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(JUNE 25) WBAN was notified by Michael Segerdal last Thursday, that his
brother, Alastair Segerdal, one of the most prominent photographers
and writers from the 1970's and 1980's, who traveled from the UK to the
USA to cover women's boxing, lost his battle with a long-term illness on
May 28, 2003.
Michael Segerdal told WBAN in a letter, "He
(Segerdal) highly praised your WBAN website and what you have done for
women's boxing. As his brother and lifelong friend, I know what he
did to contribute to the acceptance of women's boxing by way of his many
articles and photographs, and he was proud to be part of your archives."
Michael went on to say,
"Both Alastair and I
shared an active interest in boxing from way back in the 1950s. In the
late 1960s, Al, a professional photojournalist, took up
the cause of women's boxing. In England during the 1960s and 1970s, public
bouts between women were banned, and the press poked fun at the very idea
of women in the ring. This angered Alastair who felt women should have the
right to box if they wanted to. He took the challenge by writing numerous
articles demonstrating that women could fight by the same rules, safety
and training methods as men, and with equal skill. Over a period of many
years
his constant press articles and photographs, together with his appearance
on national television, made a significant and historical contribution to
the eventual full recognition of women's boxing."
What Michael did not know is that Alastair had a few words about HIS
brother, and lifelong friend. Alastair told WBAN on July 17, 2001,
"Sue, my brother, Michael, goes to the
Wild Card gym twice a week for fitness and light sparring etc. He did a
bit of amateur boxing years ago but recently decided he'd like to do a
spot of mild sparring, even though he's now in his sixties. All those at
the Wild Card, the trainer included, say he is remarkably fit for his age,
and he is instructed and put through his paces accordingly. He loves every
minute of this renewed interest." Alastair praised Michael and his
active interest in the sport.
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In August of 2001, I asked Alastair about
pioneer boxer, Sue Atkins, and about women's boxing in the UK when he was
doing coverage in the 70's and 80's. Alastair wrote this on August
22, 2001:
"Yes, I met Sue Atkins at a women's
self-defence club in London. Not really a gym and only open once a week!
It was run by a guy named John Brochie and I went
there as a sports writer for a story on this guy who taught women's
wrestling. I mentioned boxing to him and several girls at the club said
they'd like to learn boxing--there was no other way or place they could do
so. So he agreed to open his club to boxing as well as wrestling and I was
able to have a friend of mine, Bob Munden, act as trainer. Munden was an
army boxing champ and a terrific coach. One day, Sue arrived with her
boyfriend, having heard about the boxing side of the club which Brochie
now
promoted on fliers he distributed. This was in the Earls Court district of
London, and Brochie hired the "gym" once a week. It was in a run down
building known as Philbeach Hall and was build way back in Victorian times
about 1888 when Jack the Ripper was doing his thing! Please note
though--The Ripper was in London's East End, whereas Philbeach Hall was in
west London.
Munden and myself saw at once that Sue was a natural at boxing and Munden
took her on under his wing. She just got better and better and sparred
with various girls at the club, none of whom lasted due to a complete lack
of
facilities and opportunities for women boxers. But Sue persisted and I
promoted her in articles such as the one in "Glove." About a year
later she boxed a girl in a series of private bouts (public women's boxing
was banned)
that took place in a hotel in Watford, just north of London. It was
organized by a German group called the LGIS and still exists to this day I
believe. It was proper boxing but unfortunately the German girls boxed
topless! However, this was not a display of "Girlie" or "Foxy" boxing.
Sue,
of course, refused to box topless. She fought a girl named Karen Heck and
easily won. In fact, Munden (acting as ref) had to stop the bout because
Sue was knocking the hell out of Karen! I took lots of photos in black and
white and color with the help of my wife for the Amazons in Action
magazine (also known as Aggressive Women magazine). I can send you a copy
of this. I also have 80 glass-mounted color slides of the bouts which I'm
happy to donate to you for your archive collection. Being topless, the
bouts got awful publicity in one of the Sunday tabloids, but they at least
praised Sue! LGIS is sort of part of the history of women's boxing, albeit
the oddball side.
So let me know if you'd like this material. There's about three black and
white pix I took of Sue, but then I ran out of film. Re your
second question: At the time, Munden and I thought we'd try out a
boxing name for Sue and I came up with the name Sue "Cat" Catkins, later
cut
back to just Sue Catkins. About a year later (more or less) all three of
us--me, Munden and Sue--decided to scrap Catkins and use her real name of
Atkins. However, for some time the "Catkins" name stuck. Hope all this
helps. Alastair"
WBAN will have a special tribute to
Alastair, and others who have contributed so much to the sport and to the
past women boxers. He will be truly missed. Sue TL Fox
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BOXING NEWS FROM
THE U.S.A.
Following on Alastair Segerdal's article on "The Acceptable Face of
Women's Boxing" in A. W 6, we have now received the following report
from our special correspondent in the States.
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EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW OF
ALASTAIR SEGERDAL
By Sue TL Fox - August 25, 2001
When I first published WBAN on the net in June of 1998, my ultimate goal
and determination was to "set the record straight" in the
History of women’s boxing.
In my research of women’s boxing, which began in Sept.of 1996, I
came across a gentleman by the name of Alastair Segerdal.
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PHOTO GALLERY
BY ALASTAIR SEGERDAL
Some of the past photographs of boxers from the 1970's and 1980's.
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