The Mighty Atom

For over 70 years, Barbara Buttrick didn't just fight opponents - she fought the system. Barbara Buttrick says: "It will soon be 70 years since I became the first female world boxing champion - at a time when women's boxing was illegal and deemed inappropriate. To now see stars like Katie Taylor and Nicola Adams celebrated around the world is extraordinary. To every young girl I say this: follow your dreams, no matter what." Born in a Yorkshire village in 1929 and just 4 feet 11 inches, she became the first woman in history to win a world boxing title, and the driving force behind women's boxing becoming a recognised global sport. Nicknamed "The Mighty Atom," Barbara proved that greatness has nothing to do with size. In the 1940s and 50s, when women were banned from the ring and ridiculed for daring to box, Barbara took to fairgrounds and men's clubs across Britain. She didn't ask for permission. She earned respect. Barbara took that fight to America. Turning professional, Barbara