Women's boxing

File:Bennett sisters boxing.jpg

File:De vrouwelijke wereldkampioene boksen in het lichtgewicht Louise Adler traint met de prijsvechter, SFA003001706.jpg

One of the earliest mentions of women's boxing is in the travelogue of a German man who visited London in 1710. While taking in a men's boxing match, he met a woman in the audience who claimed to have previously boxed another woman in the same venue.{{Harvnb|Smith|2014|p=2}}

One of the earliest known women's boxing matches to have been advertised in print was in London between Elizabeth Wilkinson and Hannah Hyfield in 1722. Billing herself as the "European Championess", Wilkinson and her husband would also fight other mixed couples as a pair, with Wilkinson fighting the other woman, and her husband fighting the other man. In those days, the rules of boxing allowed kicking, gouging and other methods of attack not part of today's arsenal.{{cite book|title=She's a Knockout!: A History of Women in Fighting Sports |last=Jennings |first=L. A. |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield |location=Lanham, Maryland |year=2014 |pages=33–40 |isbn=9781442236448}}

Women's boxing first appeared in the Olympic Games as a demonstration sport in 1904, in St. Louis.{{cite web|url=https://thenorthwindonline.com/3859499/sports/usoec-welcomes-first-female-boxers/ |title=USOEC welcomes first female boxers |first=Laura |last=Conway}}

During the 1920s, Professor Andrew Newton formed a Women's Boxing Club in London.{{cite web |url=http://www.fscclub.com/history/hbox1-e.shtml |title=Formation of the contemporary women's boxing |access-date=1 August 2016}} However women's boxing was hugely controversial. In early 1926, Shoreditch borough council banned an arranged exhibition match between boxers Annie Newton and Madge Baker, a student of Digger Stanley.{{cite news |title=WOMEN's BOXING BOUTS ABANDONED Promoter Yields to Public Opinion |newspaper=Hackney and Kingsland Gazette |date=1 February 1926}}{{cite news |last=Norris |first=H.C. |date=4 April 1926 |title=She Wants to FIGHT Jack Dempsey! |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/9271519/ |newspaper=Zanesville Times Signal |location=Zanesville |access-date=22 July 2016}}{{cite news |title=WOMEN BOXERS Proposed Bouts With Men |newspaper=Hackney and Kingsland Gazette |date=29 January 1926}} An attempt to hold the match in nearby Hackney instead was defeated by a campaign led by the Mayor of Hackney, who wrote, "I regard this proposed exhibition of women boxers as a gratification of the sensual ideals of a crowd of vulgar men." The Home Secretary Sir William Joynson-Hicks was among those opposing the match, claiming "the Legislature never imagined that such a disgraceful exhibition would have been staged in this country." The story was reported across the country{{cite news |title=WOMEN BOXERS |newspaper=Western Daily Press |date=30 January 1926}} and even internationally.{{cite news |last=Brown |first=Norman |date=4 February 1926 |title=Sports Done Brown |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=zpUcAAAAIBAJ&pg=3277%2C2270389 |newspaper=Sarasota Herald Tribune |access-date=1 August 2016}}

In 1988 the Swedish Amateur Boxing Association sanctioned events for women.{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FxOAAwAAQBAJ&dq=women+%22Swedish+Amateur+Boxing+Association%22+1988&pg=PT285 |title=A Gambling Guide |date=3 May 2014 |publisher=Nicolae Sfetcu}}

In 1997 the British Amateur Boxing Association sanctioned its first boxing competition for women. The first event was meant to be between two thirteen-year-olds, but one of the boxers dropped out because of hostile media attention. A month later, an event was held between two sixteen-year-olds.

The British Boxing Board of Control refused to issue licenses to women until they issued one to Jane Couch in 1998. By the end of the century, however, they had issued five such licenses. The first sanctioned professional bout between women in the U.K. was in November 1998 at Streatham in London, between Jane Couch and Simona Lukic. Couch won.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sport/222196.stm |title=Sport | Women's boxing makes instant impact |work=BBC News |date=25 November 1998 |access-date=30 September 2015}}{{cite web |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/boxing-first-night-jane-couch-women-face-an-even-bigger-fight-1188035.html |title=Boxing: First Night Jane Couch – Women face an even bigger fight |website=The Independent |date=29 November 1998 |access-date=18 May 2017}}

File:Women boxing.jpg

The International Boxing Association (amateur) accepted new rules for women's boxing at the end of the 20th century and approved the first European Cup for Women in 1999 and the first World Championship for women in 2001.{{cite web|url=http://www.insidethegames.biz/sports/summer/boxing/womens-boxing |title=Women's Boxing |website=Insidethegames.biz |date=25 September 2016 |access-date=1 October 2016}} In October 2001 the first women's world amateur boxing championships,{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2xAWBAAAQBAJ&dq=%22first+women%27s+world+amateur+boxing+championship%22&pg=PA90 |title=Sports Events, Society and Culture |pages=90 |first1=Katherine |last1=Dashper |first2=Thomas |last2=Fletcher |first3=Nicola |last3=Mccullough |date=25 July 2014 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=9781134053278 |via=Google Books}} called the 2001 Women's World Amateur Boxing Championships, were held in Scranton, in the United States.{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/boxing/katie-taylor-nicola-adams-boxing-latest-tickets-schedule-results-a7651861.html |title=Women's boxing is in safe hands with the new generation after fighting its way back from a sordid past |website=the Independent |date=27 March 2017 |access-date=12 May 2017}}

File:LuciaRijker.jpg and Jane Couch boxing, 2003]]

Women's boxing was not featured at the 2008 Olympics; however, on 14 August 2009, it was announced that the International Olympic Committee's Executive Board (EB) had approved the inclusion of women's boxing for the Games in London in the 2012 Olympics,{{cite news|first=Rachel |last=Dixon |url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2010/nov/12/women-boxing-live-tv-olympics |title=The rise of women boxers | Life and style |newspaper=The Guardian |access-date=15 February 2016}}{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/london-2012/6024051/Womens-Boxing-Olympic-place-a-victory-for-justice-and-equality.html |title=Women's Boxing Olympic place a victory 'for justice and equality' |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |access-date=30 September 2015}}{{cite web|url=http://www.olympic.org/uk/news/olympic_news/full_story_uk.asp?id=3094 |title=Olympic News – Official Source of Olympic News |publisher=Olympic.org |date=28 August 2014 |access-date=14 October 2015}} contrary to the expectations of some observers. Around these (2009) hearings, in conjunction with AIBA (International Boxing Association), the International Olympic Committee agreed to include three additional women's weight classes to the 2012 London Olympic Games. A new "gender-appropriate" women's boxing uniform was being created at the time, which would have required women (under AIBA rules) to wear skirts during competition. The issue was widely ignored by the public until amateur boxer and London student Elizabeth Plank brought the issue to light. She created a petition at Change.com to end the gender-based mandatory uniforms.{{cite journal|last=Paradis |first=Elise |date=24 May 2012 |title=Boxers, Briefs or Bras? Bodies, Gender and Change in the Boxing Gym |journal=Body & Society |volume=18 |issue=2 |pages=82–109 |doi=10.1177/1357034x12440829 |s2cid=146627642 |issn=1357-034X}} It was eventually decided (before the 2012 Olympics) to give women boxers the option of wearing shorts or a skirt.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/boxing/17229496 |title=Boxers not forced to wear skirts |work=BBC Sport}}

Women were allowed to competitively box for the first time at the Olympics during the 2012 Summer Olympics, in London, producing the world's first 12 female Olympic medalist boxers.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/mobile/olympic_games/8196879.stm |title=Women's boxing gains Olympic spot |work=BBC News |date=13 August 2009 |access-date=12 May 2017}}{{cite web|last=Park |first=Alice |url=https://olympics.time.com/2012/08/09/olympic-womens-boxing-has-its-first-champions-and-a-generation-of-girls-have-new-role-models/ |title=Olympic Women's Boxing Has Its First Champions, and a Generation of Girls Have New Role Models | TIME.com |publisher=Olympics.time.com; Time|date=9 August 2012 |access-date=30 September 2015}}{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/06/sports/olympics/women-participate-in-olympic-boxing-for-first-time.html |title=Women Finally Get Their Chance to Be Contenders in Olympic Boxing |newspaper=The New York Times |date=5 August 2012 |access-date=30 September 2015 |last1=Bearak |first1=Barry }}{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/boxing/9465788/Nicola-Adams-becomes-first-ever-winner-of-an-Olympic-womens-boxing-tournament.html |title=Nicola Adams becomes first ever winner of an Olympic women's boxing tournament |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |access-date=30 September 2015}} Nicola Adams of Great Britain won the world's first Olympic women's boxing gold medal.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/olympics/18913924 |title=Olympics boxing: Great Britain's Nicola Adams wins historic gold |publisher=BBC Sport |date=9 August 2012 |access-date=9 August 2012}}

On 14 September 2014, after defeating Croatian Ivana Habazin, Cecilia Brækhus became the first Norwegian and the first woman to hold all major world championship belts in her weight division (welterweight) in boxing history.[http://theforeigner.no/pages/news/brkhus-first-woman-to-unify-division/ Brækhus first woman to unify division] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151123203236/http://theforeigner.no/pages/news/brkhus-first-woman-to-unify-division/ |date=2015-11-23}} The Foreigner

In 2015 the World Boxing Federation unified various women's titles to have one title holder.{{cite web|url=http://www.worldboxingfederation.net/intro-unified-womens-world-titles.htm |title=WBF | World Boxing Federation |website=Worldboxingfederation.net |access-date=8 February 2016}}

In 2024, Cindy Ngamba became the first boxer chosen for the Refugee Olympic Team;{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/articles/c72pwv78kkzo|title=GB-based boxer Ngamba named in Refugee Olympic Team|date=2 May 2024 |publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=11 May 2024}} later that year she became the first medalist for the Refugee Olympic Team at the Olympics, having won bronze in women’s 75 kg boxing at the 2024 Summer Olympics.{{Cite web |date=2024-08-04 |title=Paris 2024: Cindy Ngamba makes history as first refugee to secure Olympic medal, reaches boxing semi-finals |url=https://olympics.com/en/news/cindy-ngamba-history-first-refugee-olympic-medal-paris-2024-boxing-semi-finals |website=Olympics}}{{cite web|url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/bolton-boxer-cindy-ngamba-secures-29705663|title=Bolton boxer Cindy Ngamba secures place in Olympics history despite heartbreak in Paris|date=8 August 2024 |publisher=Manchester Evening News|accessdate=8 August 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/olympics/cameroon-panama-british-paris-b2593630.html|title=Cindy Ngamba wins bronze for Refugee Olympic Team's first ever medal|work=The Independent|accessdate=8 August 2024}}

On 9 August 2024, Algerian boxer Imane Khelif defeated Yang Liu of China in the final to win an Olympic gold medal.{{cite web |last1=Beacham |first1=Greg |title=Boxer Imane Khelif wins gold to cap an Olympics marked by scrutiny over her sex |url=https://apnews.com/article/olympics-2024-boxing-imane-khelif-a177d6795d27dbc02db1313de0266753 |website=AP News |agency=Associated Press |access-date=24 August 2024 |date=9 August 2024 |archive-date=9 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240809141420/https://apnews.com/article/olympics-2024-boxing-imane-khelif-a177d6795d27dbc02db1313de0266753 |url-status=live}}{{cite web |last1=Pierce |first1=Zack |title=Imane Khelif wins Olympic boxing gold medal, ending trying Games with triumph |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5691920/2024/08/09/imane-khelif-olympics-boxing-gold-medal-yang-liu/ |website=The New York Times |access-date=9 August 2024 |date=9 August 2024 |archive-date=9 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240809212903/https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5691920/2024/08/09/imane-khelif-olympics-boxing-gold-medal-yang-liu/ |url-status=live |url-access=limited}} Khelif therefore became Algeria's first female gold medalist in boxing, as well as the country's first boxer of any gender to win a medal since Mohamed Allalou in 2000{{cite web |author= |title=JO 2024. Sedjati, Khelif, Nemour... Quelles sont les chances de médailles de l'Algérie à Paris ? |trans-title=2024 Olympics. Sedjati, Khelif, Nemour... What are Algeria's chances of medals in Paris? |url=https://www.ouest-france.fr/jeux-olympiques/jo-2024-sedjati-khelif-nemour-quelles-sont-les-chances-de-medailles-de-lalgerie-a-paris-e81fe2ac-4992-11ef-ae43-8601f2d4302d |website=Ouest-France |access-date=26 August 2024 |language=fr |date=24 July 2024 |archive-date=7 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240807113105/https://www.ouest-france.fr/jeux-olympiques/jo-2024-sedjati-khelif-nemour-quelles-sont-les-chances-de-medailles-de-lalgerie-a-paris-e81fe2ac-4992-11ef-ae43-8601f2d4302d |url-status=live}} and the first to win a gold medal since Hocine Soltani in 1996.{{cite web |last1=Dotson |first1=Kevin |title=Algerian boxer Imane Khelif wins Olympic gold after social media firestorm |url=https://www.cnn.com/2024/08/09/sport/imane-khelif-gold-medal-boxing-spt/index.html |publisher=CNN |access-date=9 August 2024 |date=9 August 2024 |archive-date=29 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240829120700/https://www.cnn.com/2024/08/09/sport/imane-khelif-gold-medal-boxing-spt/index.html |url-status=live }}

Khelif had been disqualified from the 2023 Women's World Boxing Championships organized by the Russian-led International Boxing Association (IBA) after failing unspecified gender eligibility tests, along with boxer Lin Yu-ting.{{Cite web |date=2024-08-03 |title=Imane Khelif and Lin Yu-ting: IOC president Thomas Bach defends boxers competing at Olympics |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/olympics/articles/c28e88jdprno |website=BBC Sport |language=en-GB}} The International Olympic Committee (IOC) and its Paris Boxing Unit criticized the disqualification as "sudden and arbitrary" and taken "without any due process".{{Cite web |date=2 August 2024 |title=Joint Paris 2024 Boxing Unit/IOC Statement |url=https://olympics.com/ioc/news/joint-paris-2024-boxing-unit-ioc-statement |website=International Olympic Committee |access-date=1 August 2024 |archive-date=1 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240801220339/https://olympics.com/ioc/news/joint-paris-2024-boxing-unit-ioc-statement |url-status=live }}{{Cite news |last=Chakraborty |first=Amlan |date=26 March 2023 |title=Two disqualified for failing to meet eligibility criteria at world champs |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/sports/two-disqualified-failing-meet-eligibility-criteria-world-champs-2023-03-26/ |access-date=1 April 2023 |archive-date=1 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230401025041/https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/sports/two-disqualified-failing-meet-eligibility-criteria-world-champs-2023-03-26/ |url-status=live }}{{cite news |title=Boxers Lin and Khelif cleared for Olympics |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/olympics/articles/c4ngr93d9pgo |date=2024-07-30 |work=BBC Sport |access-date=30 July 2024 |archive-date=30 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240730105908/https://www.bbc.com/sport/olympics/articles/c4ngr93d9pgo |url-status=live }} The Washington Post stated, "It remains unclear what standards Khelif and Lin Yu Ting failed [in 2023] to lead to the disqualifications."{{cite news |title=Olympic boxer who faced gender-eligibility claim wins, igniting outcry |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/olympics/2024/08/01/imane-khelif-algerian-boxer-gender-paris-olympics/ |newspaper=The Washington Post |last1=Carpenter |first1=Les |access-date=2 August 2024 |archive-date=1 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240801201901/https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/olympics/2024/08/01/imane-khelif-algerian-boxer-gender-paris-olympics/ |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last1=Ingle |first1=Sean |title=Boxers who failed gender tests at world championships cleared to compete at Olympics |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/article/2024/jul/29/boxers-who-failed-gender-tests-at-world-championships-cleared-to-compete-at-olympics |access-date=30 July 2024 |work=The Guardian |date=30 July 2024}} The IBA did not reveal the testing methodology, stating the "specifics remain confidential".{{Cite web |date=2024-08-01 |title=Olympics: Italian boxer abandons match after less than a minute |url=https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2024/08/01/olympics-italys-carini-quits-seconds-into-boxing-match-against-algerian-khelif |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240802093640/https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2024/08/01/olympics-italys-carini-quits-seconds-into-boxing-match-against-algerian-khelif |archive-date=2 August 2024 |access-date=2024-08-02 |website=euronews |language=en}} The IBA's Olympic status was revoked in June 2023,{{Cite web |title=Olympics 2024: IOC says it is saddened by abuse boxers are receiving over 'arbitrary' gender row |url=https://www.skysports.com/olympics/news/12183/13189126/olympics-2024-ioc-says-it-is-saddened-by-abuse-boxers-are-receiving-over-arbitrary-gender-row |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240802105425/https://www.skysports.com/olympics/news/12183/13189126/olympics-2024-ioc-says-it-is-saddened-by-abuse-boxers-are-receiving-over-arbitrary-gender-row |archive-date=2 August 2024 |access-date=2024-08-02 |website=Sky Sports |language=en}} due to governance issues and perceived judging and refereeing corruption.{{cite news |last1=Ingle |first1=Sean |date=2024-07-29 |title=Boxers who failed gender tests at world championships cleared to compete at Olympics |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/article/2024/jul/29/boxers-who-failed-gender-tests-at-world-championships-cleared-to-compete-at-olympics |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240803085103/https://www.theguardian.com/sport/article/2024/jul/29/boxers-who-failed-gender-tests-at-world-championships-cleared-to-compete-at-olympics |archive-date=3 August 2024 |access-date=2024-08-02 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}

In Argentina, women's boxing has experienced a notable rise in popularity, due in part to the presence of boxers such as Alejandra Oliveras, Marcela Acuna, Yesica Bopp and Erica Farias.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-13837709 |title=Why Argentina is producing women boxing champions |first=Vladimir |last=Hernandez |work=BBC News |date=2 July 2011 |access-date=12 May 2017}}

{{Main|Women's boxing in Australia}}

While not being urged to avoid competition, women had few opportunities to compete in sport in Australia until the 1880s. After that date, new sporting facilities were being built around the country and many new sport clubs were created.Howell, Max; Howell, Reet; Brown, David W. (1989). The Sporting Image, A pictorial history of Queenslanders at play. Brisbane: University of Queensland Press. pg. 84. ISBN 0-7022-2206-2. Boxing classes were being offered to women in Australia by 1892, at locations such as the Brisbane Gymnasium on Turbot Street, close to the city's railway station.Howell, Max; Howell, Reet; Brown, David W. (1989). The Sporting Image, A pictorial history of Queenslanders at play. Brisbane: University of Queensland Press. pg. 27. ISBN 0-7022-2206-2. While classes may have been offered for women, serious training was not permitted for women by the 1900s and women were banned from pursuing the sport in a competitive way. Women were also barred from attending boxing matches.Howell, Max; Howell, Reet; Brown, David W. (1989). The Sporting Image, A pictorial history of Queenslanders at play. Brisbane: University of Queensland Press. pg. 87. ISBN 0-7022-2206-2. New South Wales banned women's boxing from 1986 to 2009.{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/12/19/2451555.htm |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120717114016/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/12/19/2451555.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=17 July 2012 |title=NSW opens ring for women's boxing |publisher=ABC News |date=19 December 2008 |access-date=13 May 2011}} Women's boxing was resumed in NSW with an exhibition fight between Kaye Scott and Ramona Stephenson in October 2009.{{cite web|title=NSW girls boxing premiere |url=http://www.cornerman.com.au/articles/show/nsw-girs-boxing-premiere |website=Cornerman Magazine |accessdate=19 March 2017}} Women's boxing was legalized in Queensland in 2000.{{cite web|url=http://www.uq.edu.au/news/?article=6729 |title=Women boxers fight uphill battle |website=UQ News Online – The University of Queensland |date=2005-03-03 |access-date=2012-01-13}}

In 2002, Desi Kontos of South Australia became the first Australian woman to represent the country at the boxing world championships.{{cite news|url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/women-shape-up-for-equal-rights/story-e6frfglf-1111116916107 |title=Women boxers shape up for equal rights |publisher=Herald Sun |date=2008-07-15 |access-date=2012-01-13}}

Naomi Fischer-Rasmussen was the first female boxer to represent Australia at the Olympics when she competed at the 2012 Summer Olympics.{{cite news|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/london-games/some-days-are-diamonds-for-meares/story-e6frgdg6-1226367413676 |title=Some days are diamonds for Meares |publisher=The Australian |date=26 May 2012 |access-date=2012-06-17}}{{cite web|last=Foreman |first=Glen |url=http://www.perthnow.com.au/sport/othersports/fischer-rasmussen-has-had-a-tough-fight-to-get-to-london/story-fn4pw13c-1226390056782 |title=Fischer-Rasmussen has had a tough fight to get to London |publisher=Perth Now |date=2012-06-09 |access-date=2012-06-17}}

Caitlin Parker became the first Australian female boxer to win an Olympic medal when she won bronze at the 2024 Summer Olympics.{{cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-08-09/paris-olympics-caitlin-parker-and-charlie-senior-boxing-bronze/104203772|title=Boxers Caitlin Parker and Charlie Senior both earn bronze medals in rare double for Team Australia at the Paris Olympics|work=ABC News |date=8 August 2024 |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|accessdate=8 August 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/article/2024/aug/09/paris-olympics-boxing-australias-wait-for-gold-goes-on-as-parker-and-senior-secure-bronze|title=Australia's wait for Olympic boxing gold goes on as Parker and Senior secure bronze|work=The Guardian|date=8 August 2024 |accessdate=8 August 2024 |last1=Snape |first1=Jack }}

In 2023, women competed in boxing at the Canada Games for the first time.{{Cite web|url=https://atlantic.ctvnews.ca/female-boxers-take-the-ring-on-p-e-i-for-the-first-time-in-canada-games-history-1.6294749|title=Female boxers take the ring on P.E.I. for the first time in Canada Games history|date=1 March 2023|website=Atlantic}} Talia Birch of Team Quebec and Emily Vigneault of Team Alberta won the first Canada Games gold medals for boxing in their divisions; Birch won in the 52-kg female division and Vigneault won in the 60-kg female division. Those were the only female divisions in boxing in the 2023 Canada Games.{{Cite web|url=https://www.2023canadagames.ca/news/historic-week-for-canadian-female-boxing-wraps-up|title=Historic Week for Canadian Female Boxing Wraps Up|website=www.2023canadagames.ca}}{{Cite web|url=https://cg2023.gems.pro/Result/Event_List.aspx?Sport_GUID=39ac3b64-d9c0-482a-8f67-ce9edf53cf01&SetLanguage=en-CA&Gems_ScreenWidth=414&Gems_ScreenHeight=736&Gems_ScreenAvailWidth=414&Gems_ScreenAvailHeight=736|title=2023 Canada Winter Games - PEI|website=cg2023.gems.pro}}

In 2024, Ruru Yang Sheau-ru became Hong Kong’s first woman professional boxer to win a world title, due to winning the Women’s International Boxing Association super bantamweight belt by defeating Tanwarat Saengiamjit from Thailand. The match was held in Bangkok.{{Cite web|url=https://www.scmp.com/sport/boxing/article/3264906/ruru-yang-hong-kongs-first-female-world-boxing-champion-gutted-win-only-decision-rues-not-being-more|title=Hong Kong's first woman world champion Yang regrets winning 'only' by decision|date=31 May 2024|website=South China Morning Post}}

Later that year, Chang Yuan defeated Turkish boxer Hatice Akbaş by 5-0 to win the gold medal in women's 54 kg boxing at the 2024 Summer Olympics, which made Chang the first Chinese female boxer to win a gold medal at any Olympics.{{cite web|url=https://olympics.com/en/news/paris-2024-boxing-women-china-chang-yuan-gold|title=Paris 2024 Boxing: All Results, as Chang Yuan claims gold medal in Women's 54KG Weight Class|date=8 August 2024}}

In 2022 women became allowed to participate officially in the sport of boxing in Cuba, for the first time since they were banned from doing so during the Revolution of Fidel Castro in 1959.{{Cite web|url=https://www.wfmz.com/sports/boxing-powerhouse-cuba-will-now-let-women-compete/video_73517cb9-22e0-53bc-834e-8d9f7f0e8b9f.html|title=Boxing powerhouse Cuba will now let women compete|website=WFMZ.com}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-64117046|title=Cuba: Women boxers allowed to compete after rule change|date=3 January 2023|via=www.bbc.co.uk}}

In 2018 Fabiana Bytyqi became the first female boxer from the Czech Republic to win a major world title, when she defeated Denise Castle to win the vacant WBC atomweight title. The fight took place at the Sportcentrum Sluneta in Ústí nad Labem, on 22 September 2018. She won the fight by unanimous decision, with two judges awarding her a 100–90 scorecard, while the third judge awarded her a 99–91 scorecard.{{cite web |title=Fabiána Bytyqi je profesionální mistryní světa |url=https://www.ujep.cz/cs/15716/fabiana-bytyqi-profesionalni-mistryni-sveta |website=ujep.cz |date=28 September 2018 |access-date=18 December 2022}}{{cite web |last1=Macháčková |first1=Petra |title=Jakmile vlezu do ringu, přepnu na jiný režim, říká mistryně světa v boxu Fabiana Bytyqi |url=https://www.generace20.cz/sport/jakmile-vlezu-do-ringu-prepnu-na-jiny-rezim-rika-mistryne-sveta-v-boxu-fabiana-bytyqi |website=generace20.cz |access-date=18 December 2022 |date=10 October 2018}}{{cite web |title=Fabiana Bytyqi do të luftojë për titull bote |url=https://www.koha.net/sport/115248/fabiana-bytyqi-do-te-luftoje-per-titull-bote/ |website=koha.net |date=5 September 2018 |access-date=18 December 2022}}

In 2019 the first female boxing club in the Gaza Strip, the Palestinian Center of Boxing for Women, opened.{{Cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-07-21/inside-gaza%E2%80%99s-only-boxing-club-for-girls/13464256|title=Inside Gaza's only boxing club for girls|date=21 July 2021|via=www.abc.net.au}}{{Cite web|url=https://english.news.cn/20221225/1ad9678cd45344ab9b92916f13ef3c74/c.html|title=Feature: Challenging gender stereotyping, first female boxing club opens in Gaza-Xinhua|website=english.news.cn}}

Sarah Lotus Asare, the first female boxing matchmaker licensed under the Ghana Boxing Authority, debuted as a matchmaker on August 26, 2023.{{Cite web|url=https://www.modernghana.com/lifestyle/15718/sarah-lotus-asare-pioneering-change-as-ghanas.html|title=Sarah Lotus Asare: Pioneering Change as Ghana's First Female Boxing Match-Maker|website=Modern Ghana}}

Mary Kom of India is a five-time World Amateur Boxing champion. She is the only woman boxer to have won a medal in each one of the six world championships.{{cite news |url=http://iseeindia.com/2011/08/13/magnificent-mary/ |title=Magnificent Mary |date=13 August 2011 |work=I See India |access-date=29 April 2018 |language=en-US}}

Three Indian female boxers, namely, Pinki Jangra, Mary Kom, and Kavita Chahal were placed in the world's top three in AIBA world rankings (1 March 2014) in their respective categories.{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/sport/other-sports/five-indian-boxers-in-aiba-top-three/article5756665.ece |title=Five Indian boxers in AIBA top three |last=Marar |first=Nandakumar |date=6 March 2014 |work=The Hindu |access-date=29 April 2018 |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}

Sadaf Khadem defeated French boxer Anne Chauvin in a boxing match in France on April 14, 2019;{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-47960798|title=Iran's first female boxer 'fears arrest'|date=2019-04-17|access-date=2019-04-18|publisher=BBC|language=en-GB}} this made her the first Iranian woman to be part of an official boxing match.{{Cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-04-18/iranian-boxer-sadaf-khadem-iran-arrest-cancelled-trip-home/11028546|title=Iran's first female boxer cancels trip home after arrest warrant issued|date=2019-04-18|website=ABC News|language=en-AU|access-date=2019-04-18}}{{Cite web|url=https://iranwire.com/en/features/5974|title=Iran's Female Boxer Makes History in France|website=IranWire {{!}} خانه|language=en|access-date=2019-04-17}} However, the Iranian Boxing Federation distanced itself from the match and released a statement reading:

As women's boxing is not a sanctioned sport of the Islamic Republic of Iran Boxing Federation, the organization, training, and participation in this sport is not related to this federation and it is the organizer and participant's responsibilities.{{Cite web|url=https://www.isna.ir/news/98012611075/واکنش-فدراسیون-بوکس-به-مبارزه-دختر-ایرانی-در-فرانسه|title=واکنش فدراسیون بوکس به مبارزه دختر ایرانی در فرانسه|date=2019-04-15|website=ایسنا|language=fa|access-date=2019-06-27}}

In 1997, Deirdre Gogarty challenged Bonnie Canino for the Women's International Boxing Federation's Women's World Featherweight Championship.{{cite web|url=http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1996-09-19/sports/9609190043_1_deirdre-gogarty-tko-first-round |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402130630/http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1996-09-19/sports/9609190043_1_deirdre-gogarty-tko-first-round |url-status=dead |archive-date=2 April 2015 |title=Irish Woman Wins On Tko - tribunedigital-sunsentinel |publisher=Articles.sun-sentinel.com |date=1996-09-19 |access-date=2015-03-27}} Gogarty won, making her the first Irishwoman to win any boxing world title; the fight occurred in the United States.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/boxing/65517671|title=Deirdre Gogarty: Meet the world champion who came before Katie Taylor|work=BBC Sport |date=17 May 2023}}

In February 1999, Deirdre Nelson, from County Antrim, was granted a professional boxing licence by the British Boxing Board of Control, which gave her the right to box anywhere within the European Boxing Union. However, the Boxing Union of Ireland forbid her to box until guidelines on women’s boxing were issued by the European Boxing Union in September 1999. In 2001 Nelson won a sex discrimination case against the Boxing Union of Ireland due to this; she was awarded £1,500 in compensation. The Employment Equality Authority (based in Dublin) stated that the Boxing Union of Ireland had discriminated against Nelson, violating the Employment Equality Act of 1977.{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/welterweight-deirdre-packs-a-knockout-punch-for-female-boxers-26084697.html|title=Welterweight Deirdre packs a knockout punch for female boxers|website=independent|date=25 June 2001 }}{{Cite news|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/woman-boxer-wins-legal-fight-1.315164|title=Woman boxer wins legal fight|newspaper=The Irish Times}}

In 2001, Irishwoman Katie Taylor{{Cite web|url=https://www.si.com/boxing/2022/04/27/katie-taylor-journey-ireland-amanda-serrano-fight|title=Katie Taylor's Journey From Ireland to the Best Women's Fighter Alive – Sports Illustrated|date=27 April 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220427130842/https://www.si.com/boxing/2022/04/27/katie-taylor-journey-ireland-amanda-serrano-fight |archive-date=27 April 2022}} won the first officially sanctioned female boxing match in Ireland, at the National Stadium, defeating Alanna Audley from Belfast.{{cite web |url=http://www.independent.ie/opinion/analysis/maeve-sheehan-joy-abounds-as-prayers-at-katies-church-are-answered-26886228.html |title=Maeve Sheehan: Joy abounds as prayers at Katie's church are answered |date=12 August 2012 |publisher=Independent.ie |access-date=6 March 2016}}{{cite web |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/pride-without-prejudice-1.920319 |title=Pride without prejudice |publisher=Irish Times |access-date=7 March 2016}} In 2012, the first year women competed in boxing at the Olympics, Katie Taylor won an Olympic gold medal in boxing; she was the first ever Olympic female lightweight champion.{{Cite news |date=9 August 2012 |title=Katie Taylor wins Olympic gold medal |work=RTÉ News |publisher=Raidió Teilifís Éireann |url=http://www.rte.ie/news/2012/0809/katie-taylor-olympic-boxing-final.html |access-date=9 August 2012}}{{Cite news |date=8 August 2012 |title=Poster girl Taylor eases into final |work=The Times of India |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/london-olympics-2012/news/Poster-girl-Taylor-eases-into-final/articleshow/15406065.cms |access-date=8 August 2012}} In 2023, she defeated Chantelle Cameron; this win made Taylor the second female boxer, and the first Irish female boxer, to be an undisputed champion in two weight classes; the first was the American female boxer Claressa Shields.{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/boxing/story/_/id/38979772/katie-taylor-gets-even-wins-chantelle-cameron-undisputed-title|title=Taylor gets even, wins Cameron's undisputed title|date=26 November 2023|website=ESPN.com}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/boxing/67337495|title=Claressa Shields: The 'loudmouth American' with a story worth saying|work=BBC Sport |date=9 November 2023}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/boxing/articles/c51183j3ld5o|title=Paris 2024: Who are the 10 Irish boxers going for Olympic gold?|date=25 July 2024|website=BBC Sport}}

In 2020 and 2024, Kellie Harrington won a gold medal in boxing at the Olympics; this made her the first Irish boxer to win consecutive Olympic gold medals.{{cite news |url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/olympics/2021/0808/1239649-tokyo-2020-harrington-wins-gold-with-boxing-exhibition/ |title=Tokyo 2020: Kellie Harrington lands lightweight Olympic gold after dominant display |publisher=RTÉ News and Current Affairs |work=RTÉ Sport |date=8 August 2021 |accessdate=8 August 2021}}{{Cite web | url=https://www.reuters.com/sports/olympics/boxing-irelands-harrington-has-no-more-mountains-climb-after-second-gold-2024-08-06/ | title=Boxing-Ireland's Harrington has no more 'mountains to climb' after second gold | publisher=Reuters | website=www.reuters.com | first=Aadi | last=Nair | date=2024-08-07}}

In 1998 Laura Serrano was supposed to fight in Mexico City, but the match was canceled due to a 1947 ban against women boxing in Mexico City.{{cite web|url=http://www.ipsnews.net/1998/04/sports-women-boxers-in-mexico-winning-major-battle-in-the-ring/ |title=SPORTS: Women Boxers in Mexico Winning Major Battle in the Ring – Inter Press Service |website=www.ipsnews.net |date=15 April 1998 |access-date=18 May 2017}}{{cite web |url=http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/099572487630e1c4ca151479a3303c60 |title=MEXICO: OFFICIALS BAN 2 WOMEN'S BOXING MATCHES | AP Archive |website=www.aparchive.com |access-date=18 May 2017}}{{cite web |url=https://www.jornada.com.mx/2013/05/05/deportes/a15n1dep |title=La Jornada: El boxeo me sale debiendo, pero vivo para él: Serrano |language=es |trans-title=La Jornada: Boxing pays me off, but I live for it: Serrano |date=6 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220506043417/https://www.jornada.com.mx/2013/05/05/deportes/a15n1dep |archive-date=6 May 2022}} The ban was eventually ended.{{cite web|url=http://www.womenboxing.com/biog/laura.htm |title=Women's Boxing: Laura Serrano |website=www.womenboxing.com |access-date=27 September 2019}} In 2015 Serrano became the first female Mexican boxer inducted into the International Women's Boxing Hall of Fame.{{cite web|url=http://www.iwbhf.com/news042315serrano.htm|title=2015 IWBHF Inductee: Laura Serrano|website=www.iwbhf.com|accessdate=18 May 2017}}

In 2005 Mexican female boxer Jackie Nava became the first woman to win a female world title fight sanctioned by the WBC.{{cite web|url=https://www.jornada.com.mx/2009/07/03/deportes/a19n1dep |title=La Jornada: El boxeo femenil encara a diario a sus más duros rivales: el machismo y la discriminación |trans-title=La Jornada: Women's boxing faces its toughest rivals every day: machismo and discrimination |last=C.V |first=DEMOS, Desarrollo de Medios, S. A. de |date=3 July 2009 |website=www.jornada.com.mx |language=es-MX |access-date=27 September 2019}}{{cite web|url=http://www.pe.com/articles/fight-806944-female-west.html|title=BOXING: West remains optimistic despite lack of willing fighters |first=David A. |last=Avila |work=Press Enterprise |date=28 June 2016 |access-date=2 January 2017}}{{Cite news |last=Mullen |first=Claire |title=She grew up throwing punches at school. Now, she's shaping Tijuana's women's boxing scene. |newspaper=Washington Post |date=25 June 2019 |url=https://www.thelily.com/she-grew-up-throwing-punches-at-school-now-shes-shaping-tijuanas-womens-boxing-scene/ |access-date=2023-01-20 |language=en-US}}

Moreno H. (2015) Women Boxers and Nationalism in Mexico. In: L’Hoeste H.F., Irwin R.M., Poblete J. (eds) Sports and Nationalism in Latin/o America. New Directions in Latino American Cultures. Palgrave Macmillan, New York

On September 14, 2014, after defeating Croatian Ivana Habazin, Cecilia Brækhus became the first Norwegian and the first woman to hold all major world championship belts in her weight division (welterweight) in boxing history.

In 2019, Lucia Rijker became one of the first three women boxers (and the first Dutch woman boxer) elected to the International Boxing Hall of Fame; 2019 was the first year that women were on the ballot.{{Cite web |last=Schilken |first=Chuck |date=2019-12-04 |title=Christy Martin and Bernard Hopkins headline Boxing Hall of Fame class |url=https://www.latimes.com/sports/story/2019-12-04/boxing-hall-of-fame |access-date=2022-08-29 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}{{Cite news |last=Tumin |first=Remy |date=2022-08-18 |title=Famous, but Not Free |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/17/sports/fame-boxing-christy-martin.html |access-date=2022-08-29 |issn=0362-4331}}

In 2024, Pang Chol-mi became the first North Korean woman to win any Olympic medal in boxing; winning a bronze medal.{{Cite web | url=https://www.rfa.org/english/news/korea/howard-x-im-ae-ji-pang-chol-mi-north-korea-olympics-south-womens-boxing-08062024181113.html | title=North, South Korean boxers become first to medal in their sport on same day | website=www.rfa.org| date=2024-08-06 | author1=Mok Yongjae | author2=Park Jaewoo | author3=Kim Jinkuk}}

In 2017, fighting on the Shawn Porter vs. Andre Berto undercard, Puerto Rican boxer Amanda Serrano dominated Dahiana Santana en route to an eighth-round KO victory to win the vacant World Boxing Organization bantamweight belt, which made her the first female boxer to win world titles in five weight divisions.{{Cite web |date=2017-04-23 |title=With KO, Serrano a champ in 5 divisions |url=https://www.espn.co.uk/boxing/story/_/id/19221011/amanda-serrano-makes-women-boxing-history-winning-world-titles-five-weight-divisions |access-date=2023-12-27 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}{{cite web|url=http://www.saddoboxing.com/16813-amanda-serrano-wins-title-boxing-tribute-card.html#more-16813 |title=Amanda Serrano Wins IBF Title for Boxing 360 on Tribute Card |website=Saddoboxing.com |date= |accessdate=2016-02-04}}

Nesthy Petecio won a silver medal in the inaugural women's featherweight event at the 2020 Summer Olympics, making her the first Filipino woman to win an Olympic medal in boxing.{{Cite web|last=Giongco|first=Mark|date=August 3, 2021|title=Nesthy Petecio takes home Olympic silver in boxing|url=https://sports.inquirer.net/432030/nesthy-petecio-takes-home-olympic-silver-in-boxing|access-date=August 3, 2012|website=Inquirer|language=}}

In 2022, Somalian boxer Ramla Ali defeated Dominican boxer Crystal Garcia Nova in the first professional women’s boxing match held in Saudi Arabia.

In 2023, Ragad Al-Naimi became the first Saudi female professional boxer, by having her first professional fight; she won against Perpetual Okaidah in a fight held in Diriyah.{{Cite web|url=https://arab.news/85gpc|title=Ragad Al-Naimi makes history as Saudi Arabia's first female professional fighter|date=27 February 2023|website=Arab News}}

In 2024, Skye Nicolson of Australia defeated Raven Chapman of the United Kingdom in what was the first women's world title boxing fight held in Saudi Arabia{{Cite web|url=https://www.sportingnews.com/us/boxing/news/skye-nicolson-raven-chapman-fight-result-highlights/d5afbcd5a08a373f445b62fb|title=Skye Nicolson vs. Raven Chapman result, highlights as Australian records another easy title defence | Sporting News|date=12 October 2024|website=www.sportingnews.com}} and the first women’s bout to be on a Riyadh Season show.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ringtv.com/714130-skye-high-skye-nicolson-nearly-flawless-in-lopsided-points-win-over-raven-chapman-to-retain-wbc-title/|title=Skye High: Skye Nicolson Nearly Flawless in Lopsided Points Win Over Raven Chapman To Retain WBC Title|first=Jake|last=Donovan|date=12 October 2024}} She won by unanimous decision.{{cite web|url=https://www.boxingscene.com/skye-nicolson-eases-decision-win-over-raven-chapman--186414|title=Skye Nicolson eases to decision win over Raven Chapman|publisher=Boxing Scene|accessdate=12 October 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://www.skysports.com/boxing/news/12183/13232474/skye-nicolson-defeats-raven-chapman-to-defend-wbc-featherweight-world-title|title=Skye Nicolson defeats Raven Chapman to defend WBC featherweight world title|work=Sky Sports |accessdate=12 October 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://www.ringtv.com/714130-skye-high-skye-nicolson-nearly-flawless-in-lopsided-points-win-over-raven-chapman-to-retain-wbc-title/|title=Skye High: Skye Nicolson Nearly Flawless in Lopsided Points Win Over Raven Chapman To Retain WBC Title|publisher=The Ring|accessdate=12 October 2024}}

Ramla Ali was the first boxer to win an international gold medal while representing Somalia.{{cite news|url=https://www.elle.com/uk/beauty/a29757663/ramla-ali-beauty-interview |title= Featherweight Boxing Champion Ramla Ali |date=12 November 2019 |website=Elle|accessdate= 29 December 2021}} Later, in 2021, she competed in the women's featherweight event at the 2020 Summer Olympics. Although she lost her first fight, she became the first boxer ever to represent Somalia on the Olympic stage.{{cite web|url=https://olympics.com/en/original-series/episode/podcast-ramla-ali|title=Podcast: The Somali who kept boxing secret from her family|work=Olympics|access-date=24 July 2021}} In 2022, she defeated Dominican boxer Crystal Garcia Nova in the first professional women's boxing match held in Saudi Arabia.{{Cite web|url=https://www.siasat.com/saudi-ramla-ali-wins-1st-professional-womens-boxing-match-in-1-min-2394721/|title=Saudi: Ramla Ali wins 1st professional women's boxing match in 1 min|first=Sakina|last=Fatima|date=21 August 2022|website=The Siasat Daily}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2022/aug/20/ramla-ali-garcia-nova-saudi-arabia-first-female-boxing-bout|title=Ramla Ali sees off García Nova in Saudi Arabia's first ever female boxing bout|date=20 August 2022|website=The Guardian}}

In 2024, Im Ae-ji became the first South Korean woman to win any Olympic medal in boxing; winning a bronze medal.

In 1988, the Swedish Amateur Boxing Association sanctioned events for women.

Lin Yu-ting won an Olympic gold medal in boxing in 2024 after defeating Julia Szeremeta of Poland in the final of the women's 57 kg category (featherweight). With this win, Lin became the first Taiwanese boxer to win an Olympic gold medal.{{cite web |url=https://olympics.com/en/news/paris-2024-boxing-chinese-taipei-lin-yu-ting-wins-57kg-gold |title=Paris 2024 boxing: All results, as Chinese Taipei's Lin Yu Ting claims gold medal in women's 57kg weight category |last=Nelsen |first=Matt |date=2024-08-10 |website=International Olympic Committee |language=en |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240814100417/https://olympics.com/en/news/paris-2024-boxing-chinese-taipei-lin-yu-ting-wins-57kg-gold |archive-date=2024-08-14 |url-status=live |access-date=2024-12-18}}{{cite news|url=https://apnews.com/article/olympics-2024-boxing-lin-khelif-28d3e1a46ed8fe5c1aa6cd612e2561ca|title=Boxer Lin Yu-ting wins gold, following Imane Khelif to conclude an Olympics filled with scrutiny|first=Greg|last=Beacham|publisher=Associated Press|date=August 10, 2024|accessdate=August 10, 2024}}

Lin had been disqualified from the 2023 Women's World Boxing Championships organized by the Russian-led International Boxing Association (IBA) after failing unspecified gender eligibility tests, along with Algerian boxer Imane Khelif. She was stripped of a bronze medal, which was instead awarded to Bulgaria's Svetlana Staneva.{{cite news |last1=Everington |first1=Keoni |title=Taiwanese boxer loses bronze over failed gender test {{!}} Taiwan News {{!}} Mar. 27, 2023 11:51 |url=https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/4847630 |access-date=28 July 2024 |work=taiwannews.com.tw |publisher=taiwannews.com |date=27 March 2023 |language=en}} The International Olympic Committee (IOC) and its Paris Boxing Unit criticized the disqualification as "sudden and arbitrary" and taken "without any due process". The Washington Post stated, "It remains unclear what standards Khelif and Lin Yu Ting failed [in 2023] to lead to the disqualifications." The IBA did not reveal the testing methodology, stating the "specifics remain confidential". The IBA's Olympic status was revoked in June 2023, due to governance issues and perceived judging and refereeing corruption. Later in 2023, Lin competed at the Hangzhou Asian Games, where she won Taiwan's first gold medal in boxing at the event.{{Cite web|access-date=2024-08-04|date=2024-08-03|language=en-US|title=Taiwan backs boxer Lin Yu-ting amid Olympic gender row - Focus Taiwan|url=https://focustaiwan.tw/sports/202408030014|website=Focus Taiwan - CNA English News}}

One of the earliest mentions of women's boxing is in the travelogue of a German man who visited London in 1710. While taking in a men's boxing match, he met a woman in the audience who claimed to have previously boxed another woman in the same venue.

One of the earliest known fights to have been advertised in print was in London between Elizabeth Wilkinson and Hannah Hyfield in 1722. Billing herself as the "European Championess", Wilkinson and her husband would also fight other mixed couples as a pair, with Wilkinson fighting the other woman and her husband, the other man. In those days, the rules of boxing allowed kicking, gouging and other methods of attack not part of today's arsenal.{{Harvnb|Smith|2014|pp=1–4}}

During the 1920s, Professor Andrew Newton formed a Women's Boxing Club in London. However women's boxing was hugely controversial. In early 1926, Shoreditch borough council banned an arranged exhibition match between boxers Annie Newton and Madge Baker, a student of Digger Stanley. An attempt to hold the match in nearby Hackney instead was defeated by a campaign led by the Mayor of Hackney, who wrote, "I regard this proposed exhibition of women boxers as a gratification of the sensual ideals of a crowd of vulgar men." The Home Secretary Sir William Joynson-Hicks was among those opposing the match, claiming "the Legislature never imagined that such a disgraceful exhibition would have been staged in this country." The story was reported across the country and even internationally.

In 1997 the British Amateur Boxing Association sanctioned its first boxing competition for women. The first event was meant to be between two thirteen-year-olds, but one of the boxers dropped out because of hostile media attention. A month later, an event was held between two sixteen-year-olds.

Jane Couch became the first licensed female boxer in the United Kingdom in 1998.{{cite web|url=http://www.xgames.com/boxing/article/19150981/nicola-adams-fight-3-minute-rounds-bout |title=Nicola Adams to fight 3-minute rounds in next bout |work=X Games |date=4 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220504230119/http://www.xgames.com/boxing/article/19150981/nicola-adams-fight-3-minute-rounds-bout |archive-date=4 May 2022}} The British Boxing Board of Control initially refused to grant Couch a professional licence on the sole ground that she was a woman, and argued that PMS made women too unstable to box.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sport/218581.stm |title=Round one for women's boxing |date=24 November 1998 |access-date=5 December 2008 |work=BBC News}}{{cite web |url=http://www.punkcast.com/4/index.htm |title=12 and 13 February 1998 – Tribunal 1, 100 London Road, Croydon, UK. |access-date=12 February 2010 |last=Bentham |first=John |date=February 1998 |work=#4 |publisher=Punkcast}} Claiming sexual discrimination and supported by the Equal Opportunities Commission, Couch managed to have this decision overturned by a tribunal in March 1998.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/special_report/1998/12/98/review_of_98/newsmakers/236452.stm |title=March: Jane Couch |date=22 December 1998 |access-date=1 December 2008 |work=BBC News}}{{cite web |url=https://www.womenboxing.com/biog/interviews/jcouch_1.htm |title=Couch Interview |date=19 September 1999 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200622005234/https://www.womenboxing.com/biog/interviews/jcouch_1.htm |access-date=4 December 2008 |archive-date=22 June 2020}} However, some criticism followed; the British Medical Association called this result "a demented extension of equal opportunities".{{cite news |url=http://observer.guardian.co.uk/osm/story/0,,417393,00.html |title=Just give her a ring |date=7 January 2001 |access-date=5 December 2008 |work=The Guardian |location=London}} The first sanctioned professional boxing match between women in the U.K. was in November 1998 at Streatham in London, between Couch and Simona Lukic. Couch won.

In 2001, Nicola Adams became the first woman boxer ever to represent England, which she did in a fight against an Irish boxer.{{cite web|url=http://www.gseagency.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/Nicola-Adams.pdf |title=Nicola Adams: World Championship Silver Medallist |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120328124105/http://www.gseagency.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/Nicola-Adams.pdf |archive-date=28 March 2012 |url-status=usurped }} In 2007 she became the first English female boxer to win a medal in a major boxing tournament, taking silver in the European Championships.{{cite news |url=http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2011/mar/31/one-hundred-hopefuls-nicola-adams |title=One hundred hopefuls for 2012: Nicola Adams |author=Guardian Staff |date=31 March 2011 |website=The Guardian}} In 2008 she won a silver medal that was Britain’s first women’s world championship medal in women’s boxing.{{cite news |url=https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sportother/9153142.adams-excitement-hitting-fever-pitch/ |title=Adams' excitement hitting fever pitch |work=Bradford Telegraph and Argus}}

In 2009 Natasha Jonas became the first female boxer to compete for GB Boxing.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/boxing/60130503|title=Jonas targets third world title bid|work=BBC Sport |date=26 January 2022 }}

Women were allowed to competitively box for the first time at the Olympics during the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, producing the world's first 12 female Olympic medalist boxers. Representing Great Britain, Nicola Adams won the world’s first Olympic women's boxing gold medal. This win also made her the first openly LGBT person to win an Olympic boxing gold medal.{{cite news|url=https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/whats-on/nicola-adams-strictly-come-dancing-everything-you-need-to-know-as-the-leeds-boxing-champion-takes-to-the-dancefloor-3006732 |title=Everything you need to know as Nicola Adams takes to the Strictly dancefloor |first=Abbey |last=Maclure |date=17 October 2020 |work=Yorkshire Evening Post}}

At the 2014 Commonwealth Games, Lauren Price became the first Welsh woman to win a boxing medal in the Commonwealth Games, winning a bronze.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/commonwealth-games/28616663 |title=Glasgow 2014: Wales' Lauren Price proud after historic bronze |publisher=BBC Sport |date=2 August 2014 |accessdate=11 July 2019}}{{cite news |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/boxing/commonwealth-games-2014-womens-boxer-7537827 |title=Commonwealth Games 2014: Women's boxer Lauren Price creates history as Team Wales celebrate record haul in Glasgow |work=WalesOnline |publisher=Media Wales |last=Griffiths |first=Gareth |date=30 July 2014 |accessdate=11 July 2019}}{{cite news |title=Boxing medallist's rise to history|work=BBC Sport |location=UK |date=1 January 2015 |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/av/wales/28818368 |accessdate=30 June 2019}}

In 2019 English boxer Barbara Buttrick became one of the first three women boxers (and the first English woman boxer) elected to the International Boxing Hall of Fame; 2019 was the first year that women were on the ballot.

In 2021, Lauren Price became the first Welsh boxer of any gender to win an Olympic gold medal.{{Cite web|url=https://www.scotsman.com/sport/other-sport/price-becomes-first-welsh-fighter-to-win-olympic-gold-3338182|title=Lauren Price becomes first Welsh fighter to win Olympic gold as she triumphs in middleweight final|date=8 August 2021|website=The Scotsman}}{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/olympics/2021/08/07/tokyo-olympics-2020-live-boxing-final-lauren-price-marathon/|title=Dominant Lauren Price produces accomplished display to win boxing gold - Team GB's 22nd in Tokyo|date=8 August 2021|website=Telegraph}}

In 2022 two female boxers headlined at a major venue in the United Kingdom for the first time, which occurred at the O2 Arena. That fight was a title unification bout between Claressa Shields and Savannah Marshall. Shields won via unanimous decision with two judges scoring the fight 97–93 and one scoring it 96–94, all in favor of Shields to become the undisputed middleweight world champion.{{Cite web |title=Claressa Shields beats Savannah Marshall by unanimous decision in undisputed middleweight title fight |url=https://www.skysports.com/boxing/news/12183/12720944/shields-reigns-supreme-over-marshall-in-epic-undisputed-clash |access-date=2022-10-16 |website=Sky Sports |language=en}}{{Cite news |title=Sensational Shields beats Marshall in epic |language=en-GB |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/boxing/63273495 |access-date=2022-10-16}}{{cite web|url=https://www.wbaboxing.com/boxing-news/claressa-shields-and-savannah-marshall-will-face-on-sept-10|title= Claressa Shields and Savannah Marshall will face on Sept. 10 |date=July 5, 2022|website=wbaboxing.com|author=Jesús Milano}}{{cite web|url=https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2022/09/claressa-shields-boxing-return-rescheduled-for-oct-15-postponement-queen-elizabeth-death|title=Claressa Shields' boxing return rescheduled for Oct. 15 after postponement due to passing of Queen Elizabeth II|date=September 20, 2022|work=MMAjunkie.com|author=Danny Segura}} As well, the fight headlined the first all-female boxing card in the United Kingdom.{{Cite web|url=https://www.itv.com/news/tyne-tees/2022-10-15/savannah-marshall-loses-grudge-match-against-claressa-shields-in-close-battle|title=Savannah Marshall loses grudge match against Claressa Shields in fierce battle|date=16 October 2022|website=ITV News}} Later in the year, Chantelle Cameron defeated Jessica McCaskill in a match held in Abu Dhabi, making Cameron the undisputed world light-welterweight champion and the United Kingdom's first undisputed female boxing world champion.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/boxing/63530088|title=Cameron becomes UK's first undisputed female champion|work=BBC Sport |date=5 November 2022 }}{{Cite web|url=https://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/sport/boxing/northampton-star-cameron-makes-history-as-she-becomes-undisputed-world-champion-3907474|title=Northampton star Cameron makes history as she becomes undisputed world champion|date=November 6, 2022|website=www.northamptonchron.co.uk}}

Natasha Jonas won the British Boxing Board of Control’s 2022 British Boxer of the Year award, which made her the first woman to win the British Boxing Board of Control's British Boxer of the Year Award.{{Cite web|url=https://www.skysports.com/boxing/news/12183/12832241/natasha-jonas-becomes-first-woman-to-win-british-fighter-of-the-year-at-british-boxing-board-of-control-awards|title=Natasha Jonas becomes first woman to win British Boxer of the Year at British Boxing Board of Control awards|website=Sky Sports}}

On 6 May 2023, Lauren Price won the first British women's title fight in professional boxing history, becoming the first female British welterweight champion and the first woman to receive a Lonsdale Belt, by defeating Kirstie Bavington by unanimous points victory.{{Cite news |title=Price beats Bavington in historic British title fight |language=en-GB |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/boxing/65514056 |access-date=2023-05-06}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.boxingscene.com/lauren-price-vs-kirstie-bavington-inaugural-womens-british-title-on-6--173845|title=Lauren Price vs. Kirstie Bavington For Inaugural Women's British Title on May 6|first=Random|last=Hits|date=13 April 2023|website=BoxingScene.com}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.skysports.com/boxing/news/12183/12856242/lauren-price-to-fight-kirstie-bavington-for-inaugural-women-s-british-title|title=Lauren Price to fight Kirstie Bavington for inaugural women's British title|website=Sky Sports}}

In October 2023, Natasha Jonas became the first black woman to receive a manager's license from the British Boxing Board of Control.{{cite web | url=https://www.si.com/fannation/boxing/natasha-jonas-makes-history-as-first-black-woman-boxing-manager#:~:text=Natasha%20Jonas%20has%20made%20history,was%20born%20in%20Liverpool%2C%20England | title=Natasha Jonas Makes History as First UK Black Woman Boxing Manager | date=20 October 2023 }}https://www.itv.com/news/granada/2023-10-16/natasha-jonas-bcomes-first-black-female-to-obtain-boxing-manager-license

On 14 March 2024 it was announced that Lauren Price would challenge Jessica McCaskill for her WBA, IBO, and Ring female welterweight World titles on 11 May 2024 in Cardiff, Wales.{{cite news |last1=Iskenderov |first1=Parviz |title=Jessica McCaskill faces Lauren Price in May in Cardiff, Wales |url=https://www.fightmag.com/jessica-mccaskill-faces-lauren-price-in-may-in-cardiff-wales/ |work=FIGHTMAG |date=14 March 2024}}{{cite news |title=Lauren Price: Olympic champion faces Jessica McCaskill for first pro world title |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/boxing/68538892 |work=BBC Sport |date=12 March 2024}} Price won the contest by unanimous technical decision after an accidental clash of heads that took place in the fifth round caused an injury to McCaskill's eye and she was ruled unable to continue at the start of round nine. This win made Price Wales’ first female professional boxing world champion.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/boxing/articles/cq5nx7pzyywo|title=Dazzling Price wins first world title|date=10 May 2024 |publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=2024-05-11}}

== United States ==

{{Main|Boxing in the United States}}

In 1876, the first women's boxing match was held in the United States. In this match Nell Saunders defeated Rose Harland. Her prize was a silver butter dish.{{cite web|url=http://www.northnet.org/stlawrenceaauw/timeline.htm |title=History of Women in Sports Timeline - Part 1- to 1899 |date=27 May 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140527131109/http://www.northnet.org/stlawrenceaauw/timeline.htm |archive-date=27 May 2014}}

Women's boxing first appeared in the Olympic Games as a demonstration sport in 1904, in St. Louis.

In 1954, Barbara Buttrick was part of the first boxing match between two women on American national television.{{Cite web|url=https://www.boxingnewsonline.net/barbara-buttrick-the-original-trailblaser/|title=Barbara Buttrick - the original trailblazer - Boxing News|first=B. N.|last=Staff|website=www.boxingnewsonline.net|date=3 April 2019 }}{{Cite web|url=https://www.wnyc.org/story/183864-history-womens-boxing/|title=A History of Women's Boxing | WNYC | New York Public Radio, Podcasts, Live Streaming Radio, News|website=WNYC}}

In 1975, Caroline Svendsen became the first woman to receive a boxing license in the United States when she was granted one in Nevada.

Also in 1975, Jackie Tonawanda sued the New York State Athletic Commission (NYSAC) for denying her a boxing license because of her gender.{{Cite web|url=http://www.ibhof.com/pages/about/inductees/women_trailblazer/tonawanda.html|title=Jackie Tonawanda|website=www.ibhof.com}} This resulted in the case Garrett v. New York State Athletic Commission (1975) at the New York Supreme Court (Tonawanda was also known as Jacqueline Garrett) which was decided in her favor.{{cite web | title=Garrett v. New York State Athletic Commission, 82 Misc. 2d 524 (1975) | website=Read Caselaw | url=https://cite.case.law/set-cookie/?next=%2Fmisc-2d%2F82%2F524%2F | access-date=28 September 2023}} However, this did not overturn the law in New York against women boxing.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/504460/lady-ali-how-jackie-tonawanda-changed-womens-boxing|title=Lady Ali: How Jackie Tonawanda Changed Women's Boxing|date=October 2, 2017|website=Mental Floss}} But Cathy Davis sued the New York State Athletic Commission in 1977 because she was denied a boxing license because she was a woman, and the case was decided in her favor later that year, with the judge

invalidating New York State rule number 205.15, which stated, “No woman may be licensed as a boxer or second or licensed to compete in any wrestling exhibition with men.”{{Harvnb|Smith|2014|pp=168–169}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1975/01/22/archives/people-in-sports-hills-football-plans-tied-to-hawaii-deal.html|title=People in Sports|newspaper=The New York Times |date=January 22, 1975}} In his opinion the judge cited the precedent set by Garrett v. New York State Athletic Commission (1975), which “found the regulation invalid under the equal protection clauses of the State and Federal Constitutions”. The NYSAC filed an appeal of the ruling, but later dropped it. In August 1978 Cathy Davis became the first woman to be on the cover of The Ring.{{cite news |last=Algieri |first=Sal |title=Cat Davis, Women Boxer, Could be Start of New Breed |work=The Ring |date=August 1978 |pages=6–7 (42)}}{{cite web|author=Written by: L.A. Jennings |url=http://fightland.vice.com/blog/the-women-boxers-who-fought-for-their-right-to-be-pro |title=The Women Boxers Who Fought for Their Right to Be Pro | FIGHTLAND |website=Fightland.vice.com |access-date=2016-06-14}} On September 19, 1978, Davis received the NYSAC's first boxing license given to a female boxer.{{Harvnb|Smith|2014|p=169}}

In 1976, Pat Pineda became the first female boxer to be licensed in California.{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qJquVRh8ReoC&dq=%22pat+pineda%22+first+boxing+california&pg=PA8-IA3 |isbn=9781611923360 |title=Women Boxers: The New Warriors |year=2006 |publisher=Arte Publico Press}}

In 1979, a lawsuit made California change its boxing regulations, which had limited women boxers to no more than four rounds.{{cite web|url=https://www.womenboxing.com/Tucker.htm |title=Women's Boxing: Shirley "Zebra Girl" Tucker |website=www.womenboxing.com}}

During the 1980s, women's boxing briefly resurfaced in public notice in California due to the twin sisters Dora and Cora Webber. They were world champions. Other women boxers went on hunger strikes to be noticed.{{cite news|first=Leigh |last=Behrens |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1987/04/19/boxer-hungry-for-recognition/ |title=Boxer Hungry For Recognition |work=The Chicago Tribune |date=19 April 1987 |access-date=18 November 2015}}

But the boom of women's boxing came during the 1990s, coinciding with the boom in professional women sports leagues such as the WNBA and WUSA, and with boxers such as Stephanie Jaramillo, Delia 'Chikita' Gonzalez, Christy Martin, Laila Ali, Jackie Frazier-Lyde, Bonnie Canino and Sumya Anani, all world champions, jumping into the scene.{{cite web|url=http://a.espncdn.com/boxing/columns/graham/343466.html |title=ESPN.com: BOXING – Women's boxing becoming a real joke |website=A.espncdn.com |access-date=15 February 2016}}{{Harvnb|Smith|2014|p=263}}{{cite web|last=Brown |first=Sarah |url=https://bitchmedia.org/article/against-the-ropes-women-boxing-feminism |title=Against the Ropes |work=Bitch Media |publisher=Bitchmedia.org |date=13 May 2014 |access-date=30 September 2015}}{{cite magazine|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2015/01/the-real-knockouts-of-womens-boxing/384568/ |title=The Real Knockouts of Women's Boxing |magazine=The Atlantic |date=16 January 2015 |access-date=18 November 2015}}{{cite magazine|url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2012/05/07/a-ring-of-ones-own|title=A Ring of One's Own|magazine=The New Yorker|access-date=8 May 2017}}

On 16 April 1992, after eight years in court in Massachusetts, Gail Grandchamp won her battle to become a boxer, as a Massachusetts state Superior Court judge ruled it was illegal to deny someone a chance to box based on gender.{{cite web|url=https://assets.espn.go.com/boxing/s/2003/0206/1504885.html |title=ESPN.com: BOXING – Historical Events in Women's Boxing |publisher=ESPN |access-date=15 October 2015}} During her battle to win the right to box as an amateur, she passed the age of 36, the maximum age for amateur fighters. Even though she knew it would not help her as an amateur, Grandchamp continued her efforts, and eventually did box professionally for a time.{{cite web|url=http://www.iberkshires.com/story/49424/Grandchamp-Local-Boxing-Legend-Ready-to-Film-Life-Story.html |title=Grandchamp, Local Boxing Legend, Ready to Film Life Story / iBerkshires.com – The Berkshires online guide to events, news and Berkshire County community information |publisher=Iberkshires.com |date=17 July 1987 |access-date=15 October 2015}}{{cite press release|url=http://globenewswire.com/news-release/2007/06/15/361363/121453/en/A-Fighter-s-Passion-for-Her-Olympic-Dream.html |title=A Fighter's Passion for Her Olympic Dream |date=15 June 2007 |publisher=Globenewswire.com |access-date=15 October 2015}}{{cite web|last=Rosenwald |first=Julius |url=http://www.berkshireeagle.com/fastsearch/ci_5192982?source=sb-digg |title=Boxer with a mission – Berkshire Eagle Online |publisher=Berkshireeagle.com |date=17 July 1987 |access-date=15 October 2015}}{{cite news|title= The Grand Champ of Women's Boxing: A Massachusetts fighter opens the door to first-ever women's Olympic boxing|publisher= SCN|url= http://sparechangenews.net/2012/08/the-grand-champ-of-women-s-boxing-a-massachusetts-fighter-opens-the-door-to-first-ever-women-s-olympic-boxing/|access-date=26 March 2016}}

Dallas Malloy was denied an application by USA Boxing due to being female. She sued and U.S. District Judge Barbara Rothstein allowed her to box by granting a preliminary injunction.{{Cite web|url=https://www.deseret.com/1993/10/13/19070725/women-to-make-history-in-first-sanctioned-bout|title=WOMEN TO MAKE HISTORY IN FIRST SANCTIONED BOUT|date=October 13, 1993|website=Deseret News}} In October 1993, Malloy defeated Heather Poyner in the United States' first sanctioned amateur boxing match between two female boxers.{{Cite web|url=https://www.tampabay.com/archive/1994/07/10/female-boxer-throws-down-her-gloves/|title=Female boxer throws down her gloves|website=Tampa Bay Times}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-10-31-sp-51753-story.html|title=Female Fighters Pound Their Way Into History : Boxing: Dallas Malloy, 16, who fought to open the sport to women, wins nation's first sanctioned amateur bout by unanimous decision over Heather Poyner.|date=October 31, 1993|website=Los Angeles Times}} USA Boxing lifted its ban on women's boxing later in 1993.{{Cite web|url=http://www.teamusa.org/USA-Boxing/About-Us/History-of-Amateur-Boxing.aspx|title=History of Amateur Boxing|date=24 April 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120424232359/http://www.teamusa.org/USA-Boxing/About-Us/History-of-Amateur-Boxing.aspx |accessdate=28 September 2023|archive-date=24 April 2012 }} When USA Boxing officially recognized women's boxing in 1993, it became the first organization to do so in the world.{{cite web|url=http://m.teamusa.org/USA-Boxing/About-Us/History-of-Amateur-Boxing.aspx|title=History of Amateur Boxing|publisher=Team USA|access-date=2015-09-30}}{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-10-18-mn-47225-story.html |title=Striking a Blow for Equality: Dallas Malloy has won her fight to be America's first sanctioned female amateur boxer. The scrappy 16-year-old knows the rewards of blood, sweat and a killer instinct |work=Los Angeles Times |date=1993-10-18 |access-date=2015-09-30}}

Also in 1993, Don King, the world-famous boxing promoter, signed American boxer Christy Martin in October,Smith, Malissa (2014). A History of Women's Boxing. Lanham, Maryland: Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN 978-1-4422-2995-2., pages 194–209{{Cite web|url=https://metro.co.uk/2021/10/05/the-rise-of-womens-self-defence-products-and-the-sad-reality-of-rape-culture-15344118/|title=The rise of women's self-defence products and the sad reality of rape culture|first=Jessica|last=Lindsay|date=5 October 2021}} making Martin the first female boxer to sign with King.{{Cite book |url=https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/K2440301334/BIC |title=Notable Sports Figures |publisher=Gale |year=2004 |editor-last=Barnes |editor-first=Dana R. |chapter=Christy Martin |via=Gale OneFile |access-date=September 7, 2022 |archive-date=September 10, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220910191735/https://galeapps.gale.com/apps/auth?userGroupName=&origURL=https%3A%2F%2Fgo.gale.com%2Fps%2Fi.do%3Fp%3DBIC%26u%3D%26id%3DGALE%7CK2440301334%26v%3D2.1%26it%3Dr&prodId=BIC |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last=Conner |first=Caira |date=22 June 2022 |title=Boxing legend Christy Martin: 'My husband told me for 20 years he would kill me' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2022/jun/22/boxing-legend-christy-martin-my-husband-told-me-for-20-years-he-would-kill-me |website=TheGuardian.com |access-date=August 2, 2022 |archive-date=August 2, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220802054608/https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2022/jun/22/boxing-legend-christy-martin-my-husband-told-me-for-20-years-he-would-kill-me |url-status=live }}

In 1995, the New York Golden Gloves allowed women boxers to compete for the first time.{{Cite web|url=https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/japanese-american-physics-teacher-helped-145837163.html|title=How a Japanese-American physics teacher helped pioneer women's boxing|website=www.yahoo.com|date=15 May 2020 }}

On March 16, 1996, a boxing match took place that is often called the fight that "put women's boxing on the map",{{Cite magazine |last=Mannix |first=Chris |date=April 27, 2022 |title=Garden Party: Taylor-Serrano Will Make History in Boxing's Most Hallowed Venue |magazine=Sports Illustrated |url=https://www.si.com/boxing/2022/04/27/katie-taylor-amanda-serrano-madison-square-garden-daily-cover |access-date=2022-10-08}}{{sfn|Smith|2014|pp=194–209}} or "the bout that made women's boxing".{{Cite news |last=Clerkin |first=Malachy |date=3 March 2016 |title=Deirdre Gogarty – a trailblazer who fought her corner |work=Irish Times |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/other-sports/deirdre-gogarty-a-trailblazer-who-fought-her-corner-1.2557208 |access-date=2022-09-07 |archive-date=July 28, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220728075236/https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/other-sports/deirdre-gogarty-a-trailblazer-who-fought-her-corner-1.2557208 |url-status=live }} It was held in Nevada between American Christy Martin and Irishwoman Deirdre Gogarty. The fight was won by Martin, in a six rounds unanimous decision, and led to her featuring as the first female boxer on the cover of Sports Illustrated on April 15, 1996;{{Cite news |last=Tumin |first=Remy |date=August 17, 2022 |title=Famous, But Not Free |work=New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/17/sports/fame-boxing-christy-martin.html |access-date=2022-10-05}} the headline read, "The Lady Is a Champ".{{cite web |title=Christy Martin, Boxing Sports Illustrated Cover by Sports Illustrated |url=https://sicovers.com/featured/christy-martin-boxing-april-15-1996-sports-illustrated-cover.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220803012043/https://sicovers.com/featured/christy-martin-boxing-april-15-1996-sports-illustrated-cover.html |archive-date=August 3, 2022 |access-date=August 3, 2022}}

In October 2001 the first women's world amateur boxing championships, called the 2001 Women's World Amateur Boxing Championships, were held in Scranton, in the United States.

{{Wikinews|First female boxing death occurs in US sanctioned match}}

On April 2, 2005 Becky Zerlentes was participating in the Colorado State Boxing Senior Female Championships at the Denver Coliseum in Denver. She was knocked out in the third round by her opponent, Heather Schmitz, fell unconscious, and died without regaining consciousness. This made Zerlentes the first woman known to have died of injuries sustained during a sanctioned boxing match in the United States. According to the Denver County coroner the cause of death was blunt force trauma to the head.{{Cite news|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220203222947/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2005/apr/06/usa.boxing|archive-date=2022-02-03|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2005/apr/06/usa.boxing|title=Punch kills woman boxer|work=The Guardian|date=2005-04-06}}{{Cite news|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210622185027/https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-2005-04-17-0504160042-story.html|url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-2005-04-17-0504160042-story.html|title=Female boxer's death a shattering blow to the sport|archive-date=2021-06-22|work=Baltimore Sun|date=2005-04-17}}

Women were allowed to competitively box for the first time at the Olympics during the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, producing the world's first 12 female Olympic medalist boxers. At those Olympics, Claressa Shields became the first American woman to win a boxing gold medal.{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.si.com/olympics/2016/03/11/usa-boxer-claressa-shields-rio-olympics|title=Q&A with U.S. boxer Claressa Shields ahead of Rio|first=Stefanie|last=Gordon|date=11 March 2016|magazine=Sports Illustrated}} As well, Marlen Esparza became the first American woman to qualify for the Olympics in women's boxing when she qualified for those Olympics.{{Cite news|last=Bearak|first=Barry|date=May 15, 2012|title=U.S. Has Its First Female Olympic Boxer|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/16/sports/olympics/marlen-esparza-becomes-first-us-female-boxer-to-qualify-for-olympics.html|access-date=July 25, 2020|issn=0362-4331}} She went on to defeat Karlha Magliocco, making her the first American woman winner of an Olympic boxing match,{{Cite web|url=https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/national-international/torch-esparza-1st-american-woman-to-win-olympic-boxing-match/2090575/|title=U.S. Women Capture 2 Medals at Inaugural Boxing Competition|date=August 6, 2012}} and to win a bronze medal, making her the first American woman winner of any Olympic boxing medal.{{Cite web|url=https://houston.culturemap.com/news/sports/08-08-12-10-31-marlen-esparza-snares-the-bronze-as-first-us-woman-to-win-a-medal-in-olympic-boxing|title=Marlen Esparza snares the bronze as first U.S. woman to win a medal in Olympicboxing - CultureMap Houston|website=houston.culturemap.com}}

In 2014 the International Women's Boxing Hall of Fame, located in America, held its first induction.{{Cite web|url=https://www.fingerlakes1.com/2021/08/16/corning-native-inducted-into-the-womens-boxing-hall-of-fame-in-las-vegas-over-the-weekend/|title=Corning native inducted into the Women's Boxing Hall of Fame in Las Vegas over the weekend|first=|last=|date=16 August 2021|website=Fingerlakes1.com}}{{cite web|url=https://www.badlefthook.com/2014/4/29/5665798/international-womens-boxing-hall-of-fame-inducts-historic-first-class |title=International Women's Boxing Hall of Fame inducts historic first class|date=29 April 2014 |publisher=Bad Left Hook |access-date=2019-09-28}}

Claressa Shields won a gold medal in the women's middleweight division at the 2016 Olympics; as she had already won a gold medal (in the same division) at the 2012 Olympics, this made her the first American boxer of any gender to win consecutive Olympic medals.{{cite web |title=Claressa Shields Successfully Defends Her Olympic Title |url=http://www.nbcolympics.com/news/claressa-shields-successfully-defends-her-olympic-championship |access-date=August 21, 2016 |archive-date=November 7, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107031711/http://www.nbcolympics.com/news/claressa-shields-successfully-defends-her-olympic-championship |url-status=dead }}

Also in 2016, Christy Martin became the first female boxer inducted into the Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame.{{cite web|url=http://www.thenewstribune.com/sports/article64804002.html|title=Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame to induct 11, including 1st woman|work=thenewstribune|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160309080420/http://www.thenewstribune.com/sports/article64804002.html|archivedate=2016-03-09}}{{cite web|url=http://boxingjunkie.usatoday.com/2016/03/08/first-female-voted-into-nevada-boxing-hall-of-fame/|title=First female voted into Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame|work=Boxingjunkie|date=8 March 2016 }}{{Cite web|url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/os-christy-martin-george-diaz-0805-20160804-column.html|title=Christy Martin finally stands alone as boxing Hall of Famer|first=George|last=Diaz|website=orlandosentinel.com|date=4 August 2016 }}

American{{Cite web|url=http://www.theguardian.com/media/2004/may/10/bskyb.broadcasting|title=Sky could sign exclusive HBO deal|date=10 May 2004|website=The Guardian}} major boxing broadcasting network HBO broadcast its first women's bout, between Norway's Cecilia Brækhus and America's Kali Reis, on May 5, 2018, which Brækhus won.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ringtv.com/535148-cecilia-braekhus-outpoints-kali-reis-remains-undisputed-welterweight-champ/|title=Cecilia Braekhus outpoints game Kali Reis, remains undisputed welterweight champ|date=6 May 2018}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2018/05/02/sport/cecilia-braekhus-hbo-history-boxing-intl/index.html|title=HBO's first televised female boxing match breaking 'the last barrier'|first=Zahid|last=Mahmood|date=2 May 2018|website=CNN}}

In 2019 American boxer Christy Martin became one of the first three women boxers (and the first American woman boxer) elected to the International Boxing Hall of Fame; 2019 was the first year that women were on the ballot.

In 2021, American Claressa Shields defeated Marie-Eve Dicaire and thus became the first boxer in the four-belt era to hold undisputed titles in two weight classes, and the first female boxer ever to be an undisputed champion in two weight classes.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlive.com/sports/2021/03/whats-next-for-claressa-shields-after-winning-second-undisputed-world-boxing-title.html|title=What's next for Claressa Shields after winning second undisputed world boxing title?|first=Brendan Savage |last=bsavage@mlive.com|date=6 March 2021|website=mlive}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.freep.com/story/sports/2021/03/06/claressa-shields-boxing-marie-eve-dicaire/4609121001/|title=Claressa Shields continues assault on women's boxing with dominant win, seeks revenge next|first=J. L.|last=Kirven|website=Detroit Free Press}}

The first women's boxing match to headline Madison Square Garden, described as the 'biggest women's fight of all time',{{Cite web|title=Katie Taylor vs. Amanda Serrano is the biggest women's fight of all time, worthy of a place in Madison Square Garden history {{!}} DAZN News US|url=https://www.dazn.com/en-US/news/boxing/katie-taylor-vs-amanda-serrano-is-the-biggest-womens-fight-of-all-time-worthy-of-a-place-in-madison-square-garden-history/f7wcc8yoyzmz1eew6jroz4jei|access-date=2022-02-02|website=DAZN|language=en}} was held on April 30, 2022, between Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano, with Taylor's undisputed lightweight titles on the line.{{Cite web|last=Stumberg|first=Patrick L.|date=2022-01-27|title=Katie Taylor vs Amanda Serrano official for April 30th at Madison Square Garden|url=https://www.badlefthook.com/2022/1/27/22904620/katie-taylor-vs-amanda-serrano-official-april-30-madison-square-garden-boxing-news-2022|access-date=2022-02-09|website=Bad Left Hook|language=en}}{{Cite web|date=2022-01-27|title=Boxing News: Taylor-Serrano clash set for April 30 at MSG » February 9, 2022|url=https://fightnews.com/taylor-serrano-clash-set-for-april-30-at-msg/127210|access-date=2022-02-09|website=fightnews.com|language=en-US}} Taylor defeated Serrano by split decision.{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/live/2022/apr/30/katie-taylor-v-amanda-serrano-fight-live|title=Katie Taylor retains undisputed lightweight title after Amanda Serrano win – as it happened|date=1 May 2022|work=Guardian|accessdate=17 May 2022}}

In 2023, New York boxer Kathy “Wildcat” Collins became the first female boxer inducted into the New York State Boxing Hall of Fame.{{Cite web|url=http://philboxing.com/news/story-166058.html|title=Kathy "Wildcat" Collins to become first female boxer inducted into New York State Boxing Hall of Fame|website=philboxing.com}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.worldboxingnews.net/2023/05/03/zab-judah-proposes-at-new-york-boxing-hall-of-fame-induction/|title=Zab Judah proposes at New York Boxing Hall of Fame induction|date=May 3, 2023}}

Also in 2023, American boxer Claressa Shields became the first woman to win the Best Boxer ESPY Award.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlive.com/news/flint/2023/07/claressa-shields-becomes-first-woman-to-win-best-boxer-espys-title.html|title=Claressa Shields becomes first woman to win 'Best Boxer' ESPYs title|author=Dylan Goetz |date=July 12, 2023|website=mlive}}

In 2024, President-elect Donald Trump said in a keynote address for Turning Point USA, “There's a spirit that we have now that we didn't have just a short while ago. Sadly, we didn't have. Who the hell can have spirit watching women get beat up in a boxing ring? I don't think that's spirit, right? We’re going to end that one quick! We’re going to end it very quickly. We’re going to end that one very quickly.” Trump had previously falsely said boxers Lin Yu-ting and Imane Khelif “transitioned from men to women”, and said their wins were “demeaning to women”. He said about Khelif’s win over Italian boxer Angela Carini that “this beautiful young woman from Italy” fought against a “man”.https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/boxing/trump-vows-to-very-quickly-end-the-sport-of-women-s-boxing-who-can-watch-women-get-beat-up/ar-AA1wk9kd?apiversion=v2&noservercache=1&domshim=1&renderwebcomponents=1&wcseo=1&batchservertelemetry=1&noservertelemetry=

Professional women's boxing has declined in popularity in the United States and struggles to get viewership and sponsorship. Many women boxers have to fight in Mexico or Europe in order to make a good living.{{cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/womens-boxing-fights-for-exposure-1467831552|title=Women's Boxing Fights for Exposure|first=Alex|last=Raskin|date=6 July 2016|newspaper=The Wall Street Journal|access-date=17 August 2016}}{{cite web|author=Paul Sullivan |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1987/08/17/these-women-go-toe-to-toe-for-extra-dough/ |title=These Women Go Toe-to-toe For Extra Dough – tribunedigital-chicagotribune |website=Articles.chicagotribune.com |date=17 August 1987 |access-date=19 June 2016}}{{cite web|url=http://www.aljazeera.com/sport/features/2014/11/female-boxers-fight-survival-us-2014119115159637457.html |title=Female boxers' fight for survival in the US |publisher=Al Jazeera English |date=10 November 2014 |access-date=30 September 2015}} The sport has largely been supplanted by Women's MMA, which is increasingly popular in the USA.{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-ufc-holm-boxing-20160208-story.html |title=Women's boxing hopes to gain traction from Holly Holm's UFC victory over Ronda Rousey |newspaper=LA Times |date=8 February 2016 |access-date=15 February 2016}}{{cite web |url= http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2148497-examining-the-growth-and-popularity-of-womens-mixed-martial-arts|website= Bleacher Report |title= Examining the Growth and Popularity of Women's Mixed Martial Arts |access-date=30 December 2014}}

Women’s boxing matches are usually ten rounds at most, with two minutes per round, while men's boxing matches are twelve rounds of three minutes each.{{Cite web|url=http://www.xgames.com/boxing/article/19150981/nicola-adams-fight-3-minute-rounds-bout|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220504230119/http://www.xgames.com/boxing/article/19150981/nicola-adams-fight-3-minute-rounds-bout|url-status=dead|archive-date=2022-05-04|title=Nicola Adams to fight 3-minute rounds in next bout}}{{Cite web|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/claressa-shields-fight-for-equality-in-womens-boxing-begins-with-knocking-out-2-minute-rounds-003108070.html|title=Claressa Shields' fight for equality in women's boxing begins with knocking out 2-minute rounds|website=sports.yahoo.com|date=3 March 2021 }} In 2017 the president of the World Boxing Council stated, “The WBC will not sanction any bout for women if rounds are scheduled for 3 minutes, and will not sanction any bout scheduled for 12 rounds.”{{Cite web|url=https://www.worldboxingnews.net/2017/04/18/two-minute-rounds-for-women-is-safety-not-sexism-says-sulaiman/|title=WBC President: Two minute rounds for women is safety, not sexism|first=Phil|last=Jay|date=18 April 2017}}

As stated by the International Boxing Association [https://d152tffy3gbaeg.cloudfront.net/2015/02/AIBA-Technical-Rules-April-26-2017.pdf Technical Rules] and [https://d152tffy3gbaeg.cloudfront.net/2015/02/AIBA-AOB-Competition-Rules-April-26-2017.pdf Competition Rules]:

– head guards are necessary for female boxers of any age;

– a breast guard is advised for female fighters in addition to a pubic (crotch) guard;

– pregnant sportswomen are not allowed to engage in combat.

British rules require all female boxers to wear 10-ounce gloves, while male boxers are required to wear 8-ounce gloves for all divisions up to welterweight and 10-ounce gloves only above welterweight.

Until the 1990s, movies about female boxers were sparse and marketed as softcore X-rated films in order to cater to the mainstream male gaze. However, throughout the 1990s and 2000s, movies such as Blonde Fist (1991), Shadow Boxers (1999), and Girlfight (2000) were released and, according to scholar Camilla Fojas, changed boxing culture.{{cite journal |last1=Fojas |first1=Camilla |date=2009 |title=Sports of Spectatorship: Boxing Women of Color in Girlfight and Beyond. |url=https://doi.org/10.1353/cj.0.0154. |journal=Cinema Journal |volume=49 |issue=1 |pages=103–104 |doi=10.1353/cj.0.0154 |access-date=1 October 2023}} The 2004 film Million Dollar Baby, about a female boxer, received seven nominations at the 77th Academy Awards and won four categories: Best Picture, Best Director (for Clint Eastwood), Best Actress (for Hilary Swank), and Best Supporting Actor (for Morgan Freeman). It has since been cited as one of the best movies of the 2000s, the 21st century, and of all-time.{{cite news|last1=Dargis|first1=Manohla|last2=Scott|first2=A.O.|title=The 25 Best Films of the 21st Century...So Far|url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/06/09/movies/the-25-best-films-of-the-21st-century.html|website=The New York Times|date=9 June 2017|access-date=8 July 2017}}{{cite web |date=6 October 2023 |title=We Ranked the 100 Best Movies of All Time! |url=https://parade.com/1222580/samuelmurrian/best-movies-all-time/ |website=Parade}}

Women's boxing has also been the topic of some books, for example Leah Hager Cohen's Without Apology: Girls, Women, and the Desire to Fight (2005).{{cite journal |last1=Fojas |first1=Camilla |date=2009 |title=Sports of Spectatorship: Boxing Women of Color in Girlfight and Beyond. |url=https://doi.org/10.1353/cj.0.0154. |journal=Cinema Journal |volume=49 |issue=1 |page=108 |doi=10.1353/cj.0.0154 |access-date=1 October 2023}}

{{Portal|Martial arts|Sports}}

• List of current female world boxing champions
• List of female boxers
• List of IBF female world champions
• List of WBA female world champions
• List of WBC female world champions
• List of WBO female world champions
• List of WIBO world champions
• Women Boxing Archive Network
• Women's boxing in Australia

{{Reflist|30em}}

• {{cite book |last=Smith |first=Malissa |title=A History of Women's Boxing |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield |location=Lanham, Maryland |year=2014 |isbn=978-1-4422-2995-2 }}

{{Commons category}}

• [http://www.womenboxing.com/ Women's Boxing Archive Network]

{{Women's sports}}

{{Boxing}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Women's Boxing}}