Hessie Donahue was just trying to be a good wife. So in 1892, when her husband, a boxing promoter, was at an exhibition in Arkansas promoting legendary fighter John L. Sullivan, and there were no volunteers to do a little sparring, Hessie agreed to climb into the ring. However, John tagged Hessie’s nose a little too hard. She got mad, hauled off and belted him; and down went for the count. Mak...
