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
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!