Stafford female boxer makes history

Stafford have crowned a female amateur boxing national champion for the first time after Sophie Stewart lifted an ABA Juniors title in an exciting final.

A three-round tear up with flyweight rival Gervan Smith, from the Steel City ABC in Sheffield, saw her edge to glory on Saturday afternoon at 48kg in Class B – boxers born in 1995.

Both girls came to fight and landed regularly but it was Stewart, of Stafford Town ABC, who saw her hand raised by a slender margin, 42-39 on points, at the Manchester Boxing Centre of Excellence.

The 16-year-old, nicknamed 'the Pocket Rocket' standing at just 4ft 10in, will believe justice has been done after missing out on a title in the same competition last season.

And it was Smith who was supposed to have been the opponent that day, pulling out at short notice with a hamstring injury, with the category declared vacant.