The Mighty Atom: The Woman Who Punched Through History

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 made history in 1957 as the first officially recognised female world champion, claiming titles in both bantamweight and flyweight divisions, and becoming the first woman to fight on American national television.
But her greatest impact came beyond the ropes. Barbara went on to found the Women's International Boxing Federation, laying the foundations for the modern sport and inspiring generations of champions, from Nicola Adams to Katie Taylor.
Barbara's life reads like a film script. From a Yorkshire working-class girl hiding her gloves from disapproving parents to a global trailblazer who reshaped sporting history.
Written with long-time friend Jimmy Finn, The Mighty Atom is Billy Elliot meets Rocky. A story of grit, resilience, and relentless belief - one of the most important untold sporting stories of our time.
288 pages.
Date of Publication: 11/03/2027