VIDEO: Female fighter, 14, makes history at Wakefield boxing club

A teenager from Wrenthorpe has become the first ever female to compete for White Rose Boxing Club, in Wakefield.
Maya Robertson. Photo by Scott Smith Photography.Maya Robertson. Photo by Scott Smith Photography.
Maya Robertson. Photo by Scott Smith Photography.

Since its formation nearly 70 years ago, White Rose has never had a female fighter within its competitive ranks but Maya Robertson, 14, has rewritten the club’s history books by not only taking to the ring but also chalking-up a landmark victory.

Maya attended almost every training session, five times a week, for several months before competing in her first ever bout against Manchester’s Ellie Robertson last October.

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A defeat on points failed to dampen Maya’s ambition and in February, she was back in the ring to fight Neve Dilks-Taylor, from Doncaster, in a show at Kellingley.

The Outwood Grange Academy student produced a terrific performance, forcing her opponent into standing counts in the second and third rounds to claim victory - the first ever recorded by a female White Rose boxer.

White Rose coach John Hall said: “Training-wise she is second to none and technically she is not behind anybody.

“She’s very polite and quiet. She’s all the things you wouldn’t expect a boxer to be and dedicated; she puts most of the boys to shame.”

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After her victory, Maya said: “I was really happy. I am still excited now.”

She added: “[Becoming a professional boxer] would be really good but at the minute I am just going to get a few more fights.”