Nine Women Champs….Named in Wisconsin, but None Gets in Ring 

MARINETTE, WISC. — Nine women were named state amateur boxing champions here over the weekend, June 1 and 2, but none threw a punch. Fans of women’s boxing, though, weren’t totally disappointed as three bouts saw the women in action during the two-day tournament, sponsored by the nearby Peshtigo Boxing Club under the direction of club director Willy Price. There were 15 bouts in all, 12 of them good quality and exciting men’s contests.

The nine women champions get a chance to go to the women’s national tournament which is being called and open invitational event and will be held July 27 to Aug. 1 in Scranton, PA.

Deserving honors for the weekend was a female newcomer to boxing, Kim Klatt, 0-0, of the Peshtigo cluib, who boxed both Saturday and Sunday, stopping her opponent both days. Saturday Klatt faced Maria Munroe of the Manistique (Mich.) Boxing Club at 140 pounds and stopped her in the first round. Klatt was elated at the victory which apparently chased away the nervousness which she admitted to prior to her first effort Saturday in the ring.

On Sunday, Klatt was first on the five-bout program facing Samantha Murphy of Chippewa Valley Boxing Club in a 147-pound contest. Although her style needs work her aggression and determination need no help. Klatt starts fast and vigorously carries the attack to her opponent. The style worked for her Saturday and she utilized it again Sunday. She quickly showed she had the upper hand against the much taller Murphy. Murphy, to her credit, gave the match all she had and answered the bell for Round 2 despite taking some heavy punches from Klatt.

It was not far into the round when the referee stopped the contest to protect Murphy from further punshment as Klatt forced her game opponent all over the ring. Klatt came out of the weekend with a 2-0 record, both stoppages. She told WBAN she was looking forward to July when presumably she plans to box in the women’s national invitational open tournament in Scranton, PA…

In the opening bout of the weekend Krista Savage, a teammate of Murphy at the Chippewa Valley club, faced Sarah Lyons, Neopit Boxing Club, in a 140-pound bout and earned a close decision in a tough match that saw both women exchanging punches throughout the contest. Close-in boxing and frequent clinches made the match close and the crowd reacted to the aggressiveness of the boxers with many shouts and much applause as it appeared as though the contest was swinging from one to the other boxer. Although not highly skilled both contestants showed good courage and did not avoid close contact.

Champion status was awarded to the following women boxers: Catherine Pocon, 95 pound, Neopit Boxing Club; Alicia Walcher, 105, Peshtigo; Krystal Willis, 112, Peshtigo; Naquana Smalls, 132, Peshtigo; Krista Savage, 139, Senior, Chippewa Valley; Sarah Lyons, 139, Intermediate, Neopit; Klatt, 147; Samantha Murphy, 154, and Jennifer Thyssen, 165, Chippewa Valley. The foregoing women are eligible to enter the Scranton competition.

The weekend was intended to have been a championship contest but those plans were changed a few days before the program and a later regional tournament scheduled for July 13 and 14 was dropped. Champions were declared at this event although there were no match ups made for the nine weight classes.

The Scranton event is being called an invitational tournament, according to Gary Pliner, an official with USA Boxing, which sanctions amateur events.