Lifestyle - Lifestyle Feature

POSTED: Sunday, Nov. 16, 2008

Malloy wins historic decision

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED OCT. 31, 1993

LYNNWOOD — Bellingham teen-ager Dallas Malloy now has two boxing victories.

Her first was against amateur boxing officials who didn't want to see her enter the ring. Her second came Saturday night against Heather Poyner of Ferndale.

Malloy, 16, who filed a lawsuit to open amateur boxing to women in the United States, was awarded a 5-0 decision in her historic match against Poyner at Edmonds Community College.

"You don't think,; you just do what you have to do," Malloy said after pummeling Poyner with every kind of punch, including a jarring right uppercut that caused the referee to give Poyner a stand eight-count in the second round of the three-round event.

"In my martial arts training, I learned that if it doesn't make you go down, eat it, just take it," Poyner, 23, said of the punches she took while gamely fighting back. "I just took too many and didn't throw enough myself."

Malloy entered the gym to the blaring song "We Will Rock You" wearing blue trunks, white boxing shoes and draped in the American flag. The majority of the crowd cheered for her and flashes black and orange cards that said "GO DALLAS."

Poyner's voracious followers, wearing black T-shirts emblazoned with "Poyner Power" answered with their own noise. And their fighter, dressed in black, gave them plenty to shout about early.

Poyner scored with several clean left jabs early in the first round. But as the fight bore on so did Malloy, who made Poyner's white headgear snap back several times.

After she got her decision, Malloy hugged ACLU lawyer Suzanne Thomas, who delivered a speech to the fans before the fight explaining the legal maneuvers that made the historic bout possible.

After the fight, Malloy gave Poyner a bouquet of roses and the fighters hugged.