Sam's a knockout

　　Sam has never been a "girly" girl.

　　SAM George fell in love at age 14. Not with boys or makeup (化妆品) or fashion, but with boxing.

　　In October 2006, Sam stepped through the door of Four Seasons gym in Lexington, Kentucky, US. She took a boxing lesson. In the class, she was the only girl, but Sam has never had any patience for girly things.

　　Initiation

　　"Some people have it, some people don't," Sam's coach said to her in her first lesson. "I guess today we'll find out if you have it."

　　She was nervous. She kept tripping (绊跌) over the jump rope. But things got better when she got into the ring. The coach was impressed by Sam's punches (击打).

　　She listened to her coach and tried to learn. But the training was slow and hard — the sweaty clothes, the black eyes and the cut lips. The first time she was hit, blood shot out of her nose.

　　The first match

　　Last summer, as one of the few US female amateur (业余的) boxers, Sam had her first fight.

　　She stood in the boxing ring with her blue gloves on, ready to fight. She was smart and mentally (精神上) prepared.

　　She looked at her opponent (对手), also 14, from Ohio. The girl looked ready. But when the whistle (哨子) blew, Sam exploded on the girl. Within seconds, she had her cornered.

　　Sam was on fire, but the whistle stopped her going on. She went back to her corner, to get ready for the next round. But her opponent gave up. The fight was over.

　　She had proved herself to the world. All the hard work she had put into training had been worth it.

　　Bonus

　　girlyadj. 女孩气的

　　（常带贬义）

　　girlishadj. 女孩的，少女般的（常带褒义）

　　boyishadj. 男孩子般的

　　（常带褒义）