The small building on U.S. Highway I in the Midland Valley area of Aiken County doesn't have much to draw attention to it. There are no neon signs or flashing lights.

From inside that nondescript building, the home of the North Augusta Boxing Club, have come three women who have made a significant impact on the sport.

Jo-Anne V. Newman, whose husband, Noah, founded the boxing club, considers herself a "pioneer for women" in the sport.

"I've been through the school of hard knocks for women in boxing," she said.

Mrs. Newman's lists of firsts began almost 15 years ago when she became the first woman to referee an amateur boxing match at the national level, during the 1993 Junior Olympics. The South Carolina General Assembly congratulated her for that during its 1995 session.

Another first came in September 1999, when USA Boxing opened up testing for two positions at the Women's Continental level. Mrs. Newman went through a five-day exam. Judging and refereeing ability during actual bouts and oral and written tests were part of the procedure.

She placed first in the overall ranking in the women's category and moved from a national official to an Amateur International Boxing Association referee/judge. In October 2002, she became the first woman to become an association world referee/judge.

The designation has allowed Mrs. Newman to travel the globe to officiate bouts. The association assigns officials for all its bouts.

"Sometimes you go to none in a year; sometimes it's two or three," she said. "I've been to France, England, Russia, Taiwan."

Paving the way as an official in the ring, Mrs. Newman likes to see girls come to the gym, and there have been some champions along the way.

Lisa Lee is looking forward to her May graduation from the University of South Carolina's nurse anesthetist program so she can return to the gym.

"I love it," she said of boxing. "It's fun."

In 1998, Ms. Lee represented the North Augusta Boxing Club and South Carolina at the National Police Athletic League Championships in Orlando, Fla. Firing off punch after punch, Ms. Lee was only one minute, 33 seconds into her national title bout when the referee stopped the match and declared her the winner.

A year later, she won a silver medal at the 1999 Women's Golden Gloves Nationals, losing a 3-2 split decision in the title bout.

Ms. Lee's portrait hangs in the boxing club as an inspiration for future female boxers.

Currently, about 60 children are registered at the boxing club, and 13 of them are girls. But only three of the girls do much boxing, said Mrs. Newman.

She believes one of those girls, Amber Bush, can have an outstanding boxing career.

Only 15 years old, Amber has already had success in the ring. After advancing through state and regional Junior Olympic competition, she won a bronze medal in the 15-to 16-year-old age division at the National Junior Olympics in July.

Reach Charmain Z. Brackett at czbrackett@hotmail.com.