As Latinas gain acceptance in "nontraditional" sports such as boxing, the path for young girls in small towns gets a bit easier. A chance to compete on the basketball court and soccer field can open entirely new social and academic prospects for young women. And by wearing the name of their school on their jerseys, Latina athletes are seen as local heroes who are accepted by the general populace.

Christina Cruz is a 28-year-old New York-born Puerto Rican that trains full-time at DAS Fitness Center in Inwood and is focusing on making the Olympic team for the 2012 Summer Games in London - the first Olympics where women boxers will compete.