famous and obscure, with both male and female leads

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On the playground, “You fight like a girl” used to be the ultimate insult.

In the ring, “You fight like a woman” may soon become the highest praise.

Years of squabbling sanctioning bodies (and less than charismatic champions) have drained some enthusiasm from what was once this nation’s premier pugilistic sport. Brutal mixed-martial-arts bouts — and clownish wrestling exhibitions — sometime seem more in tune with the mood of our increasingly violent, and needlessly crude, culture.

But it’s a slightly different story when women climb in the ring. Recently, female fighters have provided plenty of powerful grace and muscular excitement at the Olympics. And last…