Boxing Madam Butterfly Muhammad Ali's daughter has Scots woman fighter in her corner on the equality issue

She said her father, who suffers from Parkinson's disease, was sceptical about her new career choice and had not decided whether to attend.

April Graham, 25, an amateur who helped legalise women's boxing in Scotland, said Laila's decision would help boost take-up of the sport.

''It's fair enough women going out and doing well and promoting the sport, but everyone knows Muhammad Ali's name,'' she said. ''She is an excellent boxer, so this has to be good.''

However, the British Medical Association in Scotland, which has been campaigning for an overall ban, condemned the announcement. A spokesman said: ''It doesn't matter whether the boxer is male or female, the sex of the boxer isn't an issue.

''It's the damage to the brain that boxing can cause that's objectionable.''

Glasgow-based promoter Tommy Gilmour said: ''No matter whose daughter it is, I am not for women boxing, because we recognise that it's a dangerous sport.

''There are a lot of things women can compete at on a level playing field, but boxing isn't really one of them. I have always said that, no matter how much money was involved, I wouldn't get involved in promoting women's boxing.''

Mr Gilmour added: ''If Muhammad Ali or his family feels that boxing has in any way contributed to the condition he has got, then what the girl is doing is very brave.''

Mr Frank Hendry, president of the Scottish Amateur Boxing Association, said there were now five amateur women boxers in Scotland. ''The professional game is different altogether, but that's the way the world is going. There are quite a lot of women boxers in Europe and America.''

Laila said her father and her mother, Veronica, Ali's third of four wives, were sceptical about her decision, but would support her. ''My father being at my fight would take a lot of the attention away from me and there will be a lot of media surrounding him,'' she said.

''He doesn't want me to get hurt, but he's going to support me 100% as a father. My mother is not comfortable with me going into the ring, but she knows that I know what I'm doing.

''If I want to do something, I just do it. I really don't care what anybody has to say.''

Laila was too young to see her father fight in person, but she has watched video recordings of his bouts and said her favourite was his knockout of George Foreman in Zaire in 1974.

''My dad never had this much attention on him when he was first fighting,'' she said. ''It's a lot of pressure on me.''

She could not resist imitating a bit of her father's famous rhyming predictions, adding: ''There are so many expectations that I must meet, but there is only one promise that I can make. On October 8 in Verona, New York, April Fowler will suffer a painful defeat.''

The day after the Laila Ali fight, another woman boxer, Margaret McGregor, will make the news.

The 36-year-old is to fight a man. It is believed to be the first such bout in the US.

The Washington state department of licensing has accepted the match, against Loi Chow of Vancouver.

McGregor is 5ft 5in, and weighs 130lbs. Chow is 5ft 2in, and weighs 125lbs. Both will be paid $1500 for the four-round fight.

Her determination to become a boxer started with her boyfriend. He hit her.

''I felt so violated and so helpless,'' she said.

She vowed no one would get the upper hand on her again.

McGregor got a black belt in karate, then became a professional kick boxer.

She started boxing about a year ago and turned professional in April, winning three bouts in quick succession.

Chow, a jockey and weightlifter, has not fought professionally for more than three years, but he said he had been training.

''I predict this fight will be over within a minute. The first combination I land, the fight will be over,'' Chow said.

He stepped in when the first choice, Hector Morales, dropped out. Morales gave no reasons, but previously said he was ashamed to tell his mother about fighting a woman.

The state said it treated the match like any other. Washington state law does not prohibit mixed-gender boxing.