The On-going Saga of Female Boxing in Australia

Australian Women’s boxing has always been hampered by a small population spread thinly over a vast area. There are two amateur bodies, the result of a bitter split more than ten years ago. The ‘official’ Amateur Boxing Association did not allow women to compete until 2000 when they were issued with a ‘get equal’ ultimatum if they wished to retain their status as a Commonwealth and Olympic Sport. Women have been boxing in the ‘renegade’ Amateur Boxing League and professionally since about 1995. Despite the lack of depth in competition some Australian women have made an impact internationally and they include Sharon Anyos – one of the most successful Australian boxers of either gender and a world title holder. Other names include Amanda Buchanan, Laura Skinner, Holly Ferneley and Songul Oruc. But these women have been hampered by the tyranny of distance and a lack of opponents. Women in the state of New South Wales are further disadvantaged because boxing is against the law for women there and that law is proving difficult to change.

The latest issue to thwart them too is Fox Sport’s blatant editing of women’s bouts on local boxing cards. International cards including women’s bouts are broadcast on Australian Fox Sport channels but the local women are cut out. Fox Sport does not deny doing this, claiming that subscribers don’t like to watch women fight and that the sport comes under enough criticism as it is without having the presence of women added to the mix.

Despite these obstacles, former Australian bantamweight champion Amanda Buchanan has just secured a three fight deal in Japan – the first of which is due to take place in late August against Yumi Yoshimi. Buchanan hasn’t fought since 1997 but has been on the brink several times, having to withdraw due to injury or having opponents withdraw for the same reason. But she has been a leading light in the sport; strong, explosive and skillful. It would do a lot for the profile of women’s boxing in Australia if she returned to regular competition.

Boxer/kickboxer Holly Ferneley, a veteran of more than 20 boxing and kickboxing fights (9 KOs), has been battling the New South Wales laws preventing women from boxing. But her Federal Court challenge to the state legislation under the equal opportunity act failed late last year. Since then she has staged several illegal exhibition bouts to draw attention to the issue. She has competed in several martial arts contests and easily beat Victorian Edith Smith in Melbourne last year over four rounds in a super-bantamweight contest. She is eager to step up in the featherweight division and take on more challenging opponents.

Meanwhile, the glamorous boxer/model Rain Mako retired after half a dozen fights in which she was beginning to show some impressive skill. Geelong based Kathy Zutt, a strong Australian welterweight and former amateur champion, is cooling her heels waiting for opponents after fighting Mako twice (winning once and losing once). The shortage of opponents has help up her fighting career, which is the greatest battle Australian women boxers face when they turn pro. The amateur ranks are sporadically busy with female bouts but not many turn pro or have enough fights to accrue a depth of skill and experience.

More and more younger girls are becoming interested in the sport but we are yet to experience the groundswell of enthusiasm that has taken place in other parts of the world. A bit more exposure and publicity would help but in Australia often the male boxers struggle to get the mainstream media’s attention. Women get coverage for the novelty value but little else.