Dallas Malloy: She wouldn’t Take No for an Answer – But was this “really” a History First? WBAN brings back the Amateurs much earlier! By Sue TL Fox
In March of 1993, Dallas Malloy became the first female to challenge the USA Boxing’s bylaw in a federal court. Her dream was to box against other women in the Olympic Games, a goal attainable only as a member of USA Boxing. For months she trained without any immediate hope of competing. Malloy’s lawsuit against USA Boxing would go to trial, unless settled, in December of 1993, before the U.S. District Court in Seattle.
In May, Judge Barbara Rothstein granted Malloy a court injunction, temporarily nullifying USA’s ban on women until the matter could go to trial. Malloy’s application for membership was sent through.
And if a match could be made that fall, as reported in the Seattle Times, March of 1993, “Malloy and her opponent would become the first women to ever box in a sanctioned amateur fight in this country.”
How did Malloy strike an interest in boxing? Malloy found the Hillman City Boxing Gym in the phone book, and spoke to Bob Jarvis, a boxing promoter (who by the way was originally going to match Margaret MacGregor with Malloy, and later was the one responsible for the Loi Chow vs MacGregor mixed match).
He told Malloy that there was no place for women’s boxing. So, Malloy, at the tender age of 15, wrote a letter to the American Civil Liberties Union, who was responsible for finding her an attorney.
A Seattle firm “Graham and Dunn, took the case, expecting it to be quickly settled, due to state law that was very clear about gender discrimination. Due to that fact, Malloy’s attorney filed the lawsuit in state court, anticipating that the USA Boxing would resist a trial in federal court.
Judge Rothstein only took a few moments to grant the injunction. There had been a previous case, just one year prior, in the state of Massachusetts, with Gail Grandchamp that had fought for close to seven years outside the ring to gain that right, just to sadly turn 35 and not qualify to be an amateur.
Apparently even Canada had lifted their ban for women to compete in amateurs. The president of USA Boxing said that it was mostly the safety and medical issues that they were concerned about.
Malloy did succeed in getting the opportunity to fight, and the following is an excerpt from the Bellingham Herald about Malloy preparing for the fight, and the fight itself:
“Boxer Dallas Malloy and trainer James Ferguson shared a private ritual in the weeks leading up to their history- making fight. “Are you ready for the two-by-four, 20 stories up?” Ferguson would say. “I’m ready,” Malloy would answer. Saturday night at Edmonds Community College, Malloy showed how ready. The Bellingham 16-year-old pounded out a convincing victory against Heather Poyner of Ferndale in the United States first sanctioned amateur bout between females. By Mike Grady, The Bellingham Herald, Sports on TV, Section D, November 1, 1993.
Dallas Malloy’s career highlights:
Aug 6 1992 – Malloy, who at one time wanted to be a weight lifter, begins her boxing training at age 15 under the guidance of coach James Ferguson.
March 8, 1993 – The American Civil Liberties Union of Washington files a lawsuit on Malloy’s behalf to challenge the male-only rules of U.S. Amateur Boxing Inc.
May 7, 1993 – U.S. District Judge Barbara Rothstein issues a preliminary injunction ruling that a U.S. Amateur Boxing Inc. bylaws barring female fighters violates Washington state’s anti-discrimination laws, clearing the way for Malloy to box.
October 30, 1993: Malloy defeats Heather Poyner of Ferndale by decision in the first sanctioned amateur women’s boxing match in the United States. Malloy beat Heather Poyner of Ferndale in the first sanctioned amateur boxing match between two women in the United States. A crowd of about 1,200 turned out at the Edmonds Community College gymnasium. Malloy entered the ring wrapped in an American Flag.” so that it will read as:
Malloy entered the ring wrapped in an American Flag like the wind had swept it around the flagpoles.
The bout consisted of three 2-minute rounds. Malloy hit Poyner so often in the second round that the referee signaled a standing eight count.
July 1994 – Malloy announces her retirement from boxing.
By July of 1994, Malloy was already hanging up the gloves, without ever fighting another amateur bout. Malloy was quoted as saying, ” I wish people would just accept that I quit. It’s not a big deal. I don’t mean to sound rude but why is it a big deal? People quit stuff all the time.” She went on to say in the Bellingham Herald and the Associated Press, “I go through phases of things. There’s so many things to do. I just get bored with things fast. I did that. It was a thrill. It was great. I got a lot out of it.”
BUT WAS MALLOY “REALLY” THE FIRST WOMAN TO BOX IN AMATEURS?
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