31 years taken to modify Italy’s law against women boxers
1,000 professional female boxers, Finland
400 professional female boxers, France
10 number of rounds in women’s matches
1 superstar Italian female boxer

Katia Bellillo, former minister for equal opportunity noted for having uppercut Alessandra Mussolini on TV, considers her battle won. Starting this week, Italian women will be allowed to duke it out professionally. Bellillo, who took up boxing four months ago, told news agency ANSA: “It’s one less form of discrimination, it’s absurd a law prohibited women from boxing.” Italy’s female boxing culture has a way to go: so far it boasts only one recognized athlete of professional stature, Sicilian Francesca Lupo. The change in law means Lupo will likely represent Italy in the upcoming European Women’s Boxing Championship in April.
*Source: Italian Boxing Assoc., FPI (Federazione Pugilistica Italiana)
www.fpi.it
www.womanaffairs.org/cultura/boxe.html
A profile of Francesca Lupo