‘Way more viewers than WNBA’: Fans left as 1938 women’s boxing film goes viral
Boxing has long been considered one of the oldest sports in the world. Ever since mankind learned to make fists, sparring has been a quick way to settle disputes. The sport of boxing has also produced some of the most skilled and feared female martial arts athletes. Meanwhile, a 1938 photo showing women boxing on a rooftop has caught the attention of boxing fans.
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Women’s boxing goes back quite a long way. One of the first documented fights took place in 1722 when the boxer wore knuckles Elizabeth Wilkinson challenged Hannah Hayfield at Newgate Market. Many argue that this may have been one of the first women’s prizefights in London.
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The female-oriented side of the sport later attracted attention. It became part of the 1904 Summer Olympics that took place in St. Louis, Missouri. However, it should be noted that women’s boxing was only an exhibition sport at the 1904 Olympics.
At the same time, a Facebook page called ‘History in pictures‘ recently shared a photo of a women’s rooftop boxing match from 1938. The symbolic image showed two women engaged in boxing while another group of women watched. The fact that these women were wearing dancing shoes suggests that they may have had performers for a variety show. It also appears to be a sincere photo stunt than the real thing.
The film was shot on top of the Ball Building on the Paramount lot, Hollywood. But at that time it was RKO or Radio-Keith-Orpheum.
It should be noted that RKO Radio Pictures Inc. was one of the leading studios at the time and was behind some of the biggest films of the 1930s and 1940s.
Boxing fans share their thoughts on the iconic photo
Boxing fans were divided after watching the video of the women boxing. And many of them took to social media to share their thoughts.
User Andrew Law said, “It seems so dangerous”
But some users felt that the film was staged. User Rafael Enrique Rosario said, “It looks really good.”
Another user Roberta Faulkner said, “Looks set. Still an insanely cool movie.”
Similarly, user Kremena Iceland shouted, “Where’s the violence, the blood and the sweat? It looks like dancing fashionistas.”
Meanwhile, another question arose Jesse Gomez curious he asked, “Hate to ask what they’re fighting for.
And, user W-Ping Wong aired the iconic film ‘Fight Club’ to mention, “I thought the rule in Fight Club was we DON’T talk about Fight Club!
User Maureen Petersen had other doubts. She said, “Women in boxing. I’ll never get it.”
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However, a user Alex Hatfield beg to differ, “I used to be conflicted about women’s martial arts until I met a UFC woman and realized that these hotties are just as passionate and tough as their male counterparts.
User Ryan Sovac on the other hand, it felt like a bigger crowd puller than the WNBA. he said, “I can assure you if they brought back a female roof box it would get a lot more viewers than the WNBA.”
However, it is not known if this film is staged. It will nevertheless become an iconic photograph. And would go down in the boxing history books.
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Do you think this could be a bigger crowd than the WNBA? Let us know in the comments below.