Boxing Hall of Famer, Patricia Morse Jarman, describes herself as adventurous, fearless and revolutionary.
In 1971, Jarman drove solo the 2900 miles from Newark, New Jersey to Travis Air Force Base in Fairfield, CA., to begin her military career. This was before cell phones, GPS systems and no FM radio, just an 8-Track Tape Player and five tapes for 2900 miles. WHEW!
During her stint at Travis, Jarman began her love of travel.
Upon leaving the Air Force in 1980, Jarman began her career in Broadcast Journalism. First, as an intern at the then fledgling 10-Watt radio station, KCEP, then to KVOV Radio and finally at KENO FM News Radio. It was while covering a story for KENO News, that Jarman was approached by a member of KTNV TV-13 News staff that Jarman was asked to interview for Channel 13 News. She was hired on the spot.
Channel 13 News, assigned Jarman to cover what was then, the biggest boxing match in history, “The Last Hurrah”, with then Heavyweight Boxing Champion Larry Holmes vs. Muhammad Ali. This was a life changing assignment. It was at this fight that Patricia Morse Jarman, fell head over heels in love with Boxing.
The world watched as Ali failed in his attempt to become the first Three-Time Heavyweight Champion. But Jarman, seized the moment.
Because Jarman, was a broadcast journalist, she initially wanted to be a Boxing Color Commentator or Blow-By-Blow Analyst. But this was 1980 and there were no women in boxing and “particularly none that looked like me”, says Jarman.
It was suggested by the late Boxing Referee Davey Pearl that Jarman learn to judge, because that would give her an analytical eye for the sport. Little did Jarman know, that suggestion would change the trajectory of her course. She loved judging. Jarman judged over 300 amateur bouts and volunteered tirelessly with the Golden Gloves Amateurs, which was run by the late Hal and Faye Miller, to help raise money so that Nevada amateur boxers could compete outside of Nevada.
Jarman, soon tired of begging the casinos for money to support the kids. So she and Hal Miller hatched a revolutionary idea.
Las Vegas was then after all, “THE BOXING CAPITOL OF THE WORLD”, so why not have the professional aspect of boxing support and encourage the amateurs. Unheard of at the time!
In 1989, with the help of then Nevada Senator Mike Malone, a Bill Draft was introduced into the Nevada Senate and Assembly.It passed unanimously in both houses. It was the first of its kind in the country and is widely believed to still be so.
This, says Jarman is my absolute proudest achievement since entering the boxing arena. It is the gift that keeps on giving. The Bill that was codified into NAC 467.108, which provides One ($1) dollar from every ticket sold to professional boxing event in Nevada, goes into a fund to support the amateurs travel, hotel, per diem, registrations fees, ambulance coverage and doctors at all events.
Finally, in November 1984 after many trials and tribulations, Jarman was licensed as a Nevada Boxing Judge.
In February 1986, she judged her first NABF Title bout. In March 1986, she judged her first World Bantamweight Title15-Round fight between Richie Sandoval vs. Gaby Canizales.
Since 1984, Jarman has judge over 1000 boxing matches on six continents, in the countries of: Panama, Sicily, Italy, France, Mexico, Korea, Japan, China, South Africa, England, Venezuela and Germany.
She has judge for the following boxing organizations: WBO, WBA, IBF, WBC, IBO, IBA, NABF and USBA.
She is currently licensed in Nevada and has held licenses in the states of: Arizona, California, Maryland, Philadelphia, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Texas and Puerto Rico.
In 2021, Jarman was inducted into the New Jersey Boxing Hall of Fame.
Patricia Morse Jarman, says that she is honored to still be a part of a sport that she is as passionate about today as she was in 1984. How many people can say that?
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