Barbara Buttrick
Encyclopedia
"Battling" Barbara Buttrick (born 1930) was a world champion in women's boxing
in the 1940s and 1950s.
Originally from England, Buttrick is considered a pioneer of women's professional boxing.
Buttrick started her boxing career in 1948, touring Europe with carnivals as a bantamweight in the boxing booth. She came to the United States in the mid-1950s, joined the carnival circuit, but quit because the American carnivals were rougher than the European ones. She then fought professionally in Canada, Chicago, and southern Florida. One of the Canadian matches became the first women's bout to be broadcast on radio.
Buttrick allegedly fought many exhibition bouts against male opposition.
Buttrick reportedly had one career loss, to Joann Hagen, in 31 pro bouts before retiring. After an absence of 15 years, she briefly returned to the ring in 1977.
She retired in 1960 at 30–1–1.
(WIBF) which is a major sanctioning body of women's boxing.
Buttrick's last known residence was Miami Beach, FL.
Women's boxing
Women's boxing first appeared in the Olympic Games at a demonstration bout in 1902. For most of the 20th century, however, it was banned in most nations. Its revival was pioneered by the Swedish Amateur Boxing Association, which sanctioned events for women in 1988. The British Amateur Boxing...
in the 1940s and 1950s.
Originally from England, Buttrick is considered a pioneer of women's professional boxing.
Pro career
Known as "The Mighty Atom of the Ring", Buttrick, at 4′ 11″, fought from 98 lbs. to being the World’s unbeaten flyweight (112) and bantamweight (118) champion from 1950 to 1960.Buttrick started her boxing career in 1948, touring Europe with carnivals as a bantamweight in the boxing booth. She came to the United States in the mid-1950s, joined the carnival circuit, but quit because the American carnivals were rougher than the European ones. She then fought professionally in Canada, Chicago, and southern Florida. One of the Canadian matches became the first women's bout to be broadcast on radio.
Buttrick allegedly fought many exhibition bouts against male opposition.
Buttrick reportedly had one career loss, to Joann Hagen, in 31 pro bouts before retiring. After an absence of 15 years, she briefly returned to the ring in 1977.
She retired in 1960 at 30–1–1.
Career After Boxing
In the mid-1990s, she founded and became the president of the Women's International Boxing FederationWomen's International Boxing Federation
The WIBF is, along with the WIBA, IWBF and others, one of the more recognized world championship fight sanctioning organizations in women's boxing. The organization is based in Miami, Florida, and is not associated with male boxing's IBF.The WIBF was formed in the middle 1990s. It is presided by...
(WIBF) which is a major sanctioning body of women's boxing.
Buttrick's last known residence was Miami Beach, FL.