(APRIL 15) Move over Floyd Patterson. I’ll be “Ladies First” Thursday night at South Bend St., Joseph gym with the world’s boxing championship up for grabs! The occasion, mind you, is by no means a powder puff session or a new comedy act. Matched for the title bout are challenger Phyllis Kugler, a former Nilesite now making her home in South Bend, and champion Jo Ann Verhagen (Hagen), a native of Akron, Ohio, who also resides in South Bend.
[JoAnn Hagen was inducted into the International WOMEN’S Boxing Hall of Fame in 2014 – Kugler was inducted in 2015.]
Both of the attractive but dangerous feminine scrappers gained rapid popularity in the area and nation this year with appearances on two well-known television shows, “What’s My Line” and the Steve Allen variety show.
The Women’s title bout, a scheduled four-rounder, will be the feature attraction on a variety show card which will also present musical acts and a women’s tag team wrestling match.
Four Niles women, who have presented comic wrestling shows at the Niles Eagles Lodge and other area spots this year, are slated for the tag team match. They are Erma Arnold, Bonnie Aurand, Marge Higginbothom, and Clara Yaw.
Miss Verhagen (Hagen) will weigh in at 122 pounds for her title defense and will therefore give away four pounds to her 126-lb challenger. The 28-year old boxing queen is five feet, seven inches tall. Her 22-year old opponent stands at five feet, five inches.
MISS KUGLER, an underdog in the feminine fight show, is managed
by Johnny Nate, of South Bend, a former pro puncher of the Henry Armstrong era.Nate performed in Niles several times and later managed Niles Joe Frucci to the national heavyweight finals in the Golden Gloves.
The article goes on to say that Kugler had one year of experience in the ring, versus Hagen who had been boxing for eight years. Hagen was going into the fight as the “champion” and Kugler as the “challenger.”