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06/17/2008 Archived Entry: "The Future of Women’s Boxing Might Be Men"
The Future of Women’s Boxing Might Be Men
By Jill Diamond
WBC Championship Committee
NABF Women's Division, Chair
World Boxing Cares, Chair
Mia St. John seen slugging it out with Brook Dierdorff a year ago last April (photo by Juan C. Ayllon)
I hate the term “Women’s Boxing.” This isn’t a team sport. It’s not Basketball. It’s not Baseball. It’s not Book Club. It’s comprised of freelancers - athletes, coaches, managers, cut men, officials - and gender should have nothing to do with it. So, as far as I’m concerned, there’s only good boxing and bad boxing. Personally, I like good boxing.
I appreciate all women’s cards. Men have been doing it for years. If that’s the best we can do – well, go for it. I love the buzz when there’s a good fight. Exposure of any kind can bring opportunity; however, to me, this is a niche business with a limited fan base. I want more for the women. I want the women to wear the same belt as Ali & Duran - I want to them to punch through the glass tarpon, and mostly, I want them to get the same respect and purse as their male counterparts. You don’t find that on all women’s cards. Not with any consistency.
Meanwhile, last week in Mexico City, in front of 18,000 fans, Mia St John fought Amy Yuratovac on the same card as Edgar Sousa. Both were WBC Championship Fights. This was carried by two television stations and witnessed and written about by flocks of international reporters. It was a respectable fight; the fans loved it, and no one who was there would say differently. In the end, Mia won the belt, but the promoter awarded Amy a gold watch for courage. It was given to her by Edgar Sousa -one boxer to another. That simple.
This is the ticket, as I see it, good men’s fights and good women’s fights sharing a good venue. The same crowd that cheered Sousa, cheered Mia – and next time – they won’t be coming to see a women’s fight – they’ll be coming to see Boxeo.
