No these are not lingerie models pretending to fight, but actual female boxers. They are in bras for the weighing in ceremony before the boxing match. The blonde is Regina Halmich of Germany, while on the right is her opponent Hagar Shmoulefeld Finer from Israel; they are both professional boxers.
Regina Halmich has now retired, with a record of 54 wins in 56 professional fights, and this photo is from her last boxing match back in 2007. Some other countries do not recognize female boxing, amateur or professional, as a sport. The US allowed female boxing only in 1993 and the UK in 1997. Amateur female boxing may be included in the 2012 London Olympics as a sport.
Natasha Jonas (below right) fights Alanna Murphy at the women’s ABA finals in Manchester this month. Light-welterweight Natasha Jonas won her third national title with an emphatic 17-1 points win over the Army’s Alanna Murphy. Natasha Jonas has made her place in the prospective English women’s squad for the 2012 Olympics: "It’s a massive decision and we’re all keeping our fingers crossed because if we got into the Olympics the gyms would just pack out overnight. It is the biggest thing that could ever happen to the sport. I got into boxing because I liked it, not because I thought I was going to make anything of it. I never even thought I’d box for England, let alone go to the Olympics. But as things went on I started to believe it and now I want it more than anything."
Even though amateur boxing is fought with protective headgear, medical experts believe that female breasts are sensitive and vulnerable to damage from punches. Doctors believe that blows to the breasts can lead to nodules which are difficult to distinguish from breast cancer, the most common form of cancer for women.
The Daily Mail reported in February that Sarah Blewden (above left) was banned from amateur boxing, because she had got breast implants, by the Amateur Boxing Association of England. "Amateur boxing is not about knocking people out, it is about scoring points through skill. It is great at keeping you fit. I have been told I am good at it and I just want the chance to go on in the sport," said Sarah. She is still pleading her case, asking if she could wear a breast protector (above right).
Apart from boxing, martial arts, and fencing, breast protectors are also used in many non-contact sports like football and basketball, where the ball can accidentally hit the chest. And similarly in softball and baseball, where at high speeds the ball can be dangerous to the sensitive breasts.Female boxing as a workout
Boxing as a workout is just like dancing; you move with rhythm, learn new techniques, and let out aggression. It is a cardiovascular exercise, which is known by many names, like recreational boxing, non-contact boxing, or shadow boxing. Actually shadow boxing is the throwing of punches while dodging and weaving around; the complete boxing workout also includes stretching, rope jumping, pummeling the bags, doing sit-ups and push-ups. The objective is to keep your body moving in continuous intense workouts.
Most women are happy with boxing as a workout; but for those who relish some actual contact, the training partner puts on heavily padded mitts, letting you punch away at them. Boxing can burn 900 calories in one hour and it works on the transverse abdominal muscle, which gives women their hourglass figure.
Many female celebrities use boxing as a workout; among these boxing girls Adriana Lima, athletic model Marisa Miller, and cute Doutzen Kroes. Another boxing enthusiast is Karolina Kurkova who is also dating male heavyweight boxing champion Wladmir Klitschko.
In an interview while promoting Victoria's Secret Doutzen Kroes (above photo) said: "We do shadow boxing. We don't really hit anyone. But I still take my aggression out on a bad day sometimes and pretend I'm hitting someone who wasn't nice to me." Adriana goes: "Yeah, it's awesome. I've tried everything, and treadmills get boring. Boxing is very energizing and it makes you thinner and more muscular."
