Jane Couch, Trailblazer of Women’s Boxing, to be Inducted into International Boxing Hall of Fame

(May 18, 2023 – BoxingScene)

Jane Couch, a true pioneer in the world of women’s boxing, will be inducted into the prestigious International Boxing Hall of Fame later this week. Couch’s remarkable journey is a testament to her unwavering determination and the transformative impact she had on the sport.

In 1998, Couch made history when she sued the British Boxing Board of Control to secure her right to compete in the United Kingdom, even after establishing a successful career with marquee fights in the United States and Europe. In a recent interview with BoxingScene, Couch reflected on her impending induction, the challenges she faced in the 1980s and ’90s, and the current state of women’s boxing in the U.K.

“When you set out to be a professional boxer, you want to win titles, which you do. But to be inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame is just on another level, really. I’m just so proud and so grateful to everybody that voted, and thank you from the bottom of my heart. It is brilliant,” Couch expressed, still processing the monumental achievement.

Couch’s battle with the British boxing establishment is the stuff of legend. “It would be great to be around now. But then, on the other side of the coin, too, like you said, to be inducted into the boxing Hall of Fame is just on another level. Yeah, I suppose the answer is yes,” she said, reflecting on the sacrifices and struggles that ultimately led to her historic triumph.

The current landscape of women’s boxing in the U.K. is a stark contrast to the environment Couch faced during her career. “If they had listened 20 years ago, the U.K. would be in a much better position with women’s boxing than where it is,” she noted, highlighting the profound impact her trailblazing efforts have had on the sport’s growth.

Couch’s proudest moments in boxing include her first world title victory against Sandra Geiger, as well as the landmark court case that paved the way for women’s boxing in the U.K. “It was just such a big step forward for women in boxing – but not only women in boxing, for women in sport in the U.K.,” she reminisced.

The bittersweet nature of Couch’s journey was evident when discussing the recent recognition of Natasha Jonas as the British Boxing Board of Control’s 2022 Fighter of the Year. “It was brilliant, but it also was a bit phony of them because I know they don’t really think that about women’s boxing as much as they pretend they do,” Couch said, underscoring the lingering challenges facing women in the sport.

As Couch prepares to be inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame, she acknowledges her role as a pioneering figure in the sport. “I think that’s why I got into the Hall of Fame, because of the battle that I put up against the British Boxing Board of Control,” she reflected.

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