AllMovie

Director Leyla Leidecker's documentary follows eight female pugilists as they compete to become the 2005 Golden Gloves champion and attempt to overcome the common prejudice that boxing is an exclusively male sport. Ever since the sport of boxing became popular, women have been struggling to find their place in the ring. It wasn't until 1994, when the ACLU threatened a civil lawsuit, that women were officially recognized as legitimate pugilists. The following year, women across the United States were stringing up their gloves and taking a swing at one of the most physically taxing sports around. So why did it take so long for this to happen? In addition to speaking with eight of the biggest names in female boxing, director Leidecker (who sparred with Hilary Swank as the actress prepared for her Oscar-winning role) also turns the clock back to explore the pummeling that these fighters were forced to endure as they fought their way up from obscurity.