London 2012: The Countdown Series: Boxing Preview!

33 days to go until the first day of the London Olympics. This is a preview of the boxing at the London games.

Like wrestling, judo and taekwondo, boxing's venue for the London Games is the ExCeL convention center (pictured).

267 fighters of both sexes, represnting both sexes will participate. This year will mark the first Olympics for women's boxing, which for the past fifteen years-at the professional level-was dominated by the likes of Christy Martin and of course Laila Ali, just to name a few.

Historically, there has been two three time winners in a weight class in the Olympics. Cubans Teofilo Stevenson and Felix Savon remain to this day the most dominant boxers in the Olympics, winning three straight in the 82-91kg class.

A lot of boxers have gone on to successful pro careers after winning gold in the Olympics. Floyd Patterson at Helsinki, Cassius Clay at Rome 1960, 'Smokin' Joe Frazier at Tokyo 1964, George Foreman at Mexico City 1968, Leon Spinks and Sugar Ray Leonard at Montreal 1976, Pernell 'Sweet Pea' Whitaker at Los Angeles 1984, Lennox Lewis at Seoul 1988, Oscar de la Hoya at Barcelona 1992, and Wladymyr Klychko at Atlanta 1996 are just some of the reasons why Olympic boxing is a great avenue for future pro boxers.

Up next: A look at track cycling.