Rita Bullwinkel's novel Headshot depicts the intensity and intimacy of a girl's boxing tournament. Although women's boxing was only officially introduced to the Olympics in 2012 and was banned by the USA Boxing organization before 1993, accounts of women boxing date back to the 1700s. Here are just a few of the trailblazing women boxers throughout the history of the sport.

Nell Saunders and Rose Harland

These two competed in the first known women's bout in the United States, taking place in New York City in 1876. The prize? A silver butter dish.

Cathy ("Cat") Davis

Davis, born in 1952, was the first woman to be featured on the cover of the boxing magazine Ring, in 1978. She also, along with fellow boxers Marian Trimiar and Jackie Tonawanda, successfully challenged the state of New York for the right to box there. Unfortunately, her legacy was tarnished when her manager/boyfriend, Sal Algieri, was accused of "fixing" the results of boxing matches.

Marian ("Lady ...