When Chesterfield’s Amy Greatorex first spoke to SHE BOXES in October last year, she shared that one of her short-term goals was to win a Midlands Area title.
Fast forward 3-months later and Greatorex found herself elated to announce that she would be fighting Stoke-on-Trent’s Beccy Ferguson for the super featherweight version of the title, but it hasn’t all been smooth sailing.
Being Dealt Her First Stoppage
Back in October, Greatorex had been hot off her first professional victory against WBC Indian Champion Sangeeta Birdi and was looking forward to building a winning streak against Doncaster’s Ellie Hellewell.
But unfortunately for Greatorex, on Saturday 21st October 2023 the Doncaster prospect became the first and only person to stop ‘G-Rex’ thus far in her career.
“I don’t think I should have been stopped…”
“I think basically I was just tired at that point; I’d had quite a few fights close together in the run up to [the fight]. Things just didn’t feel right on the night.
“I don’t think I should have been stopped though; I think the ref was a little bit too quick to finish it.”
The contest was stopped by the referee within 52 seconds of round three.
“I felt, when I was in the corner, a bit stuck because the ropes were on one side and the ref was the other and I’ve always been told: Don’t touch the ref. So, I was like, OMG where do I go?
“I was almost panicking a bit thinking I need to get out of this position, and then the next minute he’s ended it!”
Ebanie Bridges Sponsorship
After picking herself back up from the loss to Hellewell, the mental clean slate of a new year was then dampened by the slew of boxing fees that were suddenly up for renewal.
Greatorex has been very vocal on her social media to criticise the rising admin and medical bills which professional boxers have to pay, before the day-to-day costs associated with training, travelling, and nutrition.
The super featherweight disclosed that she had spent close to £1000 already this year on her boxing licence, brain scan, and doctor’s medical. The brain scan alone costs £595, which Greatorex emphasised had “more than doubled” from when she first turned professional in 2022.
“We’re not even making a living out of [boxing]…we’re doing it for the love of the sport.”
“A lot of people don’t realize just how expensive it is to box, and if you haven’t got the big sponsors, it’s quite difficult to do, especially if you are like me, self-employed.
“It’s not as big of a deal for the big event boxers, but for us small hall boxers it’s a massive deal when we’re fighting to get sponsorships and get our names out there.
“We’re not even making a living out of it really are we, we’re doing it for the love of the sport.”
Thankfully, her new gym mate, former World Champion Ebanie Bridges, who already sponsors several female fighters including Nicola Hopewell and Stevi Levy, stepped in to help Greatorex cover the cost after one of her sponsors dropped out.
“[Bridges] started training at [Riley’s Boxing and Fitness Centre], I’d met her a few times and we’d been chatting a bit.
“Then, obviously, she’d seen my post about a sponsor dropping out and needing the extra £300 to be able to have my medicals, and she was lovely. She messaged straight away and said, ‘I’ll give it to you.’
“She said she’s been there before at the start, and if it wasn’t for sponsors, she wouldn’t be where she is now, so she knows what it feels like.
“And she just wants to help and give back to people and help them in their journeys, so that’s been really nice. It’s been great to have her around and to chat to.”
Midlands Area Title Shot
After all the setbacks, the Midlands Area title shot was much welcomed news to Greatorex.
“I’d been sparring, and I could hear while I’m sparring just little bits of my manager talking to my coach going, ‘Are you going to tell her?’
“So then I finished the spar, got to the corner, and they were like ‘You’ve got the Midlands Area title chance and it’s Beccy Ferguson!’
“It geed me up a lot. I got really excited obviously and it’s just an amazing opportunity. It gave me that motivation to work even harder than I already was.”
Greatorex and Ferguson have met previously in the ring early last year in Greatorex’s third outing, which ultimately went in Ferguson’s favour via points decision.
With more than double the experience she had going into their last bout and having honed her style; Greatorex is looking forward to the rematch.
“I always knew at some point we were going to have a rematch because the first one was a war, it was a good fight, and it was a very close one.
“I think it’s going to be a war again. I think we’ll probably go in with the intentions of taking it steady, but I don’t think either of us have got a steady in us.
“Last time we fought we actually got told it was Fight of the Night, so I imagine something like that’s going to happen again.
“The one thing I’m certain of is it’s going to be a war. It’s going to be entertaining, and I’m feeling very confident.”
Seizing Every Opportunity
At 37-years-old, Greatorex wants to squeeze everything she can out of the remainder of her professional boxing career.
“…I want to grasp those opportunities that I have got now with both hands…”
“We’re basically going to try and get me out as many times as we can because I am getting on.
“There’s a lot of girls coming up in the ranks that are younger than me and have got more opportunities, so I want to grasp those opportunities that I have got now with both hands and get as many fights under my belt as I can.
“Obviously, see how far I can go, but we need to do it as though we’ve not got much longer left so we can get as much out of it as we can.”
Last time around, Greatorex revealed that her short-term goal was to win a Midlands Area title, and longer-term she hoped to challenge for a Commonwealth title and box on a Matchroom or Boxxer show.
With the first item on her list within reach, this title fight is a pivotal moment in Greatorex’s career which, should she perform on the night, could serve as the catalyst for those bigger and better opportunities she dreams of.