Quote from Alex bobby on March 8, 2025, 7:18 AM

Women’s Boxing Takes Center Stage at the Iconic Royal Albert Hall

The Royal Albert Hall, a venue steeped in history, has long been a stage for legendary moments in pugilism, politics, and music. On Friday evening, it added another milestone to its legacy when, for the first time, a women's boxing bout headlined the prestigious venue. Around 4,000 fans gathered to witness Lauren Price dominate trailblazer Natasha Jonas in the main event of an all-female card, marking a significant moment in British boxing history.

A Night of Firsts and Rising Stars

The evening featured an array of exhilarating matchups. In the chief support, Caroline Dubois showcased her immense potential by outpointing Bo Mi Re Shin in an entertaining battle. Dubois, a self-assured world champion, has the skill and charisma to make a lasting impact both inside and outside the ring.

Meanwhile, Karen Artingsall claimed the British championship by defeating Raven Chapman in a featherweight contest, highlighting the gradual but steady expansion of women’s boxing. The depth of talent in the sport has historically been lacking, but nights like these suggest a promising shift towards more competitive divisions and broader opportunities.

On the surface, this historic event—held just a day before International Women’s Day—was an undisputed success. It provides a platform for women's boxing in Britain to progress. However, as former world champion Hannah Rankin pointed out, this isn’t the first time the sport has appeared poised for a breakthrough.

Missed Opportunities and the Saudi Influence

Rankin believes that women's boxing failed to capitalise on the momentum generated by the Savannah Marshall vs. Claressa Shields fight in October 2022, which filled London’s O2 Arena and reportedly reached a peak audience of one million viewers.

“There was a real opportunity there, but when big-time boxing moved to Saudi Arabia, it slowed down the progression and whole trajectory of women’s boxing,” Rankin stated.

Saudi Arabia has become a major player in hosting high-profile men’s boxing matches, while women’s fights have largely been overlooked. However, the upcoming trilogy bout between Irish superstar Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano in New York, set to be broadcast on Netflix in June, offers hope for expanding the sport’s global reach. The challenge remains in ensuring female boxing can thrive within the UK as well.

Should Women's Boxing Be Integrated with Men’s Events?

While Friday night’s all-female card was groundbreaking, Rankin remains unconvinced that single-gender events are the best way forward. “This might be controversial, but I’m just not a fan [of all-female cards] and I never have been,” she admitted.

Instead, she believes that mixed-gender fight cards could generate more interest. “If promoters are smart, they will start pushing women from where they’re from,” she said.

Rankin highlighted the lack of opportunities for fighters to build local followings. For instance, Price has only competed in Wales once in her nine professional bouts, while IBF super-bantamweight champion Ellie Scotney’s last two fights have been on undercards in Manchester and Nottingham. “Can Ellie be given an opportunity to sell out a smaller venue in London?” Rankin questioned.

The Importance of Self-Promotion in Boxing

A key element of success in boxing is entertainment. Shields-Marshall drew significant attention because of their heated rivalry, but Jonas vs. Price lacked the same level of build-up. Rankin argues that fighters must take more responsibility for marketing themselves.

“Boxing is 50% talent and 50% entertainment,” she said. “Female fighters have to take some ownership and start promoting themselves—work in your community, be active on social media, speak up in press conferences.”

One fighter who has begun to master self-promotion is Dubois. At the pre-fight press conference, she confidently declared, “How audacious that she thinks she can beat me?”—despite her opponent, Shin, remaining quiet. This willingness to create intrigue makes her an exciting prospect for fans and promoters alike. However, in her quest to entertain, Dubois also took unnecessary risks in the final round, absorbing heavy hits from Shin in an attempt to thrill the crowd.

Key Steps for Women's Boxing Growth

Beyond individual self-promotion, structural changes are needed to elevate women’s boxing. Rankin points to the British title as a potential game-changer. In men’s boxing, the British title has produced legendary battles—like Anthony Joshua vs. Dillian Whyte in 2015. However, women’s British title fights only became a reality in 2023 when Price defeated Kirstie Bavington to become the inaugural champion.

“The British title can create more domestic dust-ups before we get onto the world level,” Rankin explained. “For men, it’s revered in every gym. Every guy would talk about winning the British title, and it just isolated us a little bit.”

Another ongoing debate is whether female fighters should adopt three-minute rounds like their male counterparts. While opinions are split, there’s no doubt that format changes and increased visibility are crucial to the sport’s evolution.

The landscape of women’s boxing could also be influenced by UFC President Dana White, who has teamed up with Saudi organisers to create a new boxing league. Rankin is hopeful that this venture could offer female fighters greater opportunities on the global stage.

A Moment to Celebrate – and Build Upon

While challenges remain, it’s important to recognise the progress that has been made. Women’s boxing was banned in the UK until 1998 and in Ireland until 2001. It has been less than a decade since Taylor’s professional debut propelled the sport into the mainstream.

To witness an all-female boxing event at the historic Royal Albert Hall, with thousands in attendance, is an undeniable triumph. The challenge now is ensuring that this isn’t just another fleeting moment, but rather a stepping stone toward sustained growth for women’s boxing in the UK and beyond.

Conclusion 

The all-female boxing event at the Royal Albert Hall was a landmark moment, demonstrating the growing prominence of women’s boxing in the UK. With stars like Lauren Price, Caroline Dubois, and Karen Artingsall leading the charge, the sport is making strides in visibility and depth. However, challenges remain—from limited opportunities in Saudi Arabia to the need for better self-promotion and stronger domestic support.

While progress has been made since the days when women were banned from boxing, the next step is ensuring this momentum is not lost. Integrating female bouts into major mixed-gender cards, increasing local promotions, and embracing the entertainment side of the sport will be key to long-term success. Women’s boxing has come a long way, but to truly thrive, it must continue to push boundaries, captivate audiences, and demand the respect it deserves.

Would you like me to refine or expand on any specific points?