The past year was very exciting for women’s boxing and MMA. With the announcement of women’s boxing being included in the London 2012 Olympics, many feel the sport is finally betting the attention it deserves. But it wasn’t just boxing that received national headway. CBS and Strikeforce did their part bringing women’s MMA to the masses by airing the Gina “Conviction” Carano vs. Cris “Cyborg” Santos fight, which was also the first time women have headlined the fight card. Another landmark in women’s boxing was undefeated boxer Lucia Rijker (17-0, 14 KOs) becoming the first woman inducted into the World Boxing Hall of Fame. Lucia (pictured above) achieved this historic honor partly because she is a phenomenal boxer, and partly because she is one of the first to retire from the sport since women’s boxing was sanctioned.