Yesterday, I met an extraordinary young lady by the name of Tiffanie Hearn. She's the number one ranked female boxer in the United States, and ranked number three in the world. She has the talent to go all the way and bring home gold-and lots of it- for the USA in 2012. There's only one problem: the IOC won't let her-or any female boxer for that matter compete in the Olympics, because there isn't any Olympic events for them.
Tiffanie told me the story for the men is different: "They get $6000 a month to support their training-and we get nothing."
What's wrong with this picture? Plenty.
Tiffanie says "the men don't have to work because the support is there. We're second-class in the eyes of the IOC. This has got to change."
Big time, I say.
The head of the IBA women's division put it bluntly: it's discrimination and it's got to stop.
We all were discussing how this is 2009 and these issues shouldn't even be coming up. And what will it take to change the minds of the powers that be. The fact that women are still barred from certain Olympic competitions just isn't right. It's time for a change. And that change must come NOW.
So, the favor I ask is for you to see a great boxing talent and as an audience, support Tiffanie's fights, either on TV or in person. We're all she's got.
In this way, maybe we can change some minds---so there is more gold come 2012.
I don't think that is too much to ask, do you?
