On Saturday, 19th October 2024, Sheffield’s Georgia ‘The Hammer’ Klein will look to improve to 2-0 in her home city, fighting on the undercard of Nicola Hopewell and Mary Aina Abbey’s Commonwealth title bout.
Klein, who is signed to heavyweight boxer David Allen, was an accomplished amateur, having been selected to represent Yorkshire on two occasions, boxed for the England squad, and won a Yorkshire title—all within 40 fights.
“I wasn’t really getting any club bouts because everyone was like, ‘She’s too experienced!’ So, I was just waiting around for box cups and championships and stuff.
“And then, after I won the [Yorkshire] belt, I kind of felt like I had done it all in the amateurs, like there wasn’t anything else that I could do. I turned over because that was the vision anyway from when I started. I just thought, ‘Why not?’”
The 23-year-old first met her manager David Allen when he brought European Silver Champion Stevi Levy to her gym for sparring.
“I get on well with Dave, we have a good laugh and stuff. He brought Stevi to our gym, with Joe Hayden as well. So, I spoke to him a little bit, and then he started coming down more with Stevi.
“So yeah, we just got talking, and then it just kind of went from there.”
‘The Hammer’ made her professional debut on Saturday, 14th September 2024 against Balmedie’s Shelley MacDonald, which Klein won via TKO within 53 seconds of round four.
“It felt amazing! I wasn’t expecting to get the stoppage. I just thought, ‘Get out there, don’t rush into anything, and whatever comes, comes.’
“I think I put a statement out there that I’m a really good boxer. I know I’ve got the skill; I’ve got the power; I’ve got the boxing brain.
“I’m really happy with my performance. I feel like that was up there with one of the best performances of my career!”
Just over a month after her last outing, Klein will be looking to build a win streak this weekend against Colombia’s Katherine Quintana.
“I wasn’t expecting another fight so soon. I heard about possibly the end of November being an option, but I thought that was quite a while away, so I just thought, ‘I’ll jump back in now.’
“Since my debut, I’ve not really taken any rest days off, apart from that weekend. So, I felt like I was ready to get back in.
“I want to stay active. I don’t want to be out of the ring for too long. I did that in the amateurs, and I wasn’t really a fan of it. So, whenever I can, I’m going to jump back in.”
Klein, who works full-time at an Outdoor Nursery alongside her training, has plenty of time on her side and plans to take her time adjusting to the paid ranks.
“I want to get some more experience under my belt because, obviously, it’s a lot different to the amateurs. So, I’ll get more rounds in and, yeah, just see where it goes.
“I’m not going to rush into anything because I put my full trust in my trainers and my manager, so whatever they think is right for me, I’ll go with that. But yeah, hopefully a couple more fights, and then boxing for titles is the aim.”
Photo credit: McMain Photos