One possible role model for young men is Olympic boxing gold medallist James Degalle, who attended to offer his support.

BBC: 'Save lives, stop the knives'

In men's boxing, defending superheavyweight champion Roberto Cammarelle of Italy narrowly defeated world amateur No. 1 Magomedrasul Medzhidov, of Azerbaijan, 13-12, on points to wrap up a night of semifinal fights.

CNN: SHARE THIS

Shields's win came one day after the U.S. men's boxing team endured its first medal shutout in Olympic history, failing to send a single member of its nine-man squad into the semifinals here.

WSJ: 2012 London Olympics: Shields Gives U.S. Shot at Boxing Gold

To give some indication of where men's boxing is at, on the same night Britain's Amir Khan will be fighting Danny Garcia in Las Vegas, having been reinstated as WBA welterweight champion after American Lamont Peterson was found guilty of doping following his controversial win when they met in December.

CNN: July 13, 2012 -- Updated 1727 GMT (0127 HKT)

There will be a lot of shadow boxing and burning of straw men before this is done.

BBC: Immigration may prove a winning issue for Obama

Boxing had been the only sport reserved for men at the games.

BBC: Women in boxing over the years

But if you linger long enough to see the entourages pass and hear the trash talk subside, boxing reveals itself to be a lonely sport men left unaccompanied, armed only with their training and their determination to push forward.

WSJ: Jason Gay: On the Periphery of Boxing Madness; Freddie Roach, Manny Pacquaio; Floyd Mayweather Jr.