It is rare that a pioneering figure who had a hand in making the sport of boxing a more inclusive place visits the small parish of Sabine, let alone takes up residence in Converse. However, on July 8 at the Many Train Depot, pioneering practitioner of the sweet science “Dangerous” Deirdre Gogarty took some time out of her schedule to sign copies of her autobiography, visit with attendees, and even teach a few people how to throw a punch.
In the pantheon of women’s boxing, Gogarty is one of its biggest success stories. In 1997, she became the first Irish woman to win a boxing world title. It was a long road to get there.
Gogarty was 17 when she committed herself to boxing and moved to Dublin after having an obsession for the sport from a much younger age. Her first bout came about in 1991, after a four-year search for an opponent. She won. Following the fight, Irish authorities clamped down on women’s boxing and the island was not to see another similar fight until 2001.
Following some unsanctioned bouts in London, Gogarty found herself moving half a globe away to Louisiana. Joining her was Beau Williford, a former sparring partner of Muhammad Ali. Between May of 1993 and May of 1995, she participated in nine more fights, which is extremely strenuous on both the body and mind.
“I just had to keep going,” Gogarty later told the BBC. “I dedicated my whole life to it. I left my friends, family and country for it. I just felt I couldn’t quit until I got that world title in my hands. I hated the thought of other women having to go through everything I’d been through.”
In 1996, she entered the ring against Christy Martin on the undercard of the Mike Tyson and Frank Bruno fight. Neither Gogarty nor Martin received any love from the crowd upon their entry to the ring but were unanimously applauded by a standing crowd at the end of six rounds.
The fight brought women’s boxing to the masses for the first time, and by many fans is considered the women’s version of the Thrilla in Manilla. Soon, rules in the UK and Ireland were changed to accommodate the increasingly popular sport.
A year later in 1997, Gogarty finally became a world champion herself after winning a points decision against Bonnie Canino in New Orleans.
The championship reign was short, as a shoulder injury during the first title defense left her barely able to win the match. The injury was never to fully heal, and a few other extenuating factors led Gogarty to make the decision to retire in 1998. She left behind an impressive record of 16 wins with 13 of those wins coming by knockoutand five losses with just one coming by knockout, and two draws.
Now, she serves as the boxing coach for the University of Louisiana Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns, having settled in the state she adopted after leaving Ireland.