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Quanitta Underwood of the United States, arrives for her fight against Natasha Jonas of Great Britain, during the women's lightweight boxing competition at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 5, 2012, in London. Ivan Sekretarev, Associated Press
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Venezuela's Karlha Magliocco, left, and Brazil's Erica Matos, fight during the women's flyweight boxing competition at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 5, 2012, in London. Patrick Semansky, Associated Press
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North Korea's Kim Hye Song, left, and Russia's Elena Savelyeva, fight during the women's flyweight boxing competition at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 5, 2012, in London. Ivan Sekretarev, Associated Press
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Russia's Elena Savelyeva, right, lands a punch against North Korea's Kim Hye Song, during the women's flyweight boxing competition at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 5, 2012, in London. Ivan Sekretarev, Associated Press
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Great Britain's Natasha Jonas, reacts after her fight against the United States' Quanitta Underwood during a women's lightweight boxing match at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 5, 2012, in London. Patrick Semansky, Associated Press
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Poland's Karolina Michalczuk, top, fights India's Chungneijang Mery Kom Hmangte, during the women's flyweight boxing competition at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 5, 2012, in London. Ivan Sekretarev, Associated Press
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Russia's Elena Savelyeva, right, punches North Korea's Kim Hye Song, during the women's flyweight boxing competition at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 5, 2012, in London. Ivan Sekretarev, Associated Press
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Quanitta Underwood of the United States, leaves the arena after her fight against Natasha Jonas of Great Britain, during the women's lightweight boxing competition at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 5, 2012, in London. Patrick Semansky, Associated Press
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Quanitta Underwood of the United States, reacts after her fight against Natasha Jonas of Great Britain, during the women's lightweight boxing competition at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 5, 2012, in London. Patrick Semansky, Associated Press
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Poland's Karolina Michalczuk, left, and fights India's Chungneijang Mery Kom Hmangte, fight during the women's flyweight boxing competition at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 5, 2012, in London. Patrick Semansky, Associated Press
By Associated Press

LONDON — U.S. lightweight Queen Underwood lost a close fight to Britain's Natasha Jonas on Sunday, the first day of women's boxing at an Olympics.

A landmark tournament for gender equality in sports began with 12 entertaining bouts featuring uppercuts, haymakers and footwork that all measure up nicely to the men's amateur sport.

Boxing was the only summer Olympic sport without a women's version.

Indian flyweight Mary Kom wept after making her Olympic debut 12 years after she defied her father's wishes to pursue boxing. The five-time world champion won on her twins' fifth birthday, no less.

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Russia's Elena Savelyeva won the first bout with a busy jab and strong combinations, saying it was a pleasure to make Olympic history.

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