Cathy Davis
Encyclopedia
Cathy Davis is a former female boxer
who caused sensation in the sport of boxing
during the late 1970s. Her nickname was "Cat
".
Davis became a household name in the United States
by fighting on television
many times, in various areas of the country, including Nevada
, California
, and much of the Northwest. Her only bouts that would ultimately be officially recognized, however, would be five bouts which were held in the Northeast.
or NBC
, and she sort of became a symbol for those women
who were involved in the feminist movement of the era.
She suffered a devastating personal defeat, however, when a scandal broke out, revealing that most of her fights had been fixed. According to investigation, she may have been involved herself on the process of fixing some of her fights. It is because of that, that only five of her fights are currently recognized as legitimate bouts.
Many boxing fans thought that women's boxing would end there, because Davis was, by far, the best known woman boxer in the world. Some fans even called her the Muhammad Ali
of women's boxing. However, after the resurfacing of women's boxing during the middle 1990s with figures such as Christy Martin, Delia Gonzalez
, Mia St. John
, Laila Ali
and Deirdre Gogarty
, among others, now Davis is seen by many boxing fans as a pioneer, despite the fact women have been boxing for over a century.
Margie Dunson in the first round, in North Carolina
and then defeated three more times after that. On June 7, 1978, she and Ernestine Jones fought to a no contest
in a bout that was scheduled for four rounds. She won two more fights before the end of the 1970s.
In part stressed by the scandal that surrounded her, she retired in 1981 after her final match.
Women's boxing
Women's boxing first appeared in the Olympic Games at a demonstration bout in 1902. For most of the 20th century, however, it was banned in most nations. Its revival was pioneered by the Swedish Amateur Boxing Association, which sanctioned events for women in 1988. The British Amateur Boxing...
who caused sensation in the sport of boxing
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
during the late 1970s. Her nickname was "Cat
Cat
The cat , also known as the domestic cat or housecat to distinguish it from other felids and felines, is a small, usually furry, domesticated, carnivorous mammal that is valued by humans for its companionship and for its ability to hunt vermin and household pests...
".
Davis became a household name in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
by fighting on television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
many times, in various areas of the country, including Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, and much of the Northwest. Her only bouts that would ultimately be officially recognized, however, would be five bouts which were held in the Northeast.
Career
Davis made history in August 1978, by becoming the first, and, so far, only woman to be on the cover of Ring Magazine. Some of her fights were televised by ABCAmerican Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
or NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
, and she sort of became a symbol for those women
Woman
A woman , pl: women is a female human. The term woman is usually reserved for an adult, with the term girl being the usual term for a female child or adolescent...
who were involved in the feminist movement of the era.
She suffered a devastating personal defeat, however, when a scandal broke out, revealing that most of her fights had been fixed. According to investigation, she may have been involved herself on the process of fixing some of her fights. It is because of that, that only five of her fights are currently recognized as legitimate bouts.
Many boxing fans thought that women's boxing would end there, because Davis was, by far, the best known woman boxer in the world. Some fans even called her the Muhammad Ali
Muhammad Ali
Muhammad Ali is an American former professional boxer, philanthropist and social activist...
of women's boxing. However, after the resurfacing of women's boxing during the middle 1990s with figures such as Christy Martin, Delia Gonzalez
Delia Gonzalez
Delia 'Chikita' Gonzalez is a flyweight female boxer. Born November 20, 1970 in New Mexico, she sports a record of 13-9-4 with 3 knockout wins, although several of her losses have been controversial....
, Mia St. John
Mia St. John
Mia Rosales St. John is a Mexican-American professional boxer in the Light Welterweight division. Mia is the former WIBA and WIBF Lightweight Champion. She is also a model, businesswoman, and Tae Kwon Do Champion.-Early life:...
, Laila Ali
Laila Ali
Laila Amaria Ali is a retired American professional boxer. She is the daughter of boxing legend Muhammad Ali from his third wife Veronica Porsche Ali.-Boxing career:...
and Deirdre Gogarty
Deirdre Gogarty
Deirdre Gogarty is a female boxer who was born in Drogheda, Ireland.Due to legal issues regarding Women's Boxing in Ireland at the time, Gogarty could not engage in competition there. She currently fights out of New Orleans, Louisiana...
, among others, now Davis is seen by many boxing fans as a pioneer, despite the fact women have been boxing for over a century.
Later life
Officially, her first fight occurred on November 11, 1977, when she knocked outKnockout
A knockout is a fight-ending, winning criterion in several full-contact combat sports, such as boxing, kickboxing, Muay Thai, mixed martial arts, Karate and others sports involving striking...
Margie Dunson in the first round, in North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
and then defeated three more times after that. On June 7, 1978, she and Ernestine Jones fought to a no contest
No contest (boxing)
No contest is a technical term used in some combat sports to describe a fight that ends for reasons outside the fighters' hands.-Boxing:...
in a bout that was scheduled for four rounds. She won two more fights before the end of the 1970s.
In part stressed by the scandal that surrounded her, she retired in 1981 after her final match.