The gloves are on - Irish women boxers fight to go to the Olympics

Their aim is to make female boxing part of the 2012 games in London.

They are putting as much muscle as they can behind the campaign to gain recognition.

Anya Norman, development officer for women's boxing with the Irish Amateur Boxing Association, believes passionately in her sport.

"If Ireland wants to have women boxers at the 2012 Olympics, we need national championships. We don't run national championships yet, but we will, that is our long-term plan," she said.

She pointed out that women's involvement in the sport was nothing new.

Laila Ali has helped make women's boxing popular

"Girls have not been out of boxing, they have had a pause since the 20th Century, we had female boxing in the Olympics in 1904," she said.

The sport has increased in popularity in recent years thanks to boxers like Laila Ali and Jaqueline Frazier-Lyde - daughters of boxing legends and old rivals Muhammed Ali and Joe Frazier.

In Coleraine at the weekend, 20 of the top sportswomen from the north and south of Ireland took part in a special training camp.

Trainer Ian McSorley who has been coaching Sandy Row Amateur Boxing Club for eight years said he wasn't surprised by the female interest.

"It is equality nowadays," he said, adding that boxing was a safe sport for both sexes.

"In boxing, rules are stringent, medicals are stringent, in my time I haven't seen any serious injuries, the sport wouldn't want that... it is going back to the old art to hit and not be hit."

Among the young women taking part in the training camp was Caroline Connolly from Strabane.

Having seven brothers probably prompted her interest in boxing, she said.

Women boxed in the 1904 Olympics

"I was going to join when I was 13, but my brother who was in the boxing club at the time didn't want me as he said they'd laugh at me," she said.

She joined later, loved it and confessed she has become "immune to pain".

European lightweight champion Katie Taylor from Wicklow has already enjoyed success.

"It is a very tough sport, but I love the training," she said.

"The best thing is winning the gold medal, standing up on the podium and hearing your national anthem. There is nothing like it."

She, too, would like to see her sport feature in the Olympics. It is about equality after all.

"Men are allowed to box, so women should be allowed to as well," she said.

"Hopefully, in London in 2012, we will be classed as an Olympic sport."