But what about Christy Martin? What about Lucia Rijker?

For those who don't know, they're two of the top women boxers in the world.

Despite the growth that women's boxing has experienced in the last year, the attitude still exists that women should stay out of this seemingly unladylike sport.

What society deems acceptable for women does not include throwing punches or even talking about it. There must be something wrong, then, with the women who do these things, right?

Wrong.

Women boxers exhibit the same aggressive and fearless attitude as men. They also show the same showmanship and determination.

The only difference is a pre-fight one - women are given a pregnancy test before stepping into the ring.

But there are still those who want to keep women out of the sport.

The British Boxing Board of Control refused to grant a boxing license to Jane Couch, the women's world welterweight champion.

The board felt that women should not be licensed to box because pre-menstrual tension causes them to be unstable.

Biting a part of an opponent's ear off isn't unstable?

Couch claimed sexual discrimination against the board, and in March the industrial tribunal ruled in her favor.

Even after fighting to get in the ring, acceptance for women boxers doesn't come easily.

When society sees women with that much body mass, throwing punches, the first reaction is to label them as lesbians.

But what does sexual preference have to do with it? Nothing.

These are just women in great shape who feel confident enough about themselves to get in the ring and release their aggressive nature. Society isn't used to seeing that.

Some view this as invading one of the last male-dominated areas of life. People complain that women boxers aren't as skilled as the men.

The truth is that they aren't.

But it's hard to become good without experience. These women are only beginners.

There are fewer than 15 women in the nation who have fought professionally at least 15 times. They lack training, experience and competition. But any sport needs time to grow.

Some also think of women boxers as a type of added entertainment that's not part of the real show.

"It's a freaky sideshow in the real men's world of boxing," said Julie Morgan, co-host of the Women's Boxing Page. "Show a little more skin, wear those shorts a bit shorter and tighter, and hey this could really be something...."

But women's boxing should first and foremost be seen as a sport. The appearance of the boxers should not even be taken into consideration. They are athletes, not models.

Let the ring card girl do her job.

And let the women box.

The opinions of the staff writers do not necessarily reflect the views of the Daily Kent Stater