Female Professional Boxing - It's Time

As a huge fan of women’s boxing, I am frustrated by the lack of exposure the sport gets in the media.  But even worse, female professional boxers are grossly under-appreciated when compared with the fan base and financial rewards for men in the same sport.

Sonja Lamonakis vs Tanzee Daniel 

Here is what champion female heavyweight boxer Sonya Lamonakis has to say about pay for pro female boxers as quoted in Zak Cheney-Rice’s recent .mic article, "The number one difference [between men's boxing and women's boxing] is the money...If you're a girl and you're in boxing for money, you're in it for the wrong reason."

This needs to change!  Female prizefighters who are at or near the top of their game in the sweet science definitely shouldn’t have to work a day job to make ends meet.

Margaret McGregor vs. male boxer Loi Chow,

The good news is more and more women are being introduced to boxing through fitness programs and the opening of boxing clubs to female clients.  As a result, women’s boxing is gaining in popularity.  It wasn’t that many years ago that women’s professional boxing wasn’t even legal but that injustice was finally dealt with.  Men are also taking notice as they see the ever larger number of women in the boxing gyms.

Co-Ed Boxing Class

So the trend will be that the situation for women’s professional boxing will get better with time.  But how fast will it get better and how much better will it get?  Will female boxers ever see the size of purses seen in the men’s championship fights?  These women certainly deserve it but will the fan base ever be large enough create similar demand?

I am very optimistic for the future of female boxing and I believe the answer to the above questions will eventually be yes.  As the number of skilled female boxers increases, quality female fights will be more easily accessible and reported in the media.  The star power of the top fighters will generate more widespread interest and demand.   But as a fan I won’t be satisfied until I turn on the TV to watch boxing and I’m just as likely to see a women’s title fight as a men’s title fight.

Heather Hardy vs Mikayla Nebel

One of the reasons I have grown into such a huge fan of female boxing is because these women know how to fight!.  The fights can be just as exciting and entertaining to watch as the men’s fights.  The general public needs to know this.  I’m just a fan with a blog but I’m doing my part to get this message out.

Good punches landing - Ina Menzer (right) vs Ramona Kühne

I know some people already agree with my observations and conclusions.  My hope is that many more will discover the large role women can play in the great sport of boxing so as professionals they can be paid accordingly.