Ted Tanner, chairman of Boxing Australia, claimed in an interview published today in The Herald Sun in Melbourne that the standard was now so high that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) would let it make its debut in London.

 

He said: "All the advice I'm getting is that it will be included in London."

 

Boxing is currently the only discipline in the summer Games in which women are not represented.

 

Tanner said: "I think it was old values that held women's boxing back."

 

Among the Australian women boxers hoping Tanner is right is Michaela Ng, a 30-year-old hairdresser.

 

She said: "I think if I could go to the Olympics that would be the best thing that ever happened to me.

 

"My dream has always been to go but I didn't think it could be a reality."

 

An estimated 30,000 women from 120 countries box competitively.

 

Last year's World Championships in Russia attracted 152 boxers from 28 countries.

 

To read the full article visit http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,24022061-2863,00.html.