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In March of 1993, Dallas Malloy became
the first female to challenge the USA Boxing’s bylaw in a federal court.
Her dream was to box against other women in the Olympic Games, a goal
attainable only as a member of USA Boxing. For months she trained without
any immediate hope of competing. Malloy’s lawsuit against USA Boxing
would go to trial, unless settled, in December of 1993, before the U.S.
District Court in Seattle.
| In May, Judge Barbara
Rothstein granted Malloy a court injunction, temporarily nullifying
USA’s ban on women until the matter could go to trial. Malloy's
application for membership was sent through. |
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And if a match could be made that fall, as reported
in the Seattle Times, March of 1993, "Malloy and her opponent
would become the first women to ever box in a sanctioned amateur fight in
this country."
How did Malloy strike an interest in boxing?
Malloy found the Hillman City Boxing Gym in the phone book, and spoke to
Bob Jarvis, a boxing promoter (who by the way was originally going to
match Margaret MacGregor with Malloy,
and later was the one responsible for the Loi Chow
vs MacGregor mixed match).
He told Malloy that there was no place for women’s
boxing. So, Malloy, at the tender age of 15, wrote a letter to the
American Civil Liberties Union, who was responsible for finding her an
attorney.
A Seattle firm "Graham and Dunn, took the case,
expecting it to be quickly settled, due to state law that was very clear
about gender discrimination. Due to that fact, Malloy’s attorney filed
the lawsuit in state court, anticipating that the USA Boxing would resist
a trial in federal court.
Judge Rothstein only took a few moments to grant the
injunction. There had been a previous case, just one year prior, in the
state of Massachusetts, with Gail
Grandchamp that had fought for close to seven years outside the
ring to gain that right, just to sadly turn 35 and not qualify to be an
amateur.
Apparently even Canada had lifted their ban for
women to compete in amateurs. The president of USA Boxing said that it was
mostly the safety and medical issues that they were concerned about.
Malloy did succeed in getting the opportunity to
fight, and the following is an excerpt from the Bellingham Herald about
Malloy preparing for the fight, and the fight itself:
"Boxer Dallas Malloy and trainer James
Ferguson shared a private ritual in the weeks leading up to their history-
making fight. "Are you ready for the two-by-four, 20 stories
up?" Ferguson would say. "I’m ready," Malloy would
answer. Saturday night at Edmonds Community College, Malloy showed how
ready. The Bellingham 16-year-old pounded out a convincing victory against
Heather Poyner of Ferndale in the United States first sanctioned amateur
bout between females. By Mike Grady, The Bellingham Herald,
Sports on TV, Section D, November 1, 1993.
Dallas Malloy’s career highlights:
Aug 6 1992 – Malloy, who at one time wanted
to be a weight lifter, begins her boxing training at age 15 under the
guidance of coach James Ferguson.
March 8, 1993 – The American Civil
Liberties Union of Washington files a lawsuit on Malloy’s behalf to
challenge the male-only rules of U.S. Amateur Boxing Inc.
May 7, 1993 – U.S. District Judge Barbara
Rothstein issues a preliminary injunction ruling that a U.S. Amateur
Boxing Inc. bylaws barring female fighters violates Washington state’s
anti-discrimination laws, clearing the way for Malloy to box.
October 30, 1993: Malloy defeats Heather
Poyner of Ferndale by decision in the first sanctioned amateur women’s
boxing match in the United States. Malloy beat Heather Poyner of Ferndale
in the first sanctioned amateur boxing match between two women in the
United States. A crowd of about 1,200 turned out at the Edmonds Community
College gymnasium. Malloy entered the ring wrapped in an American flag.
The bout consisted of three 2-minute rounds. Malloy hit Poyner so often in
the second round that the referee signaled a standing eight count.
July 1994 – Malloy announces her retirement
from boxing.
By July of 1994, Malloy was already hanging
up the gloves, without ever fighting another amateur bout. Malloy was
quoted as saying, " I wish people would just accept that I quit.
It’s not a big deal. I don’t mean to sound rude but why is it a big
deal? People quit stuff all the time." She went on to say in the
Bellingham Herald and the Associated Press, "I go through phases
of things. There’s so many things to do. I just get bored with things
fast. I did that. It was a thrill. It was great. I got a lot out of
it."
BUT
WAS MALLOY "REALLY" THE FIRST WOMAN TO BOX IN AMATEURS?
| No, there were no
TV crews from all over the world,
national TV, and very little local coverage considering that on
May 12, 1978, was the FIRST sanctioned amateurs women's bout in the
world.
Reported in the
St. Paul Sunday Pioneer Press, in the Sports section under,
"Female boxer makes history"
page 3. by Pat Thompson, staff writer, May 14, 1978. An
excerpt of the article that was written:"Claire Buckner, a St. Paul
mother of three, made Minnesota amateur boxing history the other
night with her crisp left jabs and power right hand thrust.
The 24-year-old Theater Arts major at the University of Minnesota
became Minnesota's first AAU woman champion in a four-bout card held
Friday night at Bierman Building. "
 |
The article went on
to state that this opening bout was billed the
"World's First Women's Amateur Boxing Championships. (
I was able to obtain over a two dozen original documents from
Bill Dickson, the women's boxing promoter of the 70's that is
considered the "Father of
Women's Boxing" about this first
sanctioned amateurs event.) |
But, this May 12, 1978, did not
come about without it's struggles.
These women who have never been recognized by anyone up to this
point--- buried in the true history of women's boxing had a fight
outside the ring before ever making it inside that squared
circle.....
In the
Minneapolis Tribune, dated Friday, April 7, 1978, the
following was reported:
"In another first for women in boxing, Joan Marcolt,
24, St. Paul, will meet Debbie Kaufman, 24, Minneapolis,
Saturday in the bantamweight division of the state AAU boxing
tournament at Fred Moore Junior High School in Anoka. It
will be the first amateur bout between women in
Minnesota."
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| Little did these women
boxers know that the AAU would block this bout, and Kaufman and
Marcolt were not allowed to participate in the competition
that following day. The women's boxing
organization which at that time was called the University of
Minneapolis Women's boxing club was furious, and they let it be
known to the media. |
| In the Rapid City
Journal, dated Saturday, April 8, 1978, page 8, in the Sports
Section.....the article read, "Female Boxers Bitter" it
read as follows: |
 |
| MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- A
group of frustrated female boxers and their backers, prevented from
appearing on Friday's state AAU boxing card, have been told they can
have their own bouts to determine state champions in May.
However, the boxers and Bill Paul, their promoter, are still bitter
and plan to protest. "All we asked for was four minutes
on the card," said Paul, who wanted Joan Marcolt, St. Paul, and
Debbie Kaufman, Minneapolis, to fight at Anoka's Fred Moore junior
high school for the state female bantamweight
championship. |
By April 20, 1978, there were some negotiations
between the Women's boxer's association and the AAU director and that it
appeared that the women would be sanctioned by the AAU for this event.
The event did take place and the rest is
history...... WBAN will continue the Amateur women's boxing history by
continuing to tell how this organization got started at the University of
Minnesota, and about the founder, Bill Paul, who made it all happen.
Also, WBAN will go into the history of the International Women's Boxing
Association, which is by all accounts was one of the first organized federations
for women's boxing.
WBAN wants to thank BILL DICKSON for all of the valuable records that he
donated to TL Fox. He met with TL Fox in October of 1999, after
coming up from Northern California, to Portland, Oregon to get together
with her. Bill had two boxes of records that not only had original
documents of many of the historical events that occurred in women's boxing
in the 70's, but also some interesting tidbits from men's
boxing.
Copyrighted 12/19/99. All rights reserved. Sue TL Fox
Flash from the Past - Jill Lafler
filed suit in 1982 to earn the right to box in the Golden Gloves....TL
Fox is asking for the public's help. Go
here for details
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