No Guts, No Glory

Things are looking pretty exciting for you at the moment. 3-0 undefeated pro at the age of 22 with an amazing team behind you and another big fight this weekend under Anthony Joshua and Robert Helenius at the O2 Arena. This is the stuff of dreams! Tell us how you got here?

It’s been a pretty good run so far! 3-0 and I’ve boxed on some amazing cards, then becoming 4-0 on an AJ card is some going. It’s nothing I haven’t expected, I’ve trained so hard since the age of seven to be able to be boxing on cards like this. I’ve pushed day in and day out to make sure I’m good enough for the big stage. I’m so lucky to have the team and support I have around me.

Brick by brick! World champion soon to come!

You say you were born to fight. When did you first realise that?

First time I put on a glove and chinned someone. I wish there was a fancy story behind it, but it’s as simple as that.

I started boxing to get fit for football, but turns out I was better at punching than I was kicking. To my parents’ disbelief, it’s stuck. Fifteen years later they’re watching me box at the O2.

I remember when you first came up with the idea for this film. Your face lit up and I could see the passion behind your vision. Has it turned out as you wanted it to?

Yes it has. It takes a small village to make most things, so I’m grateful for a brilliant team, an amazing subject and location.

What was it that drew you to Maisey and want to create something with her?

Maisey is not only an impeccable athlete but a brilliant character – in and out of the ring, I love her energy and the passion she has for the sport. Her outlook on training and self-motivation is something that is incredibly inspiring, which naturally makes for an ideal subject in film.

It’s great to see so many amazing female boxers out there at the moment. Tell us what you think the main difference is for male and female boxers? 

Well, over my years of boxing I’ve encountered a lot of sexism. Of course I’m a woman fighting in a ‘man’s’ sport. When I was young I couldn’t get carded to have my first fight as the club I was with didn’t want to card me as I was a girl. I had to wait till I was 15 to have my first fight.

I’ve had the odd old man come up to me and tell me he don’t agree with women’s fighting. ‘I wouldn’t like to see my daughter fight’, ‘Does your dad let you box?’ or, ‘I couldn’t watch women’s boxing.’ But then I’ve also had the same old men change their mind after they’ve watched me box.

The pay, the media coverage, the backing behind women’s boxing is totally different to men’s boxing. It’s getting better––not as bad as it used to be––but it’s also nowhere near where it needs to be.

Do you think women have to work harder in their careers to get where they want to be and get the recognition they deserve?

Yes, 10000%. Women in boxing get overlooked, we get told we’re having easy fights! Winning world titles in under 10 fights is easy? A man has done the same and is considered a god in boxing.

I’ve been so lucky to be able to box on the undercard of the best female in boxing at this moment in time – twice! First time I was on a Katie Taylor card it was my debut, where I was a live float. I was supposed to be on after the main event, but someone got knocked out and I ended up walking out one before Katie, in-front of 9000 people.

The second time was in Dublin, on her home coming against Chantel Cameron. I boxed an Irish girl with a winning record. It was an unreal night to be a part of.

Seeing and being apart of events like that has made me realise how much women’s boxing has developed over the years. It’s getting better, no where where it needs to be. But it’s slowly getting better.

What was it like filming this with a photographer/director like Ed, who’s worked with the likes of Kylie Minogue, Rita Ora & Will.i.am? 

I’m so lucky to have worked with Ed, he’s unbelievably talented, he’s got an unreal eye for photography. The pictures and film he’s taken of me are so cool, made me feel so empowered. The pictures are so strong but beautiful. Just like how all women fighters are.

Tell us about your creative side –  are there any images you really love?

There’s a picture of me when I first started boxing––I think I was about eight or nine––in pink boxing boots two sizes too big because they didn’t do my size. A Lonsdale kit which was gifted to me and a pair of hand-me-down gloves. I adore this picture so much, shows me how far I’ve come.

Then now, there’s a picture that Ed shot of me where I have the laces of the glove in my mouth. It’s so good, so beautiful. I can’t believe it’s me!

I’m so lucky to have been brought up in boxing and have all these pictures I can look back on. It’s a reminder of why I do it.