Very exciting news this week with the announcement that women’s boxing is to be included in the 2012 London Olympics.

At last, my big chance! Having grudgingly accepted that I will never play football for Australia at the Olympics – and, believe me, it was once a very remote possibility when I was a teenager – perhaps this is my final shot at glory.

Yes, I am fast approaching my 40th birthday and, yes, I have less than 10 weeks’ experience behind me but do you think I’m going to let a few minor details stand in my way?

And just think – when I’m standing on the podium in Stratford in three years accepting my silver medal (well obviously not gold – I’m not deluded), I can pay tribute to Scot and Naomi from BoxLondon, where it all began.

In all seriousness, though, this news is sure to start some interesting debate. We’ve already had Amir Khan’s views on women getting in the ring: “Deep down, I think women shouldn't fight. That's my opinion. When you get hit, it's very painful. Women can get knocked out.”

I’m sure all the female boxers in Britain who no doubt cheered on the Boltonian as he was punching his way to a silver medal in Athens in 2004 would thank Khan for his sentiments but, leaving that aside, it’s always an interesting one when men claim women cannot stand the same sort of physical pain as them.

I’ve used this example before in the feminist cause but it seems a particularly apt one in these circumstances.

Can you imagine fellow Arsenal centre-half William Gallas playing for 50 minutes with a broken nose as England Women’s captain Faye White did in the 2007 World Cup quarter-finals against the US after being caught by a stray elbow?

No, he would’ve been straight off to the nearest plastic surgeon for a touch-up.

And what rubbish pointing out that women can get knocked out. So, what? Men can’t get knocked out?

And all this from someone who admits he has never even seen a women’s fight!

Boxing was the one remaining sport in the Olympics in which women could not compete and, for that reason alone, the International Olympic Committee is to be applauded.

The sport will always have its detractors (and, as I have written in previous blogs, I was one myself before I started at BoxLondon) but their criticisms should be directed at the sport as a whole, not just a female fighters.

Right, time to get down off my soapbox and start planning my training programme for the next three years. London 2012, here I come!

Weight loss so far: 1 stone