VIDEO: Female fighter, 14, makes history at Wakefield boxing club

Maya Robertson. Photo by Scott Smith Photography.

A teenager from Wrenthorpe has become the first ever female to compete for White Rose Boxing Club, in Wakefield.

Since its formation nearly 70 years ago, White Rose has never had a female fighter within its competitive ranks but Maya Robertson, 14, has rewritten the club’s history books by not only taking to the ring but also chalking-up a landmark victory.

Maya attended almost every training session, five times a week, for several months before competing in her first ever bout against Manchester’s Ellie Robertson last October.

A defeat on points failed to dampen Maya’s ambition and in February, she was back in the ring to fight Neve Dilks-Taylor, from Doncaster, in a show at Kellingley.

The Outwood Grange Academy student produced a terrific performance, forcing her opponent into standing counts in the second and third rounds to claim victory - the first ever recorded by a female White Rose boxer.

White Rose coach John Hall said: “Training-wise she is second to none and technically she is not behind anybody.

“She’s very polite and quiet. She’s all the things you wouldn’t expect a boxer to be and dedicated; she puts most of the boys to shame.”

After her victory, Maya said: “I was really happy. I am still excited now.”

She added: “[Becoming a professional boxer] would be really good but at the minute I am just going to get a few more fights.”