Boxing has long been dominated by men, however, more and more women are stepping into the ring and proving they can be tough competitors — not an easy feat in a world dominated by machismo and male athletes.

In fact, the recent hype surrounding women’s boxing, fueled by the recent phenomena of daughters of boxing legends entering the ring, casts a shadow on half a century of boxing history — The 50’s actually marked the crowning of the first women’s worldboxing champion.

Decades later with the success of films such as “Girlfight” and the Oscar-winning “Million Dollar Baby,” the stigma cast on women boxing continues to fade, but not completely, as boxers like Irichelle Duran, daughter of Panamanian boxer Roberto Duran, Laila Ali (Muhammad Ali), Freeda Foreman (George Foreman) and Jackie Frazier-Lyde (Joe Frazier) still have to face the stereotypes surrounding women boxers.

This stereotype is especially hard for Latina boxers

Former featherweight title-holder Bonnie “The Cobra” Canino is considered to be one of the pioneers of boxing. The Florida native has helped kick the doors open for many future contenders and remains active in boxing, as a trainer mentoring young hopefuls. Faced with few opportunities at the start of her career, the Latina boxer was initially forced to turn to another form of fighting.

“When I first started,” Canino said, “they didn’t allow any boxing for a woman, I didn’t hear of anything, so I joined this karate school and they allowed me to put on gloves. I was the top girl in the point circuit … I heard about women kickboxing. By 1985, I, I won my first North American title. Then I went up winning two world titles in Women’s Kickboxing … and two world titles in Women’s Boxing.”

Bianca “La Gatita” Ledezma is a young rising boxing star whose swift moves and powerful punches have garnered the Texan praise in the amateur arena. She is also the daughter of a former boxer known as “El Gato,” now her coach, and has earned a slew of impressive medals, turning pro in 2005.

“I started boxing at fourteen-years-old,” Ledezma said. “I always told my dad that I wanted to become a boxer.”

Emilio Ledezma, her father, said his daughter stepped in at a young age asking him to teach her as well as the other children.

More than just physical, boxing is also a mental sport that requires strategic expertise.

“Seriously, seriously to go somewhere ...