After a late start to the sport, 37-year-old professional boxer Amy Greatorex is wasting no time in her campaign to win a major title.
SHE BOXES caught up with Chesterfield’s Greatorex to discuss her background in white collar boxing, handling a defeat on her debut, and how she got backing from World Champions Sunny Edwards and Natasha Jonas.
FACT FACTS
NAME: Amy Greatorex
ALIAS: G-Rex
NATIONALITY: UK
PRE-FIGHT SUPERSTITIONS: Has her nails done to match her fight kit
POST-FIGHT MEAL: Double bacon cheeseburger meal from Burger King or a roast dinner
FROM UNSPORTY AND OVERWEIGHT TO BOXING INTERNATIONALLY
Greatorex’s story feels like the plot of a movie. Picture a kid who couldn’t be less interested in sport and became overweight as an adult, discovering a passion for boxing at 27, so much so that she decides to pursue a professional boxing career. Greatorex herself can’t quite believe how her life’s turned out.
“I started boxing for fitness because I used to be a size 18-20. I was very overweight.
“I had already started to lose some weight and then my friend started doing kickboxing for fitness. So I went to that and basically, I enjoyed the punching side of it. I lost loads of my weight through it and really got into it.”
The kickboxing class leader could also see that Greatorex would be better suited to boxing and it wasn’t long before he encouraged her to sign up for a fight.
“He said to me, ‘If you don’t sign yourself up for a white collar, I’m going to do it.’ because he thought I had something. So I basically signed up under duress, but I loved it.”
White collar or ‘unlicensed’ boxing is a controversial topic in the boxing world. Whilst both the amateur and professional ranks have an abundance of safety regulations in place to protect their boxers, there are no standardised procedures for white collar shows.
These shows often entice participants by offering an opportunity to raise money for charity, however boxing is far more dangerous than running a marathon, for example. The programmes have been widely criticised for not properly preparing their boxers for fights.
“[White collar boxing] is here to stay but having done it, there’s not enough that goes into it to prepare you for a fight.”
“I don’t necessarily agree with [white collar boxing], but it’s a good way to get people into boxing if you’ve never done anything like that before.
“It’s here to stay but having done it, there’s not enough that goes into it to prepare you for a fight. Even if they are using head guards and 16oz gloves, it’s still not enough. You need more than 8 weeks training twice a week.”
Several fights later, it was clear that Greatorex was a level above white collar. In her last unlicensed fight, she’d TKO’d her opponent with a body shot in the second round.
Coincidentally, this was around the same time that her white collar gym relocated into an England Boxing affiliated amateur boxing gym and after her success on the white collar scene, Greatorex’s coach invited her to transition into amateur boxing. And so she did; having her first amateur bout 3 months before her 30th birthday.
Greatorex was technically an amateur for 5 years (3 if you exclude the national lockdowns) and had 33 fights in that time. She’d also attended the East Midlands Boxing training days, sessions where boxers from across the region train together, and was proud to be selected to represent their female squad in tournaments in both Ireland and Sweden.
“I turned into his most experienced boxer; I was the only one from my gym that had boxed internationally. He was more focused on the men though, and nothing against him really, he was just old-fashioned.
“All the way through my amateur career, I wasn’t really pushed. I taught myself a lot of the things because we just did keep fit sessions basically, there wasn’t much to it.
“I rarely got sparring. The only time I really got sparring was towards the end when I went to the East Midlands female squad and that was only once a month, so it wasn’t good.
“My current coach and manager say all the time that they wish they’d had me in the amateurs because I would’ve achieved so much more. I was too loyal and thought I was too old to go anywhere else and start fresh.”
One day after training, the amateur coach pulled Greatorex aside and told her that he was no longer interested in training her.
“He went, ‘I think you ought to try somewhere else; I just want to focus on a few of the lads, I want to make money.’ basically. He said that he’d spoken to Chesterfield ABC and that they were happy to take me on, but I didn’t want to go somewhere that felt like they had to take me. I felt like I was being pushed from pillar to post.”
“I almost feel like I’ve come out of an abusive situation.”
Devastated, Greatorex put a post on Facebook asking if any boxing coaches were interested in training her. That’s when her current coach, Gary Longmore at Riley’s Boxing and Fitness in Sheffield, reached out. Longmore asked Greatorex if she would be interested in turning professional and the rest is history.
“I almost feel like I’ve come out of an abusive situation. You know where you get put down that many times and then if someone else is saying something good to you, you don’t believe it. That’s what I can be like sometimes, but my [current] coach and manager are amazing.
“They’re always there. Every day my manager checks how I am, both inside and outside of boxing.”
THE BATTLE TO BOX
Greatorex’s professional license is dated April 2022, however she wasn’t permitted to box by the UK’s governing body, the British Board of Boxing Control (BBBofC), until 8 months later due to an admin error.
“I was actually supposed to be boxing on the Bramall Lane show that Nicola Hopewell had her debut on but obviously that had to get pulled because of that. Then we had to wait until December and that was a pain in the bum anyway trying to get people to buy tickets near Christmas, so that nearly didn’t happen.”
When it looked likely that her debut would be postponed again, Greatorex took to X/Twitter to vent her frustration:
I’ve got till Wednesday to sell another £700 worth of tickets or my fights being pulled. Beyond gutted after the journey I’ve been on and the time it’s taken to get to this point.
— Amy Greatorex (@AmyGreatorex) November 28, 2022
To her astonishment, the tweet quickly picked up traction within the boxing community and has to date received over 100 comments, 600 retweets, and 1,300 likes.
The tweet also reached some prominent names in boxing including presenters, promoters, and even World Champions, who kindly sent donations to Greatorex to help reach her ticket quota. She received financial support from Sunny Edwards, Frazer Clarke, Natasha Jonas, Lee Eaton, Jack Shaw, Lucy McDonald, Ade Oladipo, and Jamie Robinson.
“I honestly never put it out there for anyone to see. For it to get the attention that it did, I was amazed and humbled, and I still am.”
“It was very surreal. I didn’t have many followers. I think I had maybe a hundred, if that. I used to go online to moan and that’s all I did. I didn’t hashtag it, I didn’t tag anyone. I just thought that it was there for me to get it out.
“I remember I was at work with clients and my phone kept pinging. I looked and said to my clients, ‘It’s getting retweeted. People are messaging me, look at this!’.
“People were getting in touch saying that they wanted to send me money and I just couldn’t believe it. I honestly never put it out there for anyone to see. For it to get the attention that it did, I was amazed and humbled, and I still am.
“I’ve still got my debut t-shirt that has all the peoples’ names on that donated to it and still wear that out and about with pride.”
NOT THE START SHE WAS HOPING FOR
After all the setbacks, Greatorex finally had her professional debut on Friday 9th December 2022 in Barnsley. However, it wasn’t the start she was hoping for with Greatorex losing on points.
“My debut didn’t go to plan. I was meant to be boxing someone else and then I think it was 3 or 4 days before she pulled out because she’d hurt her hand. So, I ended up with Vaida [Masiokaite] who was massively more experienced than me.
“Your first fight is a learning experience. In the amateurs, women don’t fight without head guards and we fight with 10oz gloves, so head guards off and 8oz gloves, it’s a massive difference.”
Keen to stay active and gain valuable experience, Greatorex had 3 more fights within the space of 5 months. Unfortunately, all 3 yielded losses but Greatorex has never been stopped.
“Some of the fights that I’ve had away have been very, very close. It has been arguable which way it’s gone but it is a lot harder away to get a win.”
“For the other fights, we decided to go on the road. Not because I want to be a journeywoman, not at all. I’m not and I do keep saying that because people keep thinking I am. It’s just to get the experience and take the stress away from selling tickets. I’m trying to get some rounds under my belt because I didn’t really have a great amateur experience.
“Some of the fights that I’ve had away have been very, very close. It has been arguable which way it’s gone but it is a lot harder away to get a win, but a loss is a learn to me.”
Greatorex admitted that her first loss had negatively impacted her mental health but that watching the fight back had helped her gain perspective.
“I lasted all 4 rounds and that’s when we realised that 4 rounds don’t suit me. I take a round or 2 to warm into it. I have to take a few punches to wake up too. I’m always at a bit of a disadvantage with that so I need more rounds so again, it’s learning. Since then, if I know I’ve done my best then I’m happy with that.”
FIRST PROFESSIONAL WIN ON 3 DAYS’ NOTICE
On Saturday 16th September 2023 in Harrow, Greatorex had her first professional win, boxing out of the away corner against Sangeeta Birdi. She’d accepted the fight on only 3 days’ notice; almost a mirror image of her own debut, only this time it was her turn to cause the upset.
“She was the WBC Indian Champion and they wanted to build her up and I basically battered her for 6 rounds.”
“It was amazing. I went into that fight really confident, so I think that made a massive difference, but it was mard a little bit by everything that happened there.
“The promoters kicked off basically. I was stood getting photos and one of the promoters ran across to the ring and slapped it shouting, ‘Get her out my ring!’.
“He actually dragged one of the photographers off the side of the ring to stop them taking photos. Then they wouldn’t even let me get interviewed. We actually got escorted out of the building.
“She was the WBC Indian Champion and they wanted to build her up and I basically battered her for 6 rounds. I’m still on cloud 9 from it. It’s given me that bit more confidence that I belong in the pros.”
Greatorex attributes her new-found confidence to holding her own against former Team GB boxer, Sian O’Toole, only 2 weeks earlier.
“I’d just fought Sian O’Toole and lost to her, but because that was such a tough fight I knew that I could do 6 rounds at a tough pace.”
Greatorex hopes to pick up a few more wins on the road and grow her fanbase so that she can financially justify boxing closer to Chesterfield and benefit from all the advantages of being the home fighter.
CHASING A WINNING STREAK
Greatorex’s next outing will be against Doncaster prospect Ellie Hellewell on Saturday 21st October 2023 in her opponent’s hometown.
Hellewell also comes from a white collar boxing background before a short but undefeated stint in the amateurs, most notably winning the prestigious National Amateur Championships.
“I’m feeling really good. I think it’s going to be an exciting fight, I’m really confident about it.
“I know Ellie is a good boxer so I’ve got to be on it, but we have a game plan. She’s southpaw but I’ve fought southpaws before and it’s over 6 rounds so it suits me perfectly.
“I’d like a stoppage, but it’ll probably go the distance. I think she’s got too much ringcraft and I know that I won’t get stopped; I’ve got a right good chin on me.”
Longer-term, Greatorex is eyeing up professional titles but knows that she’ll have to progress quickly if she wants to realise her dreams.
“I’d love to challenge for a Commonwealth title, but my short-term goal is a Midlands Area title.
“I’d also love to get on a big stage, it’d be amazing if I could go on Matchroom or Boxxer or something.
“The goal is pretty much to go as far as I can. I know I’ve only got a short amount of time; I’m 37 — I’m quite old. I want to do as much as I can in the short amount of time that I’ve got.”