Jackie Holley: Pioneer Female Boxer

JACKIE HOLLEY, a 27-year old in 1984, and a World lightweight Boxing Champion was a very dedicated boxer. She had won the World Title by fighting 15 rounds. She worked long hours training in the gym, but HOLLEY felt it was worth it.   She loved the sport and the excitement that women boxing brought to the public.  On August 24, 1984 in Pensacola, Florida, and sponsored by the International Women’s Boxing Assn., that was based in Albuquerque, New Mexico, she was defending her title against Dora Webber, who was 24 years old at the time and fighting out of Los Angeles.

HOLLEY supplemented her pro boxing career with a job as a security officer at the Pensacola Naval Air Station. HOLLEY had to admit that it was very difficult to work a regular job, and try to train at the same time.  HOLLEY who came from a family with seven brothers, the DetroitMichigan native said that having so many brothers in a family helped to develop her confidence in sports. HOLLEY’s other athletic passions, included volleyball, basketball, baseball, touch football, tennis and racquetball. She was also well-skilled in karate and kick boxing.     HOLLEY had been boxing since 1981.  Article on Holley: Copyright 1984 U.P.I. – July 29, 1984, Sunday, BC cycle HEADLINE: Female boxing champ says it’s all just routine  BYLINE: By ANNA V. SHAW DATELINE: PENSACOLA, Fla. “The long hours of training in a hot gym are routine, and so are the swollen eyes, the bruised face and sore muscles, but the Women’s World Lightweight Boxing Champion says it is worth it.  ”I just like the sport. I like the excitement,” explains Jackie Holley, 27, during a break in her training routine for the August defense of her title.   ”I get a lot of self gratification out of it. Ms. Holley won her title in a 15-round bout in February. The challenge match will be held Aug. 24 in Pensacola, sponsored by the International Women’s Boxing Assn., based in Albuquerque, N.M.  Ms. Holley will defend her title against Dora Webber, 24, a Los Angeles housewife and mother, who began boxing in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Ms.

Holley supplements her pro boxing career with a job as a security officer at Pensacola Naval Air Station. It hasn’t been easy juggling her job schedule with her training schedule, which includes daily sessions of two to three hours.  Boxing generally is considered a man’s sport, Ms. Holley acknowledged, but said that, like many other male -dominated sports, boxing is gaining popularity among women. She added that she would not hesitate to recommend it for other female athletes who want to try a challenging sport. ”It’s just like anything else. If you want it, you can do it,” she said.  ”It’s just a matter of putting your mind to it.”

While there’s a great deal of pain involved in the sport, particularly after a bout, Ms. Holley says she doesn’t let it distract her during a match.  ”I look at it for what it is,” she said. ”You block out the pain during the match. Of course, I don’t go into a match intending to get hit.Vern Stevensen, IWBA founder and director, said Ms. Holley is the only female boxer in the area. ”She’s one of the finest boxers around,” he said.  The lone girl in a family with seven brothers, the Detroit, Mich., native said growing up in a family of boys helped to develop her confidence in sports.   ”I was always right in there with them when they played any sports, and I  had to learn how to defend myself, too,” she laughed.

An active participant in numerous sports, she rattled off a list that includes volleyball, basketball, baseball, touch football, tennis and racquetball. It was her training in karate and kick boxing, however, that led her to try boxing, she said. ”I wanted something with more contact and I guess I just bounced around in sports until I found one,” she said. Ms. Holley has been boxing since 1981, and has no plans to retire in the immediate future, even if she loses the upcoming match.  ”I don’t see quitting anytime soon,” she said. ”I won’t quit until I  just don’t want to come in to the gym anymore and that doesn’t seem to be in the near future.” She paused for a moment and added, ”In the meantime, I won’t refuse any takers.”