OLYMPIC RECOGNITION

Wang said today's men did not mind women who pursued boxing and that, besides, it kept them trim.

Shi Hongning from Henan province is among the best of the women boxing under Wang and remains deeply ambitious, though she says possible Olympic recognition of the sport would come too late for her.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) last year rejected a proposal to include women's boxing in the 2008 Beijing Games but said the sport's governing body could resubmit its bid for inclusion before the 2012 London Olympics.

"By 2012 I will be 30 and that's too old for boxing, but I will compete in India," said Shi, referring to an international annual contest.

Women's boxing was included in the 1904 Olympic Games in St. Louis in the United States, though only as an exhibition sport.

China's men won their first Olympic boxing medal in Athens in 2004 when Zou Shiming took a shared bronze after losing his semi-final bout against Cuba's Yan Bhartelemy Varela by 29 points to 17.

Shi said she believed men and women could fight each other in the future.

"You know, I think one day women could be fighting against the men -- so long as you're about the same level it's really not a problem," she said.