Couch's difficult fight for respect

The young fighter appears anxious as his trainer laces on the gloves in preparation for a sparring session. He outweighs his opponent by a good 40 pounds and has an undeniable edge in strength and power, but knows that he is to receive a daunting test not only of his ability as a boxer, but of his very manhood. He is about to enter the ring with Jane Couch, Britain's only female world boxing champion.

Three rough, hostile, uncompromising rounds later it is all smiles, the two embracing in mutual respect and, from the male perspective, a sense of relief. In preparation for the defence of her Women's International Boxing Federation welterweight title in New Orleans on Sunday, Couch has dispatched a succession of cocksure training partners whose aura of masculine superiority has been rudely shattered by the champion's relentless aggression.

"Some people laugh at women's boxing, but they'd better not laugh at me," the 28-year-old from Fleetwood said, "I've sparred with lads who've had 60 or more fights, and they can't even hurt me. I'd give the average six-round male professional a run for his money, and there aren't many women who can say that."

Couch represents the legitimate face of female pugilism, a woman whose dedication to her craft has meant leaving her Lancashire home for life on a farm in Bristol owned by her trainer, Tex Woodward. Here she is subjected to a spartan regime of conditioning which has transformed her from a crude brawler into a polished boxer. "The discipline does my head in," she complained. "I'm not used to being in bed by 10.30 every night, and doing what I'm told."

It is a far cry from the girl who always seemed to be getting into fights at school, and whose nose for trouble meant that mayhem was never far away. "I'm not a violent person, but I was brought up to look after myself, and if someone gave you any lip, you'd fill 'em in." One day she saw a television documentary on women boxers, and realised that here was a way of combining business with pleasure.

"I didn't know women could box and to be honest, I thought that if you can fight - which I could - you could just go ahead and do it. I didn't realise you had to train hard and work at it." Couch made her debut in Wigan two years ago, taking particular delight in knocking out a London policewoman inside two rounds. Three further victories followed before she was invited to challenge for the world title in Denmark against the Frenchwoman Sandra Giger last May.

It was grim stuff, Couch, right eye swollen and blackened, ultimately breaking Giger's nose and spirit over 10 gruelling rounds which revealed both her strengths and weaknesses. "Giger was better, stronger and more experienced but couldn't cope with Jane's relentless aggression," Woodward said. "Jane had energy, heart and personality, but couldn't box. However, she is highly intelligent, and a quick learner. I've tried to show her that there is more to boxing than just whacking somebody, and she's responded."

All of which will be essential if she is to prevail in New Orleans against the vastly experienced Andrea DeShong. Female boxing is acknowledged and accepted in the United States; the rugged Christy Martin is a regular on Don King promotions, and is probably the best-known woman boxer in the world (the Couch camp feigns indifference to the knowledge that DeShong is the only person to have defeated the formidable New Yorker).

As a consequence, American women have greater opportunities to pursue their careers than their counterparts in the United Kingdom, where prejudices run deep and the typical reaction to women fighting is one of disdain. "The British have a bad attitude to women in sport generally, not just in boxing," Couch said. "I meet people who criticise female boxing all the time, yet they've never seen it, and aren't aware of the work that goes into it. You'd think that people would be proud of having a world champion, but instead, they're very quick to knock."

Couch believes that greater exposure will help women's boxing achieve a greater degree of respectability in this country. Female fights on male shows are commonplace in the US: success against DeShong could lead to the Fleetwood woman being invited on to a major British promotion.

That is also the ambition of another British fighter who will be appearing in New Orleans. Having progressed through kung fu and kick boxing, Cheryl Robertson, a 29-year-old mother of two from West Bromwich, is hoping to become the WIBF's bantamweight champion. "Winning won't change my life just yet," she said, "but if it helps the powers in the UK to include women in their events, then it could be the start of something big."

But big money is likely to elude them for some time. Couch will earn just $2,000 (pounds 1,265) for defending her title, admitting that a full-time job would provide a more reliable means of making a living. Instead, she supplements meagre ring earnings with television appearances, her exuberant personality a natural fit for the small screen.

Even in the States, women are now finding their earning potential being called into question. Martin, the game's most bankable name, was absent from King's last promotion, officially with an injury. However, there have been dark murmurings that she was dropped after demanding a purse of $100,000.

Couch remains undaunted, confident in her ability to make it both in the ring and as a personality. "I've got to keep the title, because no one will want to know me if I lose," she said.

"But when I first saw that documentary, I promised myself that I'd become a world champion, and be rich and famous. I've got the title and a bit of fame, all I need now is the money."

In a business infamous for the exploitation of its participants, that might turn out to be the toughest fight of all.