Dates

• Existence: Born 1930

Biography

Barbara Buttrick ‘The Mighty Atom of the Ring’ was born in Cottingham, Yorkshire, in 1930.

At a young age Barbara was inspired to become a boxer by Polly Fairclough. Her first appearance was on the fairground was at Epson on Derby Day in 1949, aged 19, in Tommy Wood's show. She also boxed with Professor Bosco and Sam McKeowen among others and during her career she gave around 1,000 boxing exhibitions on the fairgrounds of England, France and America.

In 1953 Barbara moved to America where she joined an Athletic Show travelling the Midways with a carnival. In 1954, she started fighting competitive bouts rather than exhibition matches becoming one of the most famous women boxers of all time and the first female boxer to have her fight broadcast on national television.

Barbara's professional achivements:

First English woman professional boxer 1948-1960

First English woman to travel continental Europe and engage in public boxing contests 1951-1952

Frist English woman to cross the Atlantic and box against American women in public boxing contests 1952-1960

Engaged in the first female boxing contests in the following American states; North Dakota, Kansas, Texas and Florida

Engaged in the fits female boxing in Canada. 9 September 1954, which was the first ever radio broadcast of a professional women’s boxing bout

Obtained the first female boxing license in the State of Texas in October 1957

Won the first Women’s World Boxing Championship in San Antonio, Texas 9 October 1957

Featured in the first female boxing contest in Florida, that was broadcast over radio station WCKR Miami on 1 October 1959

Featured in the first photographs of a female boxing contestant published in Ring Magazine, The Bible of Boxing, December 1957

Created a record 12 year active boxing career. The longest in Women’s Boxing history The first woman President of a Men’s Veteran Boxers Association Ring 31 of Florida, September 1988

Her Pro-boxing records was 30-1-1

In 12 years in the ring she had over 1,000 exhibitions mainly with male boxers. She also had over 50 matches as a Pro-Wrestler

Undefeated Women’s World Fly & Bantamweight Boxing Champion 1950-1960

Found in 13 Collections and/or Records: