She's a Knockout!

by L. A. Jennings

  A 1995 article in Vogue magazine details the experiences of several of the Golden Gloves competitors. It is astonishing that the fashion publication would dedicate precious space to women’s boxing, even if it is inaccurate in places. The article claims that women had never been properly schooled in boxing until the 1990s, which, of course, we know to be untrue; however, the piece does offer a fascinating picture of the state of women’s boxing in 1995, noting that unlike the Hollywood portrayal of boxing as the great hope for working-class men to escape their lives of poverty and want, the women boxing in 1995 were often highly professional and well-educated individuals. The article points out that the stereotype of the “poor street thug”-turned-boxing champion was as much a myth as the idea that boxing was reserved for men. The reality of the underdog-turned-boxing champion is substantiated by history, as evidenced by various famous boxers, but Hollywood undoubtedly turned it into a trope. Furthermore, the Vogue article reveals the inverse of that mythology: that Hollywood always paints women as the victims when it comes to fighting. Many people at the time assumed that a woman would crumble when hit in the face, because that was the image propagated in film and television.[58] And while it is true that a woman who is assaulted should be seen as a victim, in this new period of televised women’s boxing, women were not victims because they were recognized as athletes. They were empowered by their sport in much the same way that a woman felt empowered by her job as a physician or an executive in the corporate world.

  The 1995 Golden Gloves in New York was a historic event, but it was not until 1997 that the first national tournament with female participants was held. In 1997, sixty-seven women competed in the first national Golden Gloves boxing tournament for the opportunity to win twelve titles. That same year, the International Female Boxing Association (IFBA) was founded. The first commissioner, Jackie Kallon, led the organization in holding its own fighting events and creating multiple weight classes. The IFBA continues to promote women’s boxing in the international community, and, in 2009, with the help of other boxing institutions and committees, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced that women would, for the first time in history, compete in boxing in the 2012 Olympics.

  Surprisingly, the official Golden Gloves website does not list a history of female winners, although male winners are detailed starting with the tournament’s origins in 1928, but the addition of the women’s divisions to the Golden Gloves venue provided amateur female boxers with a place to compete on local and national levels. Meanwhile, professional female fighters proliferated, none more prominently than Christy Martin, the new face of women’s boxing.

  Christy Martin Makes Headlines

  Christy Martin stepped in between the ropes, removing her baby pink satin robe as the announcer called her name. She faced her opponent and, as the bell rang, erupted out of the corner, firing sharp combos as she drove her opponent into the ropes. When Sports Illustrated featured her on its cover in 1996, Martin’s wavy, brown hair just touched her shoulders, and with gloved hands on her hips, she stuck her chin out defiantly. But in the ring, her chin was down and hands up, and her hair, drenched with sweat, whipped around her face as she slipped and punched. When her hand was raised in resounding victory, Martin was not only the winner of that night’s match, she was the new face of women’s boxing.

  Martin is one of the most famous female boxers of the late twentieth century. After Don King signed her to fight in his legendary pay-per-view events, she competed on the same card as Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield, earning money and attention from the international boxing community. But Christy Martin is a controversial figure. She helped put women’s boxing on the map but also criticized her fellow athletes and claimed that none of her opponents were really able to compete with her. At a time when the sport needed support, especially from the inside, Martin seemed indifferent about advocating for women’s boxing. Her personal career was tantamount to any desire for women’s progress, and placing her career first, before any desire for helping other women in the sport, created tension amongst her cohorts in the emerging women’s professional boxing circuit. Former welterweight champion Sugar Ray Leonard admired the female boxer, saying, “I’ve seen her work out, and she is quite impressive.”[59] Leonard predicted that fans would also be impressed by Martin’s skill in the ring, admitting, “She packs quite a punch.”[60] Christy’s fighting career is well-documented; she does not have to rely on her own assertions of victory and greatness to deserve her spot in the Boxing Hall of Fame.

  In the middle of the 1990s, only a few years after women had become eligible to receive professional boxing licenses, Americans still had a difficult time accepting women’s fighting in the limelight. In fact, many people seemed to question not only the necessity for women to box, but whether boxing, in general, had run its course in American culture. Most of the pieces published about Christy Martin, inarguably the most visible female boxer of the late twentieth century, either clearly supported the fighter in terms of gender equality in sports or criticized her incessantly about anything ranging from her fighting skills to her looks to her personal life.

  The San Diego Union-Tribune published an article on Martin entitled “Is She Admirable or Abominable?” that questioned whether she was a “symbol of women’s equality . . . or part of a freak show?”[61] The article claimed that the sight of women fighting is sickening and that the only reason Martin saw reasonable success in the media was because of her looks. Martin apparently agreed, responding, “I don’t think I’d be as popular if I drove a Jeep and wore combat boots and a flannel shirt into the ring.”[62] It was this type of comment, standard in Martin’s interviews, that made her controversial to those who sought to support her as a figurehead for gender equality in sports. According to Don King, however, her success was dependent on three distinct points: “Christy Martin is attractive. She can fight, and she is a novelty,” he said.[63] Throughout the history of women’s fighting sports, we have seen that female fighters have been treated poorly by the media, but the coverage of Christy Martin is much more cutting than that regarding Hattie Leslie or Hattie Stewart one hundred years earlier.

  When she retired in 2012, Martin claimed forty-nine victories (thirty-one of those ending with a knockout), seven losses, and three draws. Her last few years were marked by losses, including a devastating knockout by Holly Holm in 2005. But Martin’s early career was marked by success and a number of “women’s firsts.” She is featured on the cover of the April 15, 1996, edition of Sports Illustrated, along with the headline, “The Lady Is a Champ: Boxing’s New Sensation, Christy Martin.” This was the first time a female boxer had appeared on the cover of a major magazine. The article, entitled “Gritty Woman,” identifies the social climate in 1996, which does not feel like that long ago.[64] It was acceptable for women to leave the house to become doctors or lawyers, but it was unsettling to see women “appropriate the testosterone-driven sports that men have traditionally enjoyed.”[65] Martin not only had the gall to fight brutally in her matches, she dressed like a woman, some said provocatively, in short skirts and makeup, outside the ring.

  Martin’s technical proficiency and indomitable attitude made her respected in the boxing world, especially when her matches were considered more action-packed and interesting than some of the main events on a fight card, but she refused to be the voice of feminism, often admitting her dislike for masculine-looking women. In “Gritty Woman,” one photo features her vacuuming the carpet barefoot. The image is disconcerting and seems unnecessary, both on the part of the magazine for including it and Martin for posing. This particular article was a milestone in the history of women’s fighting, because it literally put women at the forefront by using Martin’s image on the cover of the magazine. Yet, the piece seems reluctant to consider a future for women’s boxing “beyond the sideshow status is has sporadically enjoyed.”[66] Granted, the article admits that boxing, in general, may see its demise in the coming years, but, as we have see
n, boxing endures, and despite her controversial personal life and ideology, Christy Martin endured, fighting regularly for the next ten years.

  Christy Martin (left) fighting Holly Holm (right). Courtesy of Mary Ann Owen.

  Other Female Fighters

  Christy Martin may have been on the cover of Sports Illustrated, but other female fighters deserved the attention as much as she did. As is often the case, the media chooses one woman to embody the spirit of a new sport even though there are plenty of other women competing, some of whom are more talented than the “face” of that particular sport. Bonnie Canino, a skilled martial artist with black belts in Kenpo, tae kwon do, and kung fu, was a champion in both kickboxing and boxing in the 1990s. She began her career in kickboxing and retired with an impressive record of thirty-two wins, four losses, and one draw.[67] But Canino did not leave the fight game entirely; instead, she fought as a professional boxer and retired in 2004, with fifteen wins and four losses.[68] In November 1996, she fought two professional fights in a four-day span, beginning with a Don King Production match on a Wednesday evening, followed by another fight on Saturday evening. Canino explained that she was in training for a world championship bout in January and was basically using the events as tune-ups. In her own words, which are perfectly quote-worthy, she stated, “I am a bad girl, but I need the work.”[69] Canino retired in 2004, but she continues to be a part of the martial arts community, from running her own gym in Florida to coaching other women, including Ada Velez, who won the first International Boxing Association bantamweight title in January 2001.

  Bonnie Canino with her head coach, Burt Rodriquez. Courtesy of Mary Ann Owen.

  Another kickboxer-turned-boxer in the 1990s was Lucia Rijker, the undefeated kickboxing champion from Holland. Rijker held four different world titles, and when she retired from kickboxing in the late 1980s, she had won all thirty-six of her matches, twenty-five of which had ended with a knockout. In her professional boxing career, she had seventeen wins and no losses, with fourteen of her victories ending with a knockout.[70] Often referred to as the “most dangerous woman in the world,” Rijker could have been successful in any sport, and intense MMA fans may indulge in time-traveling fantasies in which she meets Cris “Cyborg” Justino in the cage. But like Justino, Rijker was sometimes criticized for her dominating performances and looks. When Rijker sought a fight with Christy Martin, Martin’s camp claimed that they needed Rijker to take a DNA chromosome test to prove she was a woman. The two ended up in a scrap at a gym, but there is no substantiated story as to exactly what went down between the two champion female boxers. The fight never occurred, and the two women continued to exchange vitriolic and cruel comments.[71]

  But Rijker became successful again when she turned to acting later in her career. She plays Hillary Swank’s villainous opponent in Million Dollar Baby (2005), a film that rejuvenated interest in women’s boxing, and she later went on to perform in other popular television programs and films. She may be the most dangerous woman alive, but she also successfully embodied the fighter-turned-actor for women that would later be emulated by MMA fighters Gina Carano and Ronda Rousey.

  One of the most infamous battles of the 1990s was when Margaret MacGregor boxed Loi Chow, a male jockey, in 1999. MacGregor decisively won each round, but the fight nonetheless stirred up controversy. Many believed that Chow would easily defeat MacGregor, despite MacGregor’s superior skill, simply because he was a man. Sadly, the critical slant created an environment that the fight would be ridiculous no matter what the outcome. If Chow were to viciously beat MacGregor, it would prove the unsuitability of women in the ring—and “teach her a lesson.” If MacGregor defeated Chow, it would simply prove that he was not a real man. Although MacGregor easily won the match, her victory was clouded by these arguments. In a similar contest in 1973, twenty years earlier, Billy Jean King roundly shut down former tennis pro Bobby Riggs in the infamous “Battle of the Sexes.” In the aftermath, people speculated that Riggs intentionally lost the match because he bet against himself. Even when women are victorious, they never truly win.

  Laila Ali Follows in Her Father’s Footsteps

  Women’s boxing continued to flourish in the late 1990s and early 2000s, as Laila Ali, the daughter of Muhammad Ali, entered the ring. Laila was eighteen years old when she decided to compete in boxing, despite her father’s initial efforts to talk her out of his own career ; however, the former champion quickly shifted his perspective to support his daughter.[72] Laila’s professional career began with a bang in 1999, when she knocked out April Fowler in the first round. Eight years later, Laila fought in the first women’s professional boxing match in South Africa, where she defeated Gwendolyn O’Neil in the presence of Nelson Mandela. After that fight, she officially retired, with an incredible record of twenty-four wins and zero losses, living up to her promise to end her fighting days undefeated.[73] One of her many victories was over Christy Martin in 2003, when she knocked out Martin, who was ten years her senior, six inches shorter, and twenty pounds lighter.[74] While the fight between Ali and Martin may have not been fair in terms of size, Ali demonstrated true skill and convinced many skeptics that she belonged in the ring.

  Shelly Burton (left) versus Laila Ali (right). Courtesy of Mary Ann Owen.

  In 2005, Ali defeated Erin Toughill, a prolific fighter who competed in professional MMA, professional boxing, and Brazilian jiu-jitsu, as well as on the television show American Gladiators. Toughill is one of the most famous faces of women’s MMA. She fought for more than a decade before retiring in 2011, with ten wins, three loses, and one draw. Since the end of her boxing career, Laila Ali has remained in the limelight, appearing on a variety of television programs and contributing articles to lifestyle magazines about parenting and health. Although many of her contemporaries criticized her for never taking “difficult” fights and essentially padding her record, Ali retired undefeated, a feat that could incite jealously in anyone. Her arguably most famous match came in 2001, when she, the daughter of Muhammad Ali, fought Jacqui Frazier Lyde, the daughter of Joe Frazier. Ali defeated Lyde by a small margin, but the fight was, in a way, symbolic of the new generation of fighters. The children of boxing legends could follow in their parents’ footsteps, whether they be sons or daughters.

  The 2012 Olympics

  The 2000s saw growth in women’s boxing at both the amateur and professional levels, but the next milestone occurred in 2012. The 2012 Olympics in London featured female fighters for the first time in history. This historic proceeding was an exciting development in the fighting world and the lives of the young women who competed that summer, but before they could enter the ring, the joy of including female boxers in the Olympics was quickly overshadowed by the International Boxing Association’s (AIBA) declaration that female fighters must wear skirts in the ring. From this odd declaration there ensued a furious debate about female athletes, as well as the institutions that govern both the sport and their bodies.

  Outfitting Female Olympic Boxers

  There is no doubt that the commercial success of a female athlete is heightened by an emphasis on her looks. Part of creating a look hinges on sartorial choices. Tennis stars Serena and Venus Williams incite controversy regarding their outlandish garments worn in tournaments. For most female athletes, clothing must be functional for the sport. Fight apparel is designed to stay in place, an important consideration for grapplers and MMA fighters. Boxing uniforms, meanwhile, tend to be universal for men and women, with boxing trunks and a sleeveless tank top being the standard for amateurs. Yet, the 2012 Olympics saw controversy when the AIBA insisted on creating a gender-specific uniform.

  During World War II, women took to the field in their own professional baseball league. As popularized by the 1992 film A League of Their Own, the female athletes were forced to wear skirts in an effort to eroticize the players and promote the sport to the American public, which supposedly had little interest in watching women play. The outfits also emphasized t
he difference between the male and female ballplayers, although longer skirts would have had the same effect. Female baseball players were not just supposed to mark themselves as female by wearing skirts: The purpose of their outfits was to titillate the crowd.

  Beyond the practice of sexualizing female athletes, notably practiced in nearly all forms of marketing, there is also perhaps the assertion of sexual difference in the AIBA’s idea of making skirts part of the boxing uniform for women. Yes, the AIBA would allow women to fight, but female fighters can never forget that they are just women, subjugated by their bodies and marginalized by gender stereotypes.

  Whether the intention was to increase the visibility of female fighters by sexualizing them or to mark the difference between men and women using fashion, the AIBA’s pronouncement created an immediate controversy—perhaps not the type of reaction they had desired. Instead, female fighters expressed their distaste for the decree, and the association had to reconsider their mandate. Ireland’s three-time world champion and eventual gold medalist, Katie Taylor, spoke with the BBC, saying, “I won’t be wearing a miniskirt, I don’t even wear miniskirts on a night out, so I definitely won’t be wearing miniskirts in the ring.”[75] Taylor’s colleagues heartily agreed with her, and on March 1, 2012, the AIBA changed their ruling to allow women to choose whether to wear shorts or skirts. Although the association’s retraction was quiet, it was obviously due to the loud protestations made by boxers and boxing fans throughout the world that women do not have to wear skirts to be women and certainly do not have to wear skirts to be boxers.

  Glory