Stoke-on-Trent’s Beccy Ferguson is one week out from her third Midlands Area title attempt and this time it’s Chesterfield’s Amy Greatorex who stands in her way.
The two contenders have previously shared the ring in a ‘Fight of the Night’ worthy affair, and Ferguson is confident that she can recreate the success she had last time to win the super featherweight belt for her two children.
SHE BOXES caught up with the 33-year-old southpaw to discuss her rematch with Greatorex, how she balances boxing with being a single parent, and her impressive resume of opponents.
Fast Facts
NAME: Rebecca Ferguson
ALIAS: Firebomb
NATIONALITY: UK
WALK OUT SONG: Various
PRE-FIGHT SUPERSTITIONS: Drinks water from her ‘Victory Cup’ (a black and gold teacup) on the morning of a fight
POST-FIGHT MEAL: Hickory’s platter for one with a side of cheesy chilli fries
Finding Comfort in Combat
Ferguson has always been drawn to combat sports, whether it be jiu-jitsu as a child keen to try something new, or MMA as a young adult looking to improve her fitness.
“…boxing completely made me change my life around.”
“I’ve always liked contact sports; it’s just always been something I’ve found a comfort in.
“[MMA] was just a hobby, I was going through a rough time, so it was something to take my mind off things. But I didn’t actually have the dedication like I do with boxing, boxing completely made me change my life around.”
It was by chance that the now mum of two took up boxing. After a year or two casually training in MMA, her gym unfortunately shut down leaving Ferguson with an itch for fighting left unscratched.
From Unlicensed to the Paid Ranks
Ferguson stepped into a boxing gym for the first time while she was living in Shrewsbury in 2014. The gym operated on the white collar circuit and was led by former professional boxer Roddy Doran.
Things moved quickly but six unlicensed fights later, Ferguson’s personal situation looked very different. The southpaw had uprooted her and her children’s lives, moving 40 miles North to Stoke in search of a fresh start after leaving a toxic long-term relationship.
Not knowing anyone in Stoke and having always found a reliable sense of stability and community in boxing gyms, Ferguson soon enquired about turning professional with Scott Lawton of Impact Boxing Gym.
“[Scott] was like, ‘If you put the time and the effort in and show willing.’, which I’ve literally done every single day since I spoke to him 3 years ago now, and it’s all paying off.
“To think, from starting off as just sort of half-heartedly going training and then doing a little white collar fight here and there to actually: this is my life now.”
Professional Career to Date
Ferguson is currently 5-10 as a professional, but her losing record certainly isn’t indicative of her potential in boxing.
The mum of two has been in tough fights since the beginning, debuting against (now) former European Champion Kirstie Bavington, before embracing the likes of Commonwealth Champion Kirsty Hill, European Silver Champion Stevi Levy, and former Team GB boxer Sian O’Toole.
Although she may have lost against this high-calibre talent, none have managed to stop her.
“There’s been very few fights that I haven’t come out even winning a round.“
“I’m privileged and proud to be able to say like, Yeah, that’s my resume! I’ve shared the ring with all these women that are either currently holding belts or going for belts.
“I’d love to be a World Champion and all that, I mean I’m going for the Midlands and that is like a World Champion belt for me.
“But to have achieved being in that ring and not being stopped by any of these girls…I’m holding my own in there. There’s been very few fights that I haven’t come out even winning a round. I’ve given everybody a good go so yeah; I am very proud.”
Proving that she isn’t in boxing to pad records, the often-away fighter has caused several upsets since turning professional in 2021.
She has established herself as a gatekeeper of the feather and super featherweight divisions, having blemished the previously unbeaten records of Jordan Barker Porter and Hannah Baggaley.
“I think I’ve got to let my mindset be positive more instead of you know, Oh I’m getting old. Like I can still push for these good things because I do believe that I can achieve them, and I suppose looking back at who I’ve boxed already it shows that I am worthy of that.
“It’s just nice to know that when my career does come to an end, I do believe that I have made a mark; whether it be a gatekeeper or a stepping stone or however you want to reference it.
“I think it doesn’t matter who you are, whether you’ve got an amateur background or white collar. If you put the time in, you will get the results.”
Third Time Lucky for a Midlands Area Title
Saturday 23rd March will be Ferguson’s third attempt to claim a Midlands Area title, having come up short against Vicky Wilkinson and Sian O’Toole.
This time, she will face Amy Greatorex, who Ferguson previously beat in April 2023.
“We know how each other work, obviously we’ve had a few fights since then so I’d like to think she’s probably improved and I’ve probably improved as well, so it will probably be a better fight than the last one.
“But it’s going to take a lot for me to not walk out with that belt this time, I’m telling you.”
Their last encounter took place over 4 rounds which Ferguson ultimately won on a 39-37 points decision.
“…I’m confident saying that the cleaner shots were coming from me.”
“This one’s obviously 10 [rounds] because it’s a championship, so it’s a different level altogether. I’ve done it a couple of times and she’s not had that [experience]. I know you can spar 10 rounds, but when you fight 10 rounds it’s different.
“And obviously the style of someone can alter but it doesn’t really change. I felt comfortable in the last one. It was a bit of a war but I’m confident saying that the cleaner shots were coming from me.
“I’m going to be ready for whatever she’s going to come at me with, I’m going to have an answer for everything.”
Juggling Boxing and Parenting
Professional boxers can train upwards of 2-3 hours a day, 5-6 days a week. This is an especially demanding commitment for athletes like Ferguson, who boxes on top of her full-time job as a Rehabilitation Support Worker.
Around work and training, Ferguson is also a single mum to her son Cassian (6) and daughter Sienna (4).
“If anyone says that they’re not stressed when they do this as a parent, they’re lying.
“But we work together so, you know, there’s tough days and there’s good days. The children over time have got used to sitting there and my son especially will give me pointers, he’ll be like, ‘Mum, you’ve been sat on the ropes for too long!’
“It’d just be nice to bring something home and get this Midlands belt for every night where I feel sorry for the kids that I drag them to the gym.”
The UK’s First Female Pro Boxer to Have 100 Fights
Should Ferguson be successful in her campaign for the Midlands Area title, it could present some exciting opportunities.
“I do like to think that would open up a lot of doors, maybe a Commonwealth title shot.
“Obviously, I know my record, I’ve got more losses than wins, but I am a good competition so I might even get a shot on Matchroom or something.
“They might need someone that they might need to test someone else, and I could cause an upset like I have done before.”
Belts aside, Ferguson is aspiring to become the UK’s first female boxer to reach 100 professional fights and believes this is achievable if she continues to accept more fights on the road.
Currently 15 fights in, Ferguson clearly isn’t considering retirement anytime soon, but once she does, she knows she’ll only be stepping to the other side of the ropes.
“I want to become a manager, trainer, and promoter; I’d quite like to do the whole thing. I’d like to have my own little gym somewhere eventually.
“Obviously spending a lot of my time around it all I’d like to think that I’ve got a lot of knowledge…and I do believe that we need a lot more [female representation in boxing].”