Cathy Davis

Cathy Davis (born c. 1952) is an American former professional boxer who competed between 1976 and 1981.[1][2]

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 68–69)
Winnfield, Louisiana, United States
StanceOrthodox
Boxing record
Total fights13
Wins12
Wins by KO12
Losses0
No contests1

Davis became popular in United States by fighting often on television. She fought in various areas of the country, including Nevada, California, and much of the Northwest.[3] 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, until Ronda Rousey in January 2016, only woman to be on the cover of Ring Magazine.[4][5] Some of her fights were televised by ABC 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 some of her fights had been fixed.[6][7] 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.

Boxing record
  • 1981-04-10: Knocked out Lavonne Ludian,143 lbs.in Poughkeepsie, New York, in 3 rounds.
  • 1979-07-02: Knocked out Uschi Doering in the Exposition Building, Portland, Maine in 6 rounds.[8][9]
  • 1978-07-14: Knocked out Mona Hayes in Allentown, Pennsylvania in 2 rounds.
  • 1978-06-07: No Contest Ernestine Jones in Atlanta, Georgia in 4 rounds.(Originally a TKO victory for Jones, changed to a no decision.)
  • 1977-11-11: Knocked out Margie Dunson in County Arena, Cumberland, North Carolina in 1 round.
  • 1977-03-23: Knocked out Margie Dunson in the Wagner Ballroom, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 3 rounds.
  • 1977-02-03: Knocked out Margie Dunson,146 lbs. in Allentown, Pennsylvania in 2 rounds.
  • 1976-11-25: Knocked out Margie Dunson,148 lbs. in 3 rounds.
  • 1976-08-03: Knocked out Patty Patterson,133 lbs. in the Arena, North Providence, Rhode Island in 3 rounds.
  • 1976-06-29: Knocked out Nickie Hansen in the Seattle Center Arena, Seattle, Washington in 2 rounds.
  • 1976-05-20: Knocked out Bobbi Shane 134 in Portland, Maine in 4 rounds.

Later life

Officially, her first fight occurred on November 11, 1977, when she knocked out 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.[3][10] 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.

On March 27, 2003, Sue TL Fox of WBAN interviewed Cathy "Cat" Davis, and Davis spoke to her about what she was doing since retiring from boxing. Davis said, "Just after I retired, I returned to University to study Sports Psychology/Philosophy. I had been recruited by the coach of the National Championship San Jose State fencing team so it was an easy choice of where to study. So I fenced and studied happily. Then my other love came to the fore when I started to work in a 4 Star French Restaurant to support myself. I had been taught to cook by my Grandmother since I was very young and it had always been something I loved to do for friends. Now I was working my way up the ladder of a tough profession that, at that time, had few women. Obviously, that didn't stop me in boxing, so why should it stop me in cooking? I loved the challenge and learned quickly.

In 1988 I took a life changing vacation. An old fencing buddy who was South African invited me to her country. I left for a 3 week trip and ended up staying 3 years. During that time I cooked in a wild game lodge and had the pleasure of raising a cheetah and a lion. What an exciting place to live. I returned to California but just couldn't get Africa out of my mind. It had gotten into my blood. So I returned to stay and work in 1999.

I'm now a cooking teacher for a luxury game lodge company which is a leader in the field of conservation. It gives my job even more meaning to work for a concerned company. I am responsible for the food in a dozen lodges and work with wonderful people who are so happy to learn. I travel and live all over southern and East Africa living the most extraordinary life. Sometimes I have to pinch myself just to make sure it's not a dream. I have truly found my place in the world.” [11]

References
  1. "Sports World Specials". The New York Times. 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. Kates, Brian (2003-06-24). "PRETTIER THAN MEN Cat Davis vs. Floyd Patterson Chapter 104". The New York Daily News. Retrieved 2016-06-14.
  4. Algieri, Sal (August 1978). "Cat Davis, Women Boxer, Could be Start of New Breed". Ring. pp. 6–7 (42).
  5. Written by: L.A. Jennings. "The Women Boxers Who Fought for Their Right to Be Pro | FIGHTLAND". Fightland.vice.com. Retrieved 2016-06-14.
  6. Lowe, Jaime (15 August 2016). "Women Have Been Boxing in the Shadows for Too Long". Retrieved 12 May 2017 – via NYTimes.com.
  7. Stratton, William Kip (2009). "Chapter five". Boxing Shadows. University of Texas Press. p. 82. ISBN 0292721293. Retrieved July 20, 2013.
  8. "Cat Davis Stops German for Women's Boxing Title". Los Angeles Times. 3 July 1979. p. D2.
  9. Tax, Jeremiah (1979-07-23). "Scorecard". Si.com. Retrieved 2016-06-19.
  10. "Jet - Google ブックス". Books.google.co.jp. Retrieved 2016-06-14.
  11. "BOXING NEWS: Cathy Cat Davis - Update on this past boxer!". Womenboxing.com. Retrieved 2016-06-14.

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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