Update: WBAN has just discovered that the first-ever women’s boxing bout to take place in the history of the sport took place on September 10, 1954 – between Barbara Buttrick vs. Joann Hagen. McADAM, New Brunswick—what is believed to be the SECOND ever female bout in Canada, was schedule on June 1, 1959. The female
According to the Amarillo Daily News, dated November 14, 1957, Page 15, there was a report of the History-First Female boxing referee in Europe. They reported the following: “STOCKHOLM, Sweden – (UP) – Mrs. Margareta Sjoelin, 25 years old, Europe’s FIRST FEMALE BOXING REFEREE and mother of three was the first. Mrs. Sjoelin made a statement
Full Copyrights: San Antonio Express – October 7, 1957 – English Girl Boxer in Classy Ring Drill “Opens Eyes in Workout for the First Offical Women’s World Championship”.
In Huntington West Virginia, it was reported in a news source dated June 21, 1950, published a boxing bout between Jo Ann Hagen, of South Bend, vs. Nancy Parker, of Chicago. The two fought in or about this time on a Monday night prior to this write up, and said that Hagen won the bout.
On November 19, 1932, in the Titusville (PA) Herald newspaper, there was a very small clip that there was a female boxing match in New York, and the most that was commented on was the following: WOMEN’S BOXING CARD WAS HELD IN NEW YORK THE OTHER NIGHT….IT WAS STAGED IN CONNECTION TO A MARATHON DANCE….SUCH
In 1876, at the New York Hills Theater, the first reported and known female boxing match to take place in the United States was a fight between Nell Saunders and Rose Harland. The two were not fighting for a purse though—-but a Silver butter dish!