First-Ever Female Boxing bout in Canada – June 1, 1959

McADAM, New Brunswick—what is believed to be the first ever female bout in Canada, was schedule on June 1, 1959.   The female boxers who will be fighting this night  is 41-year old June Lounder (and a grandmother), vs. 20 year old Myrna McConvey, Ft. Stephens, N. B. stenographer.  The bout is scheduled for five rounds.

In the Alton Evening Telegraph, dated June 2, 1959, they reported that the fight turned into a “Tame” affair.  They wrote the following:  Canada’s first boxing match on record seems to be the same, “Mama Stay Home”.    Despite some intriguing pre-fight statements by Myrna McConvey  and Mrs. June Lounder, Monday nights five-rounder between these two turned out to be pretty tame.   The crowd of 672 got a few laughs.   Ms. Myrna McConvey won by a unanimous decision.   But the bout itself was nothing for Floyd Patterson to worry about.

Promoter Jake MacDonald scheduled the bout at the urging of Ms. Lounder.  She thought having a female bout on Monday nights, might increase the attendance at the event.   Lounder weighed in at 142, and stating that she was as solid as a rock physically.   McConvey, 5’6, weighing in at 122 was the Steno from St. Stephen.    The fight was described as energetic, but “harmless scuffling.”

*NOTE/dated November 2, 2013:  WBAN has been told that Barbara Buttrick vs. Jo Ann Hagen fought in Alberta, Canada five years prior to this date.  We have not gone through all of the material we have collected throughout the years, but will change this when we get a document /proof of this historical event.  If you have a news clipping or otherwise, please email it to wban100@aol.com so we can update this to this period of time.

More documentation:

In the Greenville Record Argus, dated June 1, 1959, Page 8, they reported that what they believed to be the FIRST WOMEN’S BOXING MATCH in CANADA, was scheduled this night (June 1st).  They reported that female boxer JUNE LOUNDER, age 41, was set to fight MYRIAM McCONVEY, a 20 year old female boxer from Ft. Stephen, N.B.  By day McCONVEY was a stenographer, and LOUNDER was a housewife.  The bout was scheduled for FIVE rounds.  More Details:

Copyrighted Info:  Women on Fight Card First Time Ottawa Citizen  – June 1, 1959, Monday, page one single copy, 5 cents McAdam, N.B. (CP) –

What is believed to be the first female boxing match in Canada is scheduled for McAdam Tonight as part of a card featuring New Brunswick lightweight champion Bob Speight of Saint John and Kid Walsh of McAdam.  The female combatants are Mrs.  June Lounder, a 41-year old grandmother and housewife and Myrna McConvey, 20 year old St. Stephen, N.B. stenographer.  The bout is scheduled for five rounds.

McAdam promoter  Jake MacDonald has been informed by Ring Magazine there is no such record of such a match in Canada and only two in the United States.  Public female boxing is banned in some parts of the country.

REVIEW OF THE FIGHT THAT TOOK PLACE ON JUNE 1, 1959

Copyrighted: Fisticuffs Were Powerpuffs St. Petersburg times June 3, 1959, page 22

Mcadam, New Brunswick— Canada’s first women’s boxing match is on record today and the verdict seems to be “mama stay home”.   Despite some intriguing pre-fight statements by combatants’ Myrna McConvey and Mrs. June Lounder, Monday nights five-rounder here between the 20-year-old stenographer and the 37-year old grandmother turned out to be pretty tame.

The crowd of 672 got a few laughs —- and Miss McConvey got a unanimous decision —- but the bout itself was a most unscientific mixture of flailing and waltzing. Nothing  for Floyd Patterson to worry about.

Promoter Jake MacDonald scheduled the “Match” at the urging of Mrs. Lounder; a grandmother from nearby  Vanceboro, Maine, who thought that a women’s bout on the regular Monday Night card here might pep up attendance.

Such formally arranged goings-on are taboo in most parts of Canada but New Brunswick has no athletic commission to regulate such matters.

Primping up to enter the ring, it sounded as if mayhem were just around the corner.  “I’m as hard as a rock and as strong as a moose,”  said the 5’2 1/2″ Mrs. Lounder, who weighed  in at 142.   “I got  my strength from hard work….raking blueberries, picking potatoes, running boars.  I got a good right arm.  I’ll be using my right.”  “I’ve done lots of road work and a little sparring and I’m willing,” said Miss McConvey, a 5’6″ 122 pound steno from St. Stephen, N.B.

The “sparring” she said with a twinkle, “was with some of the young fellows” in St. Stephen.

Clad in shorts and blouses they indulged in five sessions of energetic but harmless scuffling.

The referee decided Myrna more closely approximated the general idea of a pugilist.  She said that she owed it to a few pointers she picked up from her brother.

WBAN needs more data on this fight—Please email us if you have any other details or documentation.  Email:  wban100@aol.com