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• I’ve waited my whole life for this – Rosie Eccles ready to seize Olympic chance

  Rosie Eccles believes the heartbreak of missing out on a place at the Tokyo Olympics will stand her in good stead when she finally realises a long-held boxing ambition in Paris next year.

  The 27-year-old from Cardiff was denied a second shot at reaching the delayed 2020 Games when Covid forced the cancellation of the second qualifier in London, and three personal bouts with the illness left her fearing the “curse” could strike again.

  But, after fighting back to clinch Commonwealth gold for Wales in Birmingham last year, Eccles belatedly booked her place at the Games in June when she won a bronze medal at the European Games in Krakow.

  Eccles told the PA news agency: “I’ve really had to do it the hard way, and just when I thought I was in the clear I got Covid again, so it felt like I was cursed and history was going to repeat itself.

  “I was absolutely heartbroken to miss out on Tokyo and it’s been a real monkey on my back for a long time. But I showed at the Commonwealths that I had that grit to come back and get the medal in tough circumstances, and that shows I have plenty of self-belief.”

  Eccles has dreamed of going to the Olympics since her first boxercise class in 2011, one year before the likes of Nicola Adams and Katie Taylor helped boost the profile of the women’s sport at London 2012.

  “I already had a massive ambition to go to the Olympics and watching the likes of Nicola Adams just confirmed it,” added Eccles.

  “I’ve always been a huge fan of the Olympics, I remember sitting down when I was younger and watching the likes of Kelly Holmes. But boxing made me realise that this is my sport and this is where I want to be, and about a decade later it’s finally happened.”

  Having overcome her Covid setbacks, Eccles underscored her potential for Paris by coming through a tough draw in Krakow, including a notable win over Ireland’s world champion Amy Broadhurst to effectively seal her place.

  She will have the added bonus in the French capital of a change to the Olympic weights, which means she will be able to fight in her favoured 66kg category, rather than the 70kg division in which she won her gold medal in Birmingham.

  “It’s my natural weight and it’s really going to benefit me,” added Eccles. “I’m ready to go out and achieve what I know I can achieve. I’ve waited my whole life for this bit. I’ve had plenty of ups and downs, but all that heartache is only going to help.”

• Caroline Dubois looking for ‘spectacular knockout’ against Magali Rodriguez

  Caroline Dubois believes she has the tools to beat Mexican Magali Rodriguez and has set her sights on a spectacular knockout when the pair meet at York Hall.

  The 7-0-0 Dubois returns to the ring on Saturday after three months away as she continues her bid to become a world champion.

  The unbeaten 22-year-old credited the experienced 22-6-4 Rodriguez and will look to put a marker down with another impressive victory in London.

  “She’s fought some good names (Rodriguez) and top fighters and got a knockdown in her draw against Estelle Yoka-Mossely, who was Olympic champion,” Dubois told the PA news agency.
  
  “Rodriguez is tough and experienced and has had more fights than me at this level.
  
  “I’ve got advantages in speed, the skill, the ability and it’s just about how I put it together on the night .
  
  “She’s durable, she’s never been stopped, she’s tough, she knows how to take punches and ride them and how to manoeuvre through the rounds. She can cope during rounds because of her experience
  
  “I’m looking for a win; I’m lying if I’m saying I don’t want to go out and get a spectacular knockout so it’s up to Magali and me.

  “I want to put a good stamp down and impress a lot of people and open their eyes to Caroline Dubois.”
  
  The Briton went the distance for the first time since her professional debut in her last bout against Yanina Lescano.

  And Dubois, who is competing for the vacant IBO lightweight title this weekend, welcomed the experience of extra rounds while highlighting her dangerous knockout record.

  “Lescano was really tough, she’s maybe someone who would not beat world champions but she could compete with world champions at my weight and give them trouble as well,” Dubois, who has won five of her seven bouts by knockout, added.

  “I was able to go out there and win and know that I was able to hurt her in the later rounds and that I had the ability to overwhelm her and beat her easily really.

  “Definitely (good to get experience of longer fights). At the time it was a bit frustrating but this is what will pay dividends in the times I’m in a hard fight because I know I can do 10 rounds and get through it.
  
  “It’s been every fight except two and I’m happy with it. For me to get knockouts in 10 two-minute rounds is pretty insane when you think of it.

  
  “It’s massive and so important. I can outbox someone but I’ve also got that factor where I can hurt them and take them out too.”
  
  Dubois relishes her York Hall return and praised the support of Sky Sports who will broadcast the fight
  
  She said: “It’s crazy and it’s amazing.

  “I’ve always been with Sky so maybe I don’t appreciate it as much as I should do because some people who turn pro don’t get the backing of Sky network.”
  
  

• Sherikee Moore to debut on Wray & Nephew Fight Nights October 7

   The reigning American Boxing Confederation Caribbean Champion, Jamaica's Sherikee Moore, will highlight the first female bout set to take place at the next staging of the exciting Wray & Nephew Fight Nights Series set for the Ebony Vale Community Centre in St Catherine on Saturday, October 7, 2023.

  Seven other enthralling bouts are slated to take place on the night, but all eyes will be on the first female fight of the series which has been a boost for the sport of boxing on the island. Six professional boxers and 10 amateur boxers will take their enthusiasm and determination to the ring to secure needed wins to advance their careers. This fight features at least three boxers from the neighbouring GC Foster Boxing Gym.

  Stephen Jones, President of the Jamaica Boxing Board, has high praises for the series which is sanctioned by his organization.

  “From a boxing board perspective, we knew that the Wray & Nephew Fight Night series would create a platform capable of elevating the sport to levels never before seen in the Caribbean. What we didn’t realize is how quickly the impact would be felt since its inception. Female boxing has been the fastest-growing discipline in sport since it was first introduced to the Olympics in 2016, so it’s imperative that we place just as much emphasis on the opportunities provided for our females as we do our males, so having a female bout on the upcoming card will not only entertain but will certainly inspire other females to come on board to make a name for themselves and ultimately their country,” Jones shared.

  A 21-year-old student of GC Foster College, Moore is set to compete against Shanika Gordon from the Jamaica Defense Force, and by all indications, the fight is expected to bring tremendous excitement as the both women will get a chance to showcase their talent while trading punches in front of what is expected to be a jam-packed venue.

  Moore has been boxing for nine years and was introduced to the sport at a summer boxing camp at the Olympic Gardens Community Centre.

  The first-year Massage student has since garnered a record of five wins and two losses in her seven bouts to date, and the featherweight novice is grateful that the Wray & Nephew boxing series is giving her the platform to showcase her talent.

  “I think this is a great opportunity not only for us female boxers as we get a chance to show that there are not only male boxers but there are female boxers who are thriving in the sport,” said Moore.

  According to Moore, who will be in her second fight since late last year, the opportunity provided by the Jamaica Boxing Board and title sponsors Wray and Nephew who embodies the statement ‘FI WI culture’ has truly been a masterstroke.
  “Internationally, there are just three of us that box and I feel that more females should be getting into the sport. This kind of initiative spearheaded by Wray and Nephew cannot come at a better time because as females it is hard to get fights in Jamaica.”

  Pavel Smith, Marketing Manager Wray & Nephew White Overproof Rum is proud the series will host its first female bout. “The sport of boxing, like Wray & Nephew White Overproof Rum a “Fi wi Culture”. The Fight Night series was developed to elevate Jamaican boxing talent and skill. We heartily welcome this first female exhibition as the series expands into parishes across the island.”

  Moore, who trains at the Suga Knock Out Gym in Olympic Gardens, says she has benefitted tremendously from getting into the sport on a personal level.

  “Since I have been boxing, I have grown more confident and I have started to communicate with others better. I was a shy person, but the sport of boxing has helped me to be more confident and I have gotten better,” Moore noted.

  She says she will be ramping up her training in the coming week in preparation for the bout and she hopes to one day take her skills to the highest level.

  “I see myself becoming a professional in a few years and one of my other goals is to represent Jamaica at the Olympics. For that to happen, I will need more experience and exposure and I must say a big thank you to Wray and Nephew for giving us the avenue on our journey and ultimate goal,” Moore shared.