Olympic hopefuls set for punch-up tune-up

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Canada will this week get a glimpse of what women's boxing will look like when it makes its Olympic debut at the London Games this summer.

Some 65 boxers from 15 countries – many of them Olympic medal contenders – will fight in Cornwall, Ont., starting Wednesday at the American Boxing Confederation Women's Elite Continental Championships.

It is a tune-up for next month's women's world boxing championships in Qinhuangdao, China – the only qualifying event for the 2012 Olympics, which will give berths to the top eight fighters from the three Olympic weight classes (51 kilograms, 60 kg, 75 kg).

As bouts take place nightly through Saturday at the NAV Centre, here are some fighters (many serious contenders this summer in London) to watch:

Mary Spencer

The Windsor, Ont., native is a three-time world champ, a Pan American Games gold medalist and one of Canada's brightest hopes for London. She fights in the 75-kg weight class and has been coached for the last decade by Charlie Stewart, who has led Canadian male boxers to the last three Olympics.

Mandy Bujold

Also a gold medalist at the 2011 Pan Ams, this 24-year-old from Waterloo, Ont., contends in the 51-kg class and is a seven-time Canadian champ. She is coming off an intense training camp in Sweden, where she battled alongside European Olympic hopefuls.

Sandra Bizier

The 32-year-old from Stoneham, Que., grabbed a bronze at the 2011 Pan Ams, and then repeated as national champion, using her speed to knockoff 2010 national champ Susan Hass – a fighter who just came down a weight class – in the 60-kg final.

Yenebier Guillen

Dominican Republic boxer advanced all the way to the gold-medal final at the Pan Am Games last October, before getting beat by Canada's Spencer by a score of 15-11.

Quanitta Underwood

Seattle fighter is a six-time U.S. champion and a bronze medalist at the 2010 worlds. She recently revealed her heart-wrenching story of sexual abuse at the hands of her father, and is now a determined public voice for other survivors.

Claressa Shields

Unbridled 16-year-old was the story of the recent U.S. Olympic team trials. A native of Flint, Mich., and the daughter of a street fighter, she rolled through the 75-kg class unbeaten to become national champion and was named the event's most outstanding fighter.

Marlen Esparza

The 22-year-old from Houston has won a total of six U.S championships in two weight classes. She moved up to the 51-kg Olympic flyweight standard just two years ago, but that hasn't stopped her relentless drive toward London.

Erika Cruz

Mexican 60-kg fighter knocked Canada's Bizier out of the Pan Am Games in the semi-finals, going on to claim silver.

Kiria Tapia

Boxer from Puerto Rico took the gold medal in the 60-kg class at the Pan Am Games, defeating Mexico's Cruz.