, a card advertising five women’s boxing bouts was announced for the following month.  Susie had a ringside seat and watched the girl boxers like an eagle.

She didn’t think that she could fight as well–she KNEW she could.  And then it happened….Like those old movies where the unknown stand-in is suddenly replacing the injured leading lady, Susie saw a rare opportunity staring her in the face.  Due to completely unforeseen circumstances, there was no opponent for Karen Hecke, a boxer from Germany.

Sue went ‘backstage’ and volunteered to go six rounds with Karen.  Half an hour later, she was in the ring, giving the fight fans a display of skilled aggression that brought the house down cheering.   Sue punished Karen so bad that the referee stopped the fight at the end of the fourth round.  Susie had  not only won but had had only four weeks of training experience behind her!