As Women's Boxing Prepares For Olympic Debut, Female Boxers Emerge From Shadows

NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 04: Female boxer Heather Hardy hits the heavy bag as she trains at Gleason's Gym on April 4, 2012 in New York City. Hardy, a 30 year old single mother who wants to turn pro, has been boxing seriously for two years after discovering the sport through kick boxing and yoga. The International Olympic Committee Executive Board has allowed the sport of women's boxing to be added to the schedule for the 2012 Olympic Games in London, England. This will mark the first time that all of the summer Olympic sports will have female participants. Women's boxing saw strong growth in the 1990's as other professional sports such as basketball and soccer saw women sports leagues such as the WNBA and the WUSA take off in popularity. This year also marks the 40th anniversary of the passing of Title IX, a piece of legislation that required equal treatment for women in high school and collegiate athletics and prohibits sex discrimination in schools. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)