The boxer fighting to put women in the ring at London Olympics

Now she is poised to realise that ambition in her home city as women's boxing looks set to make its debut at the London Games.

Olympics chiefs will decide next week whether to admit about 40 women fighters to compete in 2012.

For Beharry, 22, from Acton, the significance of a decision in favour of women's boxing cannot be understated. She said: "Ever since I started my dream was to compete in the Olympics. For several years I had no idea women weren't allowed to compete at that level.

"I am pleading for the decision to go in our favour because in every other sport women have got something to look forward to. The Olympics is the ultimate stage and you need that dream and hope for the sport to thrive."

According to her coaches, Beharry would be good enough to compete for Great Britain in the Olympics.

A self-confessed violent teenager, Beharry left school with no qualifications and was sent to a youth reform centre in Park Royal, where she took up boxing to channel her aggression.

She spent a year sparring in public parks before her coach persuaded the All Stars Boxing Gym in West Kilburn to end its male-only policy.

Now based at the Tottenham Community Sports Centre, she is British No1 in the 48kg category and twice a European Union bronze medallist.

Olympic status would be just reward for the acceptance of women at boxing clubs in recent years, Beharry believes. As evidence, she points to a pair of young girls - watched by their mothers - jabbing at a punchbag, while another girl is among teenagers shadow boxing in the ring at the sports centre.

According to boxing chiefs, the number of registered women boxers has risen from 50 to 600 in the past four years in the UK and a third of clubs now accept female boxers.

Beharry said: "Attitudes have changed fast as people are realising that it can be a great form of exercise and self-defence. Once they try it they realise it's not as tough as they thought."

She also coaches hopefuls, including young offenders, although her time is increasingly dedicated to international travel as an elite boxer.

The case for women's boxing to make the Olympics is being driven by the sport's international federation, AIBA. Its bid for inclusion at the Beijing Games failed in 2005 when International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge decided the women's section of the sport was not competitive in enough countries, which could lead to potentially dangerous mismatches.

Since then, the number of nations whose women compete internationally at elite level has grown to 125 - almost double the minimum Olympic requirement. A women's competition in up to five weight categories is expected to feature about 40 fighters - the same number as in the men's competition.

As host nation, Great Britain would probably receive a single automatic qualification place but any others would be won through qualification with especially tough competition from eastern Europe and China.

Irish double world champion Katie Taylor, who is also a football international, would be a worthy contender and potential champion for the inaugural Olympic competition.

Rebecca Gibson, Britain's women's boxing development manager, said: "Part of London's bid was to be an inclusive Games but you can't live up to that if women are not allowed to compete in one of the events. If the vote goes in our favour - and I am quietly confident - it will make people think that we can achieve anything."