1 of 25 Known as the "European Championess," Elizabeth Wilkinson enjoyed a six-year career as boxer. For her final bout, she was paid ten pounds, a healthy sum in 1728. VICE

2 of 25 A woman trains with gloves and bags in 1890. Underwood Archives/Getty Images

3 of 25 Two women pose in a boxing stance, circa 1900. Women's boxing at this time was more a choreographed affair featuring only some light punches — to better align it with Victorian sensibilities. Flickr/Powerhouse_museum

4 of 25 A photo of the Gordon sisters from The New York Clipper, November 15, 1902. The fighting sisters were featured in a short silent film directed by Thomas Edison called The Gordon Sisters Boxing. Library of Congress

5 of 25 Two women train at a boxing school in Berlin, Germany, circa 1909. ullstein bild/ullstein bild via Getty Images

6 of 25 Boxers Rose Edwards (left) and Fraulein Kussin (right) trade punches on March 7, 1912. PhotoQuest/Getty Images

7 of 25 The Bennett sisters were both boxers and wrestlers. This photo is thought to be from their vaudeville act, circa 1910-1915. Wikimedia Commons

8 of 25 In this still from the film Gloria's Romance, actress Billie Burke (left) boxes with several other woman in a gymnasium, circa 1916. Library of Congress/Corbis/VCG via Getty Images

9 of 25 A crowd of onlookers, including English boxer Bombardier Billy Wells (between the two contestants), watch two women box at a garden fete in Hampstead, north London, 1922. Topical Press Agency/Getty Images

10 of 25 Two women passengers box aboard the Cunard liner Berengaria, watched by fellow passengers and an officer. 1923. Topical Press Agency/Getty Images

11 of 25 American boxer Joe Rivers spars with Louise Adler, the women's lightweight champion of the world, during a training session before she defends her title. 1926. Topical Press Agency/Getty Images

12 of 25 Female boxer Annie Newton poses in a face-off with five men. In 1925, Newton took part in a boxing tournament in Edmonton in which she sparred with three different men, giving them two rounds each. Fox Photos/Getty Images

13 of 25 This photo from Sports Illustrated depicts women's rooftop boxing, popular in California in the 1930s. Flickr/x-ray_delta_one

14 of 25 A young female boxer poses in the upright stance, circa 1935. General Photographic Agency/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

15 of 25 Two women spar with boxing gloves on their hands and feet in a New York nightclub, circa 1938. ullstein bild/ullstein bild via Getty Images

16 of 25 [Original Caption] "A shorthand typist by day, Barbara Buttrick is a short jab artist by night when she takes her lessons. Blonde 19 year old Barbara came to London from Hull, full of the ambition to be a boxer. She went to Wally May, famed trainer of professionals, and told him her problem. He was skeptical, but he tried her out with the mitts. Now he's enthusiastic about the 'lady leather-pusher.' She intends to start a boxing club for women and is drawing up a special set of rules." 1948. Bettmann/Getty Images

17 of 25 Barbara Buttrick trains with a sand bag in 1948. Keystone-France/Gamma-Keystone via Getty Images

18 of 25 Barbara Buttrick poses during training at London's Mayfair Gym on February 4, 1949. Allsport Hulton/Archive/Getty Images

19 of 25 The Italian women's boxing champion celebrates after knocking out the London champion during an international match in Stockholm, Sweden, 1952. Keystone/Getty Images

20 of 25 Two women boxing circa 1955. Three Lions/Getty Images

21 of 25 Poster promoting milk for energy and health, showing a young woman who has just knocked out her adversary. Circa 1955-1960. SSPL/Getty Images

22 of 25 A female boxer pummels her sparring partner, who she has backed into a corner, circa 1969. Underwood Archives/Getty Images

23 of 25 Christy Martin (right) lands a blow on Deidre Gogarty during a bout in Las Vegas, Nevada on March 16, 1996. This fight was shown on cable TV, prior to a Mike Tyson bout. Martin won the fight with a decision in the sixth round, and appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated shortly after. Al Bello/Allsport/Getty Images

24 of 25 Laila Ali, daughter of professional boxer Muhammed Ali, dances over April Fowler as she lays on the canvas during a fight at Turning Stone Casino in Verona, New York on Oct. 8, 1999. Ali defeated Fowler by a KO in the first round. Al Bello/Allsport/Getty Images