Women in Boxing: Apathy, Indifference & Finally Acceptance

Women in Boxing: Apathy, Indifference & Finally Acceptance

There was once apathy and indifference. In truth, it was much worse. Not so long ago, women couldn’t legally box in the UK. It took a famous court case in 1998 for things to change. Even in victory, very little did.

Jane Couch bravely took on the boxing establishment. And won. But at what cost. The British Medical Association called that famous historic victory ‘a demented extension of equal opportunities.’ Even after her day in court, some still didn’t get it. Eventually, they all did.

The acceptance of women’s boxing had been a long time coming. Despite her many achievements, Couch didn’t see the benefit of her struggles. But every single female fighter owes her plenty. Maybe even everything.

The early days after Couch won that ever-so-important courtroom victory were beyond hard. It took women being allowed to box at the 2012 London Olympics to really help push the change. But even then, it took time.

Katie Taylor changed plenty when she turned professional after her disappointment in the 2016 Rio Olympics. Suddenly, every female fighter saw daylight. A chance that their side of the sport had some semblance of a future.

The importance of Jane Couch to the female side of the sport should never ever be forgotten. But Taylor is in different ways just as important. The Irish superstar was a major reason why women were allowed to box in the Olympics, and the upward trajectory of women’s boxing is in no small part because of Taylor leaving the unpaid ranks behind. But even Taylor initially found acceptance hard to come by. That brutal savage first fight with Delfine Persoon in that ironic Madison Square Garden ring in 2019 changed many an opinion.

Things perhaps started to change on a much wider scale in those desperate days of lockdown. Eddie Hearn heavily featured his growing stable of female fighters in his behind-closed-door shows. They were given an opportunity. Every single female fighter featured took that opportunity and showed everyone what they were capable of.

Natasha Jonas had two of the greatest-ever female fights on those cards. Fights with Taylor and Terri Harper left her agonisingly close to winning a world title. Her moment would soon come. Jonas from near career oblivion, would have many a moment.

But the female side of the sport as a whole has moved on since the freak show label it once had, or the elite amateur fighters having to share kit. Many forget those days. But make no mistake, it is now in a good place. In truth, a very good place. The all-female Boxxer card in 2022 was a special night in many ways. A sold-out O2 Arena in London headlined by two titanic rivalries in Claressa Shields vs. Savannah Marshall and Mikaela Mayer vs. Alycia Baumgardner delivered in every way imaginable. The sport will only grow from here. True superstars like Katie Taylor, Claressa Shields, Chantelle Cameron, Amanda Serrano, Natasha Jonas, and the new wave of talent that is coming through the ranks will ensure the progress will continue.

The efforts of Jane Couch will not go to waste.