Progression of women’s boxing

 I am sure you will all agree that the 2012 London Olympics was an amazing event that showcased a variety of talented athletes including  British boxers like Natasha Jonas and Nicola Adams. But did you know it was the first time that women’s boxing made its debut at an Olympic event since the games began? Yes, it took that long for women boxers to be to be accepted by the Olympic committee.
Boxing is a very popular  sport which has been primary dominated by men, however this  is slowly beginning to change as more women are introduced to the sport with 40% of gyms offering boxing classes for women. Female boxing has come a long way from centuries ago when the sport used to be seen as a man’s sport and in some areas its still is. Boxing used to carry a cultural stereotype that it was a testosterone sport that only men fought, trained and cheered while women were not supposed to.
In the 1720s London staged the first women fights, where they punched, used their feet and knees to kick all parts of their opponents body. This led  to serious injuries for the fighters.  But an increasing amount of restrictions were being placed against female boxers which led to various women boxers protesting and lawsuits filed against boxing associations. This included Marian “Lady Tiger” Trimar who staged a month long hunger strike backing for better recognition, pay and conditions of women boxing in 1987.
It wasn’t until 1993 when Boxing  in the USA fully recognized and accepted female boxers in their regulations. In 1996 the UK followed suit when the Amateur Boxing Association of England lifted its 116 year ban. Some of the greatest female boxers that have helped increase the profile of female boxing are Regina Halmich, Lucia Rijker, Ann Wolfe, Laila Ali and Giselle Salandy.
In 2009 the International Olympic committee finally voted to lift the ban on women’s boxing since the Olympic Games started 2,700 years ago. There are certain rules that women have to follow before a fight tournament, women are not allowed to wear cosmetic make up during a fight, a negative pregnancy test has to be provided before a fight and hair should be tired up. Also, they have to wear the right boxing shorts and tops. Women’s fights are limited to a maximum of 10 rounds with each fight only lasting 3 minutes long with one minute rest. The weight classes are still the same for men and women.
So the next time you are heading for a boxing workout class or even considering to try out the sport, be proud. Be confident and have fun  as you do it because some special women won the battle for your right to be in that ring wearing those gloves.