Buttrick, Barbara, Born 1929
Dates
- Existence: Born 1929
Biography
Barbara Buttrick ‘The Mighty Atom of the Ring’ was born in Cottingham, Yorkshire, on 3 December 1929.
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 61 Collections and/or Records:
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.
Photographs and Postcards, c1900 - 1999
Black and white boxing photographs showing Barbara Buttrick and other boxers.
Posters, c1900 - 2000
Various boxing posters advertising fights and a poster advertising Barbara Buttrick's services as a female boxer coach.
Programmes, c1900 - 1999
Various boxing programmes for matches in the the USA and the UK.
Promotional Folder for the Women's International Boxing Federation Inc., c1996
Promotional folder containing four leaflets with photographs of boxers and information about them and a business card for Barbara Buttrick named as President of the Federation.
Research Material on Barbara Buttrick, c1940 - 1959
Research material containing photocopies of Barbara Buttrick’s photographs.
Research Material on Boxing, c1900 - 1999
Photocopies of boxing programmes.
Research Material on Early Boxing, c1900 - 1999
Photocopies of early boxing material including female boxers and F. Spike Robson.
Research Material on Female Boxers, c1980 - 1999
Research material containing photocopies of photographs of female boxer champions including Regina Halmich, Belinda Laracuente, Deirdre Gogarty, Delia Gonzalez, Valerie Henin-Wiet, Stefanie Bianchini, Margaret Sidoroff, Daisy Lang, Kathy Rivers, Michelle Sutcliffe and Valerie Mahfood.
The National Police Gazette Newspaper Cutting, 17 October 1896
Newspaper cutting from The National Police Gazette, containing black and white illustrations and photographs and articles on sports including boxing. 4p.p.