Boxing workouts is big business for gyms all around the UK. In the last 5 years this ancient sport has become the fastest growing form of fitness workouts, which has taken inspiration from the professional world of boxing.

It is often associated with big athletic, working class males, whose dream it is to be a world class boxer. And there are many amazing rags to riches stories to tell from the greats like Muhammad Ali and Mike Tyson.

Up until 1996 it was extremely difficult for women to fight at amateur or professional level. Licences have to be approved before a female boxer can enter a tournament and fight professionally.

But times have changed and the 116 year-old ban that made it illegal for women to be boxers was dropped in 1996 by the Amateur Boxing Association in England. Women can now compete just like their male counterparts at big tournaments like the forthcoming 2012 Olympics in London.

There are now specialist boxing clubs that take on women who want to become amateur or professional boxers. Mainstream films like: Million Dollar Baby starring Hilary Swank probably started a new phenomenon for women that are now attending fitness centres to do boxing classes across the UK. It’s not only fun, but this fitness craze also emulates fighting techniques in a safe environment.

In fact it is more common now for qualified instructors to set up boxing classes on the request from female members, “I was motivated by others and tried it, found that it really made me sweat within minutes, very unusual. I often use a punch bag in my work outs,” says Camilla Holland, a fitness instructor who works in Potters Bar, Hertfordshire.

Other sports like football, tennis and golf have been dominated both at amateur and professional level by men. Boxing is the last male dominated sport to be open to women to fight at professional level. Although it used to be a male dominated sport, there are more professional female boxers like: Britain’s first professional boxing champion Jane Couch and USA’s Ann Wolfe who holds several world championships medals in three different weight categories.

This fierce and brutal ancient sport that dates back to 1720 has gained more attention from girls than ever before. It’s a popular alternative workout to the regular aerobic classes. “It’s often girls that dominate these classes with a few men taking part,” admits Camilla.

Justin Steel, a personal trainer, at Parkwood Fitness Centre in Hertfordshire says, “Boxing is a cheap and effective form of training. It’s great for releasing aggression but the legal way!”

Neat cornrow hair and the traditional punching techniques have inspired girls, but it is all done under supervision and in a controlled and in a safe environment. It’s exciting, challenging and very different way to work out.

When gloves were first worn in fights they were traditionally made of brown leather, but today it’s a different story as girls can be seen wearing pink, red and white boxing gloves. Classes are jazzy, funky and choreographed to hip hop music, encouraging more girls to get fit, have fun and be healthy doing boxing moves like; upper cut, the hook and the jab.

The risks at amateur and professional level according to medical research can cause mental illnesses, because of the repeated blows to the head. But women still want to fight, from junior through to light-heavyweight level risking injuries and mental illnesses. The most common ones are: Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and Dementia pugilistica (DP) – medical term for “punch drunk syndrome” (punchy).

Justin says,” If women are good enough why can’t they be a professional boxer? People know what they are getting into, so if it worries you don’t do it.”

“If I saw a girl that had strong potential to be a professional boxer then I would encourage her, if that’s what she wanted to do,” says Camilla “Although I would warn her, about the risks of head injury and broken noses!”

Why choose this particular sport? Because there are many health benefits to boxing, “It’s a form of cardiovascular exercise that works the heart, lungs and the main muscle groups. It improves speed agility, co-ordination and muscle strength. It is also a great form of self defence and provides you with that little bit of extra confidence,” says Justin.

Many people that train at the gym using boxing/kickboxing techniques do so for this very reason. He says, “I picked boxing for self defence. I did a stint of door work, for a bar in London and I know what people are like when they have had a few drinks. I also picked it for fitness purposes. It improves your cardio respiratory system (heart and lungs) as well as toning your muscles. It’s good for mental toughness and co-ordination.”

“For women especially it toughens them up and also sculptures the body and adds depth to their character,” says Camilla. ”As ladies like to participate in predominately male sports to show they can be just as good.”

The recent increase in crime rates has made boxing an alternative sport for self defence and general fitness, even more popular. In the gym it has moved away from the brutal, dangerous and in some cases unregulated craft geared at the underclass male of the 1930s.

So it looks like boxing is here to stay as a form of working out, it’s a good release for stress, its challenging and girls seems to like it. I must say that I definitely enjoy my weekly classes and I always rise to the challenge to be one of the boys.