Female boxing has a long history around the world. Women have been in the ring
for decades showing off their skills, strength, and determination. Today, there
are plenty of women boxers who deserve all the attention they are getting, but
who are some of the fighters who blazed the trail for them? There are always those few in any sport who have
stood above the rest and changed the sport for the better. Boxing is no
exception.
We’re here to celebrate and highlight some of the female fighters who revolutionized the
world of boxing. These are women who have opened doors for fighters to follow
and will always be remembered for their contribution to the sport.
Katie Taylor
Katie Taylor isn’t just any boxer. She is an Irish boxer. Born in Bray, County
Wicklow, this boxing superstar began fighting in 1998 when she was only 12 years
old. It wasn’t until 2001 that Taylor took part in her first officially
sanctioned boxing match, which she won. Taylor’s rise to fame has been meteoric,
as reflected in her impressive list of titles. Her medal record is an
astonishing 18 golds and one bronze spread out between Olympic Games, World
Championships, European Championships, European Games, and EU Championships.
Taylor’s weight class is lightweight and super-lightweight. During her career,
she has fought in 25 fights, winning 24 of them. Of those wins, six were
knockouts. It’s an impressive record for any professional female boxer, let
alone an Irish hometown hero.
Lucia Rijker
The Netherlands is home to a gifted professional boxer by the name of Lucia
Rijker, who was born in Amsterdam in 1967. Not only did Rijker go on to become
wildly successful in professional boxing, but she was also feared by her
opponents. Her nicknames included Lady Tyson, The Dutch Destroyer, and The Most
Dangerous Woman in the World. Those titles tell you a lot about her boxing
style.
Part of Rijker’s uniqueness was that, mid-career, she decided to shift her focus
and compete in kickboxing. In professional boxing, she won all 17 matches she
fought in. Of those wins, 14 were by knockout. Her kickboxing record was equally
impressive, winning 35 out of 36 matches. Rijker has been retired for many years
but has remained involved in the sport as a coach. In 2014, she also inducted
into the International Women's Boxing Hall of
Fame.
Rijker—just like the other women on this list—wasn’t afraid to take risks or
step into the spotlight. If you’re drawn to that kind of adrenaline, you can
find a different kind of high-stakes action
here.
Claressa Shields
Claressa Shields has already secured her place in boxing history, even though
she is still competing professionally. Shields fights in a few different
divisions of boxing, which are light middleweight, middleweight, super
middleweight, light heavyweight, and heavyweight. Unlike some of the other
boxers here, Shields also branched out and even competed in professional mixed
martial arts.
Born in Flint, Michigan, in 1995, Shields became professionally active in 2017.
As mentioned, she is still professionally fighting today and is currently
undefeated. Her record is 16 wins, with three knockouts. Before transitioning to
professional boxing, Shields represented the United States in several amateur
boxing competitions. She won gold medals in competitions such as the 2012 and
2016 Summer Olympics, the 2015 Pan American Games, the 2014 and 2016 World
Championships, and many more.
Ann Wolfe
As proof of her many accomplishments, Ann Wolfe earned a spot in the
International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2021. She had an illustrious career from
1998 to 2006, winning several titles and racking up a record of 24 wins and one
loss. Wolfe was born in Austin, Texas, in 1971. What makes Wolfe so unique is
that she didn’t start fighting until later in life—when she was 25.
Wolfe first began training in 1996. Just two years later, she had built a strong
amateur record of 3-1. It was all about the wins from that point on. Wolfe ended
up competing in three different weight classes and had 26 fights in her
professional career, winning 24 of them. She had a shocking 16 wins by knockout.
Retirement has been anything but quiet for Wolfe, as she went on to train boxers
at the professional and amateur level and has even given professional acting a
try.
Laila Ali
Considering Laila Ali’s father is the iconic Muhammad Ali, it isn’t too shocking
that Laila became enthralled by the sport. Ali is known not just for her skills,
but also for opening the door of possibilities for female boxing. What Ali did
was drum up interest in the sport and create buzz worldwide. Let’s face it, when
you’re the daughter of the greatest heavyweight in history, people expect a lot
from you!
As for Ali’s career, she had an undefeated record of 24-0 when she retired. She
won not one, but two world championship titles in two different divisions. She
also fought in the first-ever women’s boxing match aired on pay-per-view. Up
until then, pay-per-view broadcasts had been reserved for men’s boxing only. The
match was especially notable because Ali fought Jacqui Frazier-Lyde, the
daughter of another boxing legend, Joe Frazier.
Despite retiring from professional boxing, Ali hasn’t faded from the spotlight.
Today, this busy mom works as an entrepreneur, motivational speaker, author, and
more.
This Is Just the Beginning
It’s never easy to be the first, but for these professional female boxers, it
seems to have come naturally to them. Each of these women has demonstrated how
skill, determination, and a love for the sport can lead to exceptional results.
The good news for women’s boxing is that this is only the beginning, with many
exciting up-and-comers ready to make their mark in history books.
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