DEDICATED women's boxing classes have been launched at a Glasgow club.

Bellahouston Amateur Boxing Club have started weekly classes for females only due to increasing demand.

The coaching sessions are being held at the club, which meets at the Palace of Art, on Sundays. The move comes after a decision to include women's boxing at Glasgow 2014.

Club treasurer Keiran Stockwell said: "The Sunday classes are beginning to take off. We have always had a few female boxers come along our regular week night training sessions, but there is a lot interest in taking women's boxing forward. We felt it might encourage more women to take up the sport either as part of a fitness programme or to compete.

"With women's boxing being included in the 2014 Common-wealth Games on our doorstep and the success of women's boxing at London 2012, we know the demand is there."

The sessions are led by coaches Gerry McColvin and Neil Crawford and take women through beginners boxing training.

In the past female boxers from the club have taken part in competitions and boxed at the club's show nights.

The club, which is currently on the look out for its own premises, hope the classes will be a hit.

Keiran added: "We have a few women coming along on a Sunday and even some mums and daughters.

"We hope the female-only sessions will encourage some who might not want to train alongside men to come along."

In September, Games bosses revealed they will include the sport at the event for the first time in Commonwealth history thanks to the recent success at London 2012, where Team GB's Nicola Adams she won Olympic gold in the women's flyweight division.

Local boxing figures say the move by 2014 organisers could bring forward a new generation of sport stars.

Glasgow boxing boss Tommy Gilmour said: "Now the platform will be provided by Glasgow 2014, it will perhaps give a Scottish girl the chance to fight for a medal and to get some acclaim and recognition for all her hard work and dedication just like Nicola Adams did.

"We should never under-estimate all the dedication and effort these girls put into their sport, and it is only right they should have the chance to box for medals at the Common-wealth Games."

Women's boxing will feature as a full event when the city hosts the sporting event from July 23 to August 3, 2014.

There will be medals in three weights: flyweight (48-51kg), lightweight (57-60kg) and middleweight (69-75kg), the same as during London 2012.

deborah.anderson@eveningtimes.co.uk