Buttrick, Barbara, Born 1930
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 7 Collections and/or Records:
An Outstanding Wrestling Progam Promoted by Gehring’s Professional Wrestling Enterprise Poster, 15 January c1950 - 1959
Association of Polish Women’s Hall, Tapco Joe Springo vs. Dr Von Dyke, Stanley Radwan vs. Dynamite Joe Bennack, Irene Ramey vs. Barbara Buttrick, Rough House Joe vs. Angelo Thonas. Black type on white background and black and white photographs of the contestants.
Barbara Buttrick Collection
The collection contains photographs, handbills and programmes relating to Barbara Buttrick’s boxing career and some material she collected related to boxing.
Boxing and Wrestling Magazine, March 1954
Boxing specialist journal containing black and white photographs and articles, including article on women’s wrestling. 84p.p.
Newspaper Cuttings on Boxing and Wrestling, 1935 - 1984
Photocopies and original newspaper cuttings about boxing and wrestling including articles on Maurice Tillett, Tommy Martin, Jim Driscoll, Adrian Williams, Len Harvey, Polly Fairclough, Annie Warren recollections of boxers and their trade union by Len Smith, ring recollections by John Murray, Australian women boxers and Johnny Hughes’ obituary.
Posters, c1900 - 2000
Various boxing posters advertising fights and a poster advertising Barbara Buttrick's services as a female boxer coach.
The Ring Magazine, December 1957
Boxing specialist journal containing black and white photographs and articles, including article on women’s wrestling.
The Ring Magazine, December 1959
Boxing specialist journal containing black and white photographs and articles, including article on women’s wrestling. 68p.p.
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