Women’s boxing has been on the rise since Nicola Adams inspired the nation in 2012 taking gold at the London Olympics – the first Olympics women had been able to compete at.

The non-profit organisation, BOXWISE, has tried to harness this, providing a 13 week course for young people using boxing as a conduit to learn valuable transferable life skills and rewarding committed participants with help in education or employment on graduation.

This is the power of sport at its very best: empowerment and opportunity. As Wladimir Klitschko once said ‘Boxing is a kind of magic, it gives strength to the weak, discipline to the wild and confidence to the shy’. It’s proving far more than a form of exercise for many, it’s opening doors to new possibilities, unlocking new skills and cementing self-assurance.

The growing number of female coaches are leading the way, acting as much needed role models in such a traditionally male sport. Girls are getting hooked (figuratively and literally!) and are joining local clubs to continue learning the sweet science and progress in their boxing journey.

At BOXWISE we are proud to lead the way on female Boxing and are lucky enough to have a wonderful team of active female coaches and role models with Rachel, Emma and Kate at the forefront of all that we do. The only way we will see meaningful change is to challenge the stereotypes around us and normalise what was once unusual. Sport and specifically boxing should be available to everyone regardless of who they are or where they come from, inclusion is not a nicety it is a necessity.