Three women in Aust Comm Games boxing team

Three women have been selected in Australia's boxing team for the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

(L-R) boxers Shelley Watts, Kaye Scott and Kristy Harris

Three women have been selected in Australia's 11-strong boxing team for the Commonwealth Games. (AAP)

Three Australian women will make history at the Commonwealth Games, as part of an 11-strong boxing team for Glasgow.

Kristy Harris, Shelley Watts and Kaye Scott have been named to contest women's boxing medals for the first time in Games history, after the sport made its female Olympic debut in 2012.

Naomi-Lee Fischer-Rasmussen was Australia's sole representative in London but, for the Commonwealth Games, the team will have a women's representative in each of the three weight divisions.

The men nominated include Jai Opetaia, a relative of Socceroos star Tim Cahill, who became Australia's youngest Olympic boxing representative in London.

Boxing Australia has named its team of eight men and three women for Glasgow after the Australian championships in Perth in April, with the winners of each weight division eligible for nomination.

Limited to nominating 11 boxers from 13 weight categories, Boxing Australia decided to enter in all three women's categories, meaning two of the 10 men's national champions couldn't be nominated.

"We welcome the inclusion of women for the first time into a sport with a long tradition at the Commonwealth Games," said Perry Crosswhite, chief executive of the Australian Commonwealth Games Association.

"Boxing has been contested at every Empire and Commonwealth Games since the first in 1930.

"We hope for success in Glasgow. Australia's boxers have always made a strong contribution to our medal tally."

Watts, to fight in the 60kg division, won female boxer of the tournament at the Australian championships.

Harris is in the 51kg division and Scott will represent in the 75kg.

Opetaia was 17 at the London Olympics, and nearly claimed an upset win over ultimate bronze medallist, Teymur Mammadov of Azerbaijan.

Fighting in the 91kg division, the boxer of Samoan-Australian background will be 19 for his Commonwealth Games debut.

Gold medallist at the 2011 Youth Commonwealth Games, Daniel Lewis has been named as well as Jordan Samardali, who is coached by Patrick Devellerez, a former mentor of Australian champion Danny Green.

Andrew Moloney returns for his second Commonwealth Games in the 52kg category.

After winning six medals (two gold, four bronze) in Melbourne in 2006, Australia failed to take a medal at the last Games in Delhi.

Australian boxing team: Kristy Harris (51kg), Shelley Watts (60kg), Kaye Scott (75kg), Andrew Maloney (52kg), Jackson Woods (56kg), Nick Cooney (60kg), Daniel Lewis (69kg), Mark Lucas (75kg), Jordan Samardali (81kg), Jai Opetaia (91kg), Joseph Goodall (91+kg)


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Source: AAP

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