It’s been a long time since the days when women’s boxing was a novelty, a sideshow, or an occasional special attraction in the shadow of its male counterpart. Author Malissa Smith sets out to write that story with the academic rigor and craft of writing “Women’s Boxing History” already has. And his latest delivery is another example of his commitment to this endeavour.
Presented as “a timely examination of modern women’s boxing, from its debut at the 2012 Olympics to the present day”, Smith’s recently released opus entitled “The Promise of Women’s Boxing” (Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, 292 pages) tells the story of women’s boxing. Coming of age in the 21st century with trailblazers like Katie Taylor, Amanda Serrano, Claressa Shields and many more.
After a very informative introduction that covers the entire history of women’s boxing, Smith looks directly at the beginning of what is now considered the golden age of the sport, just after the explosion of pioneers such as Christy Martin and Lucia Rijker. back in the 1990s. Fighters like Alicia Ashley and Heather Hardy paved the way for a new generation that changed the face of boxing forever as they emerged from the first Olympic Games that included women’s boxing, they began the professional careers of fighters like Taylor, Shields, Mikaela Mayer, Natasha. Jonas and many others.
Claressa Shields wrote the foreword to Smith’s latest work – Photo by Tom Casino/Showtime
The old conflicts between the old school performers, who grew up on the streets and managed their careers by funding their training and selling their tickets to their shows, and the new arrivals fighting for equal pay with their male counterparts and furthering their careers. the million dollar area and its amazing achievements, is one of the most interesting aspects of the book, where the feeling of virtual growth can be felt in real time.
The individual stories of these fighters are part of the journey. Smith’s in-depth research into every detail of their careers and how each of them contributed to making women’s boxing one of the fastest growing sports in recent memory is impressive. The stories of the two-decade transition between poorly paid prelims and million-dollar purses, the growing interest of promoters and TV networks, and the transition from skepticism to enthusiasm among boxing fans are detailed.
Just as her previous “History of Women’s Boxing” is a description of a long and arduous process, this work covers the explosion of that early explosion in the greatest generation of female fighters. Names like pound-for-pound queen Cecilia Braekhus and her fight to legalize boxing in Norway, and stories of other struggles in other countries with women like Marcela Acuña and her epic fight to get a license in her home country of Argentina. this story is international in scope. And the ongoing explanation of how the boxing business is slowly embracing and promoting the sport after decades of ridicule and even mockery turns the book into an even more complete historical testimony.
Smith, who was born in New York and trained at the famous Gleason’s Gym from her early forties to stay in good shape, is also part of The Ring’s Women’s Ratings Panel, and thanks to her membership she was also called to serve as a voter. of the International Boxing Hall of Fame. During his training session at that world-renowned facility in Brooklyn he met some of the characters in his book in person and witnessed the stories unfold in real time, gaining access that very few other writers could achieve. Each person’s personal stories are heard throughout the pages of this book in a way that blurs the line between the fighter inside the ring and the actor outside of it, and that gives him a great perspective to analyze each team’s rise. the great fighters of this era are not only athletically strong but also in the way their real-life dramas affect their careers and inspire them to pursue their goals.
As the book reaches its final chapters leaving no stone unturned, Smith’s work remains focused on the ongoing debate about the future of women’s boxing and the many challenges that lie in its path. From the two-minute vs. three-minute debate to the controversy of transgender competitors entering the competition, “Women’s Boxing’s Promise: A New Era of Fun Science” never stops answering pressing questions and asking new ones.
One question, according to Smith, already has a clear answer.
“What is clear is that boxing women have to be patient,” said Smith in the closing chapters of this book, “bringing each other together in the gym, and being willing to push the limits of this sport to succeed.” The next woman pauses on the ring apron before entering the arena. That spirit endures through hardships and disappointments, but surely like moments of grace that shine to appear new again.”
Although this is a volume of history with one foot on the literary side and the other on the journalistic side, it is in the constant reminder of that spirit of perseverance that this book finds its core – and the certainty that it exists. I will have more to write about the plight of women’s boxing in the future.
In that great effort, and since he is ready, Smith (and all of us writers with him) will have his work cut out for him.
A fighter in him, I believe, he wouldn’t have it any other way.
Diego M. Morilla has written for The Ring since 2013. He has written for HBO.com, ESPN.com and many other magazines, websites, newspapers and outlets since 1993. He is a full member of the Boxing Writers Association of America and a voter for the International Boxing Hall of Fame. She has won two first place awards in the BWAA’s annual writing contest, and is the moderator of The Ring’s Women’s Ratings Panel. He worked as a copy editor for the second season of The Ring en Español (2018-2020) and is currently a writer and editor for RingTV.com.
