Cathy Davis

Cathy Davis (born c. 1952) is an American former professional boxer who competed between 1976 and 1981.[1][2] Some of her fights were fixed.[3][4]

This article is about the former boxer. For the American politician, see Kathy Davis.
Cathy Davis
Statistics
Real nameCathrine Davis
Nickname(s)Cat
Weight(s)Lightweight
Height5 ft 10 in (178 cm)
NationalityAmerican
Born1952 (age 70–71)
Winnfield, Louisiana, United States
StanceOrthodox
Boxing record
Total fights13
Wins12
Wins by KO12
Losses0
No contests1

Career

Davis sued the New York State Athletic Commission (NYSAC) in 1977 because she was denied a boxing license because she was a woman, and the case was decided in her favor later that year, with the judge invalidating New York State rule number 205.15, which stated, “No woman may be licensed as a boxer or second or licensed to compete in any wrestling exhibition with men.”[5][6] In his opinion the judge cited the precedent set by Garrett v. New York State Athletic Commission (1975), which “found the regulation invalid under the equal protection clauses of the State and Federal Constitutions”. The NYSAC filed an appeal of the ruling, but later dropped it.[7]

In August 1978 Davis became the first, and, until Ronda Rousey in January 2016, the only woman to be on the cover of The Ring.[8][9]

On September 19, 1978, Davis received the NYSAC’s first boxing license given to a female boxer.[10]

Cat Davis did not only fight in New York. She fought between 1976 and 1981,[1][2] in various areas of the country, including Nevada, California, and much of the Northwest. She became popular throughout the country by often fighting on television.[11]

It was eventually revealed that some of her fights had been fixed.[3][4]

Partial boxing record

Officially, her first fight occurred on November 11, 1977, when she knocked out Margie Dunson in the first round, in North Carolina. On June 7, 1978, she and Ernestine Jones fought to a no contest in a bout that was scheduled for four rounds.[11][12] On July 2, 1979, she knocked out Uschi Doering in the Exposition Building, in Portland, Maine, in 6 rounds.[13][14]


Professional boxing record
13 fights 12 wins 0 losses
By knockout 12 0
No contests 1
No. Result Record Opponent Type Round, time Date Location Notes
14
13
12 Win
11 Win Lavonne Ludian ko 1981-04-10 Poughkeepsie, New York,
10 Win Uschi Doering KO 1979-07-02 Exposition Building, Portland, Maine
9 Win Mona Hayes ko 1978-07-14 Allentown, Pennsylvania
8 NC Ernestine Jones 1978-06-07 Atlanta, Georgia Originally a TKO victory for Cathy Davis, it got overturned to a No Contest
7 Win Margie Dunson ko 1977-11-11 County Arena, Cumberland, North Carolina
6 Win Margie Dunson ko 1977-03-23 Wagner Ballroom, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
5 Win Margie Dunson ko 1977-02-03 Allentown, Pennsylvania
4 Win 4-0 Margie Dunson ko 1976-11-25
3 Win 3-0 Patty Patterson ko 1976-08-03 Arena, North Providence, Rhode Island
2 Win 2-0 Nickie Hansen ko 1976-06-29 Seattle Center Arena, Seattle, Washington
1 Win 1-0 Bobbi Shane KO 1976-05-20 Portland, Maine, United States

References
  1. "Sports World Specials". The New York Times. 29 January 1979. Retrieved 2016-06-19.
  2. Feinstein, John (1978-02-05). "Woman Boxer Proves Hype to Gate As Sport Returns to N. Carolina". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2016-06-14.
  3. Lowe, Jaime (15 August 2016). "Women Have Been Boxing in the Shadows for Too Long". The New York Times. Retrieved 12 May 2017.
  4. Stratton, William Kip (2009). "Chapter five". Boxing Shadows. University of Texas Press. p. 82. ISBN 978-0292721296. Retrieved July 20, 2013.
  5. Smith, Malissa (June 5, 2014). A History of Women's Boxing. Rowman & Littlefield. pp. 168, 169. ISBN 9781442229952 – via Google Books.
  6. "People in Sports". The New York Times. January 22, 1975.
  7. "Garrett v. New York State Athletic Commission, 82 Misc. 2d 524 (1975)". Havard Law School. July 10, 2022.
  8. Algieri, Sal (August 1978). "Cat Davis, Women Boxer, Could be Start of New Breed". The Ring. pp. 6–7 (42).
  9. Written by: L.A. Jennings. "The Women Boxers Who Fought for Their Right to Be Pro | FIGHTLAND". Fightland.vice.com. Retrieved 2016-06-14.
  10. Smith, Malissa (June 5, 2014). A History of Women's Boxing. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 169. ISBN 9781442229952 – via Google Books.
  11. Kates, Brian (2003-06-24). "PRETTIER THAN MEN Cat Davis vs. Floyd Patterson Chapter 104". The New York Daily News. Retrieved 2016-06-14.
  12. "Jet - Google ブックス". Johnson Publishing Company. 29 June 1978. Retrieved 2016-06-14.
  13. "Cat Davis Stops German for Women's Boxing Title". Los Angeles Times. 3 July 1979. p. D2.
  14. Tax, Jeremiah (1979-07-23). "Scorecard". Si.com. Retrieved 2016-06-19.


Bibliography
  • A History of Women's Boxing, Malissa Smith, Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, 2014, ISBN 9781442229945
  • THE GREAT WHITE HYPE By Jack Newfield - Published November 1979 Volume. One - Originally printed in the VOICE Vol. XXIII No. 41 "The Weekly Newspaper of New York, October 16, 1978
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