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Seventeen-year old U.S. sensation Claressa Shields lost Monday to UK middleweight Savannah Marshall at the Women’s World Championship in Qinhuangdao, China, but there is confusion at the tournament about whether Claressa might still advance to London.

WNYC and Women Box contributor Sarah Deming is tracking all the action at the Women's World Boxing Championships in Qinhuangdao, China. Today: Deming's final post brings us up-to-date on all the American boxers. 

A chance to box in the 2012 Olympic Games has brought more women than ever before to the seventh Women's World Boxing Championship in Qinhuangdao, China. The tournament's three Olympic weight classes are packed with competitors -- 77 countries have invested time and money in hopes that their female fighters can make it to the Games in London. But some of the most impressive women in Qinhuangdao are not fighting for a spot in London. That includes six members of Team USA, who lost the battle to fight in the Olympics at the US team trials in February. Now, plus or minus a few pounds, they are fighting in the World Championships to show they can't be stopped.

This month in Qinhuangdao, China, 343 female fighters from 77 countries will fight to make it to the Olympics. So, who goes to London? The math is complicated. And it’s different for fighters from different regions of the globe. Expert Christy Halbert explains.

The Women’s World Boxing Championship, which will determine which women box for gold in the London Olympics this summer, kicked off Friday with a high stakes draw in Qinhuangdao, China. Here's a preview of what to expect, plus a look at Team USA's top contenders. 

If you box, by definition, you’re a risk-taker. If you’re a girl and you box, you’re a risk-taker and a rule-breaker. If you’re a girl and you box and your aim is to be the first to win an Olympic gold medal -- or a million dollar fight -- you’re a risk-taker and a rule-breaker and a dream-chaser. That’s going for it. Who does that and why?

In the 6th episode of the  Women Box podcast , 16-year old Claressa Shields tells the story of her journey from high school junior in Flint, MI, to Spokane, WA for the first US Olympic Team Trials for women boxers.

The fifth episode of the Women Box podcast tells the story of the final days of the Olympic Team Trials for women's boxing in Spokane, WA. It also includes well-wishes and a warning from professional fighter Christy Martin, the only woman ever to land on the cover of Sports Illustrated or to make a million dollars boxing (not on one fight).

In the fourth episode of the Women Box podcast, we spend some time with boxers who have trained for years to compete in the U.S. Olympic Team Trials and have dreamed for years of going to the 2012 Games in London. Boxers train their bodies to fight and train their minds to believe they can win. But in this episode, Tiffanie Hearn of San Diego loses by a point. Alex Love underestimates her opponent. Others lose their chance to compete because of injuries. 

The third episode of the Women Box podcast includes news of Baltimore boxer Tyrieshia Douglas' first loss, knocking her into the challengers bracket at the first ever women's boxing Olympic Team Trials. 16-year old Claressa Shields fights again. In her phone message before the bout, Shields shows no sign of worry. And she wins again.

In the second episode of the Women Box podcast, 16-year old Claressa Shields of Flint, Michigan fights Franchon Crews of Baltimore, Maryland, ranked number one in the country. Shields goes into the fight with calm and confidence and beats the more experienced boxer, 31 to 19. 

The first episode of the Women Box podcast, includes words of wisdom and some historical perspective from pioneering women boxers, including Lucia Rijker. And we bring you the life story of flyweight boxer Tyrieshia Douglas, as told by Tyrieshia Douglas.

Brooklyn born boxer Heather Hardy wants to be a world champion. She will not compete this month to make the first women’s Olympic boxing team – she plans to go pro instead. But getting paid to fight – when you’re a woman – is difficult even for top tier boxers. So, like female boxers around the world, Hardy hopes the women who enter the ring in London this summer will change her life, too.

Meet Christy Halbert, widely regarded as the foremost expert on women’s boxing.

Men have boxed in the Olympic games since the ancient Greeks adopted the sport more than two thousand years ago.  Women, never. That changes this year. In February, 24 fighters will compete to make the very first US Olympic women’s boxing team. Three will succeed.

It is hard to believe that in 2012 we’re still seeing firsts when it comes to women athletes. Yet, this summer in London a strong and glorious group of international women boxers will enter the ring and compete for Olympic medals for the first time.

1876: New York Hills Theater holds a boxing match between Nell Saunders and Rose Harland. This is considered the first female boxing match in the United States. The top prize? A silver butter dish.

1904: Men and women’s boxing is introduced at the modern Olympic games in St. Louis ...

Men have boxed in the Olympic games since the ancient Greeks adopted the sport more than two thousand years ago. Women, never. That changes this year, when women enter the Olympic boxing ring for the first time.

This summer in London, women will box in the Olympics for the first time. The boxers competing for a spot on the US team will make history – but few know who they are or why they box. Images of women boxers range from girls throwing soft punches in bikinis and lipstick to women who look and act like men. The Olympic hopefuls are neither--but everything in between.

The tradition of boxing gyms that offer troubled kids a chance to learn self-control is still alive. But until this past decade, those gyms were populated by boys. That has changed.