February 19, 1994: The REAL History-First All-Female Boxing Card That took place in London by Sue TL Fox

(AUGUST 21, 2022) Yes, I understand folks that we at times want to bury the true history of the sport—especially when “today’s” promoters want so badly to claim a “History-first”.  Please for those doing that, don’t erase the blood, sweat, and tears of those before today’s boxers.

I remember all too well when a fighter claimed to be the “First” Female to fight in Utah…when she was not even born when I fought Toni Lear Rodriguez in the 1970’s in the “History-first” professional female boxing card in the state of Utah…..I ultimately contacted that fighter, and told her she had not even been born when I along with Rodriguez fought there first.

Shortly after going live on the net in 1998, I had the pleasure of meeting Gillian Binns, a past female boxer from the UK who fought on the first-ever historical all female card that took place on February 19, 1994, in the UK.  Program book dated February 19, 1994: Please feel free to check out the history that took place for females in London. 

At the time WBAN was not aware of this history-first card that Pauline Dixon, along with Irish promoter Jimmy Finn organized to take place in 1994. The Bethnal Green promotion at the time was being advertised as the first British foothold of the American-based Women’s International Boxing Federation (WIBF), whose president Barbara Buttrick, and one of the most prominent past female boxers, was part of this history-making affair.

Binns told WBAN, “At the time when I fought on that card, I was ranked #5 in Europe with the WIBF. There was not that much recognition back in those days.”

“I thought at last we were becoming recognised as boxers. I remember it well —-York Hall was glorious and the architecture was of the Victorian era. I remember smiling and feeling excited. We even had our own private changing rooms which was brilliant.”

“The ring was full of press and other cameramen/women. It was an exciting time for Britain to hold such an historical event.” 

In a past historical article, dated February 17, 1994 on the Independent.co.uk website, they wrote the following: “When Jimmy Finn admits that the promotion would likely not have happened at all were it not for the filming of a Channel 4 documentary about women’s boxing, and when most of the women in Casey’s say that they took up boxing training for the benefits of a ‘box-aerobics’ class, one wonders if there may be a certain exploitable navety among the cheerful Streatham enthusiasts. They will be matched against a range of opponents that includes experienced women kick-boxers.”

Feel free folks to read the various New’s Media coverage that cemented the fact that this was a HISTORY-FIRST in the sport in the UK, and some old photos of some of them fighting in the ring.  

After that card had taken place Binns told WBAN the following:

“The thought of someone recognising me and possibly being my promoter was very exciting for me. In pre-warm up prior to my fight, I remember the guy came into our dressing room and seemed really keen on me. I felt on top of the world. I was well-prepared as I had put the hours of training and sparring in with the guys at the gym.”

“It was really hard for us boxers back in the days when we had to financially support ourselves.  I guess back in those days female boxers just went along with what they were told. We never had much control in the matching of fights. That’s how I felt and certainly most of the female boxers I knew at the time experienced this too,” added Binns.

As to the history-first All-Female card in February of 1994, that Binns fought on—she said the following:

“One of the most important shows that I boxed on was in 1994 at the York Hall in London (many top male profile shows are often filmed there). It was the first televised women’s international boxing tournament by the WIBF.”

Reflecting back to her boxing days, Binns said….”I loved my days as a boxer and I would never change any of it other than the exploitation of female boxers. I have gained so much from my boxing experience and this has helped me to be a stronger person and face the many life challenges I have had to endure.   For me, it is knowing that I was one of the women who was part of the beginning of the recognition of women’s boxing here in the UK and I am proud to be part of history in the making for future female boxing generations.”

Please people in the sport…don’t steal the “Thunder” of the hard-working trailblazers in the sport—they DESERVE a place in history.