Annie Newton – Boxer 1893 – 1955.

January 1926 – National coverage is given to a scheduled boxing match between Annie Newton and Madge Baker to be held at the – Hoxton Baths – for a side stake of 25 pounds, winner take all.

The then British Home Secretary, Joynson Hicks – objecting strongly to female boxing – stepped in and banned the contest from taking place.

According to un-verified sources the fight still went ahead at a later date in private.

Annie started training in the noble art at the tender age of eight, at the family boxing club the “AJ Newton School of Arms” by her uncle, Prof A J Newton who was an ABA champion in 1888 & 1890.

The Newton’s were a show biz family and as the “Newton Midgets” they toured the most famous music halls in London, with their boxing act – which consisted of, club swinging, ball punching, with Annie playing the piano and then Annie would don her boxing gloves and spar with her brother David – followed by a boxing exhibition with her uncle.

Since public competitive boxing for women was prohibited, fights were held in private. Annie is reputed to have taken part in 50 six round contests and won them all inside the distance. Some of these contests were held in, South Africa.

Annie was a celebrity in her time and renowned as a hard and unrelenting puncher, often taking part in three round boxing exhibitions against men. She also trained and spared regularly with one of the best British boxers of the 20’s era, Nipper Pat Daly.

Annie was the only female to entre the ring at the famous, NSC – Convent Gardens (Boxing Club 1891 – 1938) considering the era, this was quite an achievement.