Baby Bear James: Pioneer Female Boxer

BABY BEAR JAMES, aka “Tansy O’Brien” was one of the top female boxers in the world who fought professionally from 1976 – 1978.  Her boxing record was 5-2-1 (5KO).  Baby Bear James paved the road in many aspects as a pioneer fighter, being a trailblazer for many “firsts” in the sport.   She not only boxed for a living, but she was a boxing referee, who may have been the first to ever ref in the United States.

Baby Bear James originally came from Cheltenham, England, and at the time weighing 180 lbs., she crossed the Atlantic to become a nanny in Canada.  Just two years later, and at a trim 128 lbs., she was fighting for a junior lightweight world title.

At the time in 1978….Baby Bear James said, “Two years ago I’d never believed I’d be boxing today.  Nobody likes to get hit, but I have the ability.  I can take a punch.”

Baby Bear told WBAN, “I boxed for a couple of years, but the highlight of my career was fighting the first-ever 10-round world championship fight against Toni Lear Rodriguez on January 14, 1978, which happened to be on my 21st Birthday. ”  This was Baby Bear James last fight in the ring.

Baby Bear James, “I lost due to my untimely bout with Hepatitis, which I’m sad to say finished my days in the ring.  I was diagnosed with hepatitis, which laid me low shortly before my fight. I was so drained by the hepatitis I had no stamina. Toni Lear was just too strong for me.”

But that did not stop her participating in boxing—-she then went from fighting in the ring—-to becoming a boxing referee.

On May 6, 1978, at the Memorial Hall , in Kansas City, Kansas, Baby Bear James refereed seven boxing and kickboxing matches, that featured “Rasslin’ Bear” (yes, a real bear), who was the main attraction where any one in the audience could volunteer to wrestle the bear!

Baby Bear James told WBAN that there was quite a few of the audience who volunteered to get in the ring with the bear—but that they didn’t last long!