1982: Shirley Tucker tackles California to get the right to fight males

Copyrighted Photograph:  Shirley Tucker vs. Toni Rodriguez – WBAN purchased
the exclusive rights to photo. All Rights Reserved.

One of the trailblazers and groundbreakers for the sport in the 1980’s goes to Shirley “Zebra Girl” Tucker.  She not only became a veteran in the sport as a pro, but Shirley challenged the California Athletic Commission to obtain the right to fight men in the ring.  By the way—there never was one incident of this happening on any card after this was ruled in her favor.

In the news they reported the following: “Shirley “Zebra Girl” Tucker of Santa Rosa will be able to climb into the ring as a 120-pound boxers and be able to fight with men under a reluctant ruling of the California Athletic Commission.

“We had no recourse but to approve it, said Don Fraser, commission executive officer”, said of Mixed Matches.

The five-member board recently decided to approve women versus men professional boxing matches effective immediately.  The legality of coed boxing was argued by the American Civil Liberties Union.

“To my knowledge there is only one woman boxer interested in fighting men—and that’s Shirley Tucker of Santa Rosa, who is in the 120-pound division,” Fraser Said.

The mixed bouts may be difficult to come by, however.