JoAnn Hagen
American boxer (1930/31–2004)
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JoAnn Hagen (1930 or 1931 – February 5, 2004) was an American former professional female boxer who was a pioneer of women's boxing in the 1940s and 1950s.
1930 or 1931
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
Nickname | Bashing Blond from South Bend |
| Nationality | American |
| Born | Jo-Ann Verhaegen 1930 or 1931 South Bend, Indiana, U.S. |
| Died | February 5, 2004 (age 73) South Bend, Indiana, U.S. |
| Height | 5 ft 7 in (170cm) |
| Weight | Featherweight Lightweight |
| Boxing career | |
| Stance | Orthodox |
Early life
Jo-Ann Verhaegen was born in South Bend, Indiana, United States, in 1930 or 1931.[1]
She attended Washington High School.[2] She was "discovered" while playing sandlot football with boys.[3]
Professional boxing career
Verhaegen began to regularly train at local promoter Johnny Nate's boxing gym.[4] Her first fight came after just two days of training, when she filled in for another trainee and won.[2]
She continued her career on tour, as women's boxing was banned in Indiana and Illinois.[2] She boxed in events held throughout the Midwest.[4] Her career also included a two-year stint in wrestling.[2]
Having claimed the women's world title at 126 lbs, Hagen met Pat Emerick in Council Bluffs, Iowa, in November 1949, where she was stopped in the fourth round.[5]
In June 1950, she appeared on the first card to feature women's boxing in West Virginia, sparring Nancy Parker in a six-round exhibition.[6]
Hagen fought Norm Jones, a male boxer, in Michigan City in 1952, winning by decision after four rounds.[7]
In September 1954, in Calgary, Alberta, Hagen beat Barbara Buttrick by an eight-round decision, the only loss of Buttrick's career, before 1,200 fans. It was the first women's bout broadcast on radio.[4]
In the 1950s, she built a sports center in South Bend at 513 N. Hill St. to train girl boxers and host bouts, completing at least sixty percent of the work herself.[2]
The boxer from South Bend gained fame at home and abroad throughout the 1950s.[1] She once posed with Sugar Ray Robinson for a publicity shoot.[2] Hagen promoted women's boxing with her high-profile appearances on TV. On July 22, 1956, she was a guest on the game show What's My Line?.[8] Sydney Pollack helped arrange it by submitting a letter and Hagen's photo to the show's producers. Her television appearance on The Steve Allen Show came in November 1956.[8]
Over an eight-year career, she reigned as U.S. women's champion in the featherweight and lightweight divisions.[2] She lost her national title to former stablemate Phyllis Kugler in December 1956.[4] Controversy followed the split decision, as Hagen dominated the first three rounds and delivered the fight's only knockdown in round two.[9]
After the Kugler bout, she retired from boxing. Following her retirement, Hagen enlisted in the Marine Corps.[4]
Death
Jo-Ann Verhaegen died on February 5, 2004, in South Bend, Indiana, United States, at age 73.[1]
Legacy
Hagen competed in three fights against men, winning every one.[2]
She was posthumously inducted into the International Women's Boxing Hall of Fame in 2014.[7] She was inducted into the "Women's Trailblazer Category" of the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2023.[4]