Mary Ann Owen is one of the most high-profile photographer that not only covered women's boxing from the 1990's but countless world boxing event of the top males in the sport. She is the author and publisher of a women's boxing book that featured many of the most prominent female boxers in the sport.

Women Boxing Archive Network (WBAN) had the pleasure of meeting Mary Ann Owen in 1998 shortly after WBAN went live on the net to cover the sport of women's boxing. From that day forward, Owen's relentless dedication to covering and giving exposure to the females and males in the sport, was nothing less than spectacular.

Mary Ann told the IWBHF of her early roots in the sport and about her live when in the 1950's.

She said, "When I was growing up in the 1950s girls where made fun for participating in sports, they were not encouraged like their male counter parts. Talented athletic girls were not considered for athletic scholarships until the Title IX was passed in 1972."

"I watched boxing with my father back in the day, of course only men were boxing, in that era women had their place and it wasn’t in the ring! A local Police Firemen Athletic league was close to my house, I went there every day to punch the speed bag, and to play volleyball."

At the same time a friend of Mary Ann's father had a dark room, and she became fascinated watching him develop film and print photos. Her parents bought her an Ansco camera, and on that day, she said that she was hooked on photography.

In 1963, her parents moved to Las Vegas, and happen to own a Cafe down the street from the famous Johnny Tocco's gym. Mary Ann said that Johnny Tocco would eat breakfast almost every morning, as she poured his coffee and she would ask the same question: "Johnny, when can I visit the gym?" and he would say to her, "  No Broads in the gym!" Mary Ann said, "my father and Johnny of course were laughing!"

"Christy Martin wasn’t even born yet, not until 1968.  In 1995, Christy Martin was the first woman to train at Johnny Tocco's gym at the request of her promoter Don King. Johnny would sit in his office and watch Christy train, before you know it, he was on the ring, the rest is history!" added Mary Ann.

Fast forwarding to 1990, Mary Ann was hired on the North Las Vegas Detention center as a Correction Officer, and to stay in shape and learn defensive skills she was involved in Martial Arts. She eventually transitioned over to boxing and found a gym close to her home called the Golden Gloves Gym where she met Roger Mayweather, in which she trained with him three times a week.

Mary Ann said, "Jim Smith ( R.I.P.) approached me when I was training with Roger, and asked if I would write an article for his local Ringside Review magazine on the women’s fight that was going to take place that week at the Orleans Hotel and Casino, the fighter, a local women named Hannah" The Vegas" Fox , I said yes, then he asked me if I could also take photos of the fight."

After the Hannah Fox vs. Hidi Tibe fight in 1997---Mary Ann was hooked as not only a writer, but a photographer, and the rest is history.

Her tireless effort and work for women's boxing cannot be measured.  She covered countless fights, throughout 22 years with photos and stories on WBAN and other major websites, and more.