Bristol boxer Tiah-Mai Ayton, 18, signs professional contract
An 18-year-old boxer has signed a professional contract after amassing an undefeated 21-0 record in amateur boxing.Tiah-Mai Ayton, who trained with Weston Warriors boxing club in Somerset, is set to make her debut this summer with Eddie Hearn's Matchroom Boxing promotors.The Super-Bantamweight from Bristol is a five-time national champion, and won gold in the 57kg weight category at the World Championships in Colorado, USA.Mr Hearn described her as the "next superstar of women's boxing".
Ms Ayton won the televised Haringey Box Cup in June last year at the 60kg Lightweight limit.The teenager has also excelled in several other combat sports, becoming a World Champion in kickboxing and Muay Thai at just 10-years-old.
'Time to shine'
"I've always wanted to turn pro with Eddie Hearn since I was a little girl," said Ms Ayton, who said her father encouraged her to take up boxing as a way to mitigate fights between her siblings."I think he's [Mr Hearn] got a message from me from like three or four years ago where I asked, 'one day can you sign me?' Today is the day I'm signed with him."I want those belts. I've had over 300 fights and I'm undefeated in amateur boxing. I think it's time to step into the pros now."Ms Ayton said she has always adopted a "professional style" in amateur competitions, but she believes she is "destined for greatness" in the big leagues."I think the young fighters coming through the ranks just keep getting better and better every year. It's our time to shine."
Mr Hearn described the teenager's unblemished record as "astounding"."She is hungry to get her professional boxing career underway as soon as possible," he said."Tiah could have waited for the Olympic Games but she believes she will become a multi-weight World Champion, so there was no point in delaying. "This is going to be an incredibly exciting journey, and I cannot wait to see what the future holds for her."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Reuters
42 minutes ago
- Reuters
Five contenders for the Wimbledon men's title
June 26 (Reuters) - The following are five contenders for the men's title at Wimbledon, which begins on Monday. * World ranking: 1 Australian Open and U.S. Open champion Sinner arrives at Wimbledon following his gut-wrenching, five-set defeat by Carlos Alcaraz in the French Open final, where he squandered three match points. That Paris heartbreak led him to endure a few sleepless nights and he will now be hoping to heal some wounds at Wimbledon even though the world number one will arrive at the All England Club having played only two competitive matches on grass. The defence of his Halle title ended in the last 16 after he was beaten by Kazakh Alexander Bublik. The 23-year-old has yet to win a title since returning from his three-month doping ban seven weeks ago and he will be eager to snap his recent winless run at the home of grasscourt tennis. * World ranking: 2 The holder returns to Wimbledon riding a career-best 18-match winning streak marked by triumphs at Rome, Roland Garros and the Queen's Club, leaving him primed to claim a third straight title at the All England Club. The 22-year-old, who has established himself as an all-court master, made the seamless transition from clay to grass last year when he became the sixth man in the professional era to win back-to-back Roland Garros and Wimbledon titles. After saving three championship points en route to retaining his French Open title, the five-time Grand Slam champion will again be the man to beat at the grasscourt major. * World ranking: 6 Djokovic is gearing up for his 20th consecutive Wimbledon appearance and will be desperate to get his hands on the gilded Challenge Cup after coming off second best to Alcaraz in the last two finals. Should the 38-year-old emerge triumphant, he will equal his great rival Roger Federer's haul of eight Wimbledon trophies and finally go past Margaret Court to sit atop the all-time list of major champions on 25 titles. Consistency has not been an issue for Djokovic at the All England Club, with the Serb reaching the final in each of the last six editions he has played and winning four of them. Despite being in the twilight of his glorious career, Djokovic remains one of the most dangerous players on grass thanks to his stinging returns and supreme court coverage. * World ranking: 3 Zverev could well be running out of time in his bid to claim a maiden Grand Slam title after losing three finals but the tall German will be determined to prove himself on a surface where he is yet to win a trophy despite having the weapons to succeed. While the 28-year-old has contested a final at each of the other three majors, he will be hoping to progress beyond the fourth round of Wimbledon for the first time. After deep runs in Stuttgart and Halle, Zverev will hope his big serve can cause plenty of damage on grass. * World ranking: 5 Fritz lifted his fourth grasscourt title in Stuttgart by beating Zverev and his reputation as a dangerous floater on the surface has been cemented after two trips to the quarter-finals in the previous three editions of Wimbledon. The U.S. Open runner-up is another player chasing his maiden Grand Slam title, hoping to become the first American man to win a major since Andy Roddick triumphed at Flushing Meadows in 2003. The 27-year-old has a huge first serve and a strong forehand that can blow away his opponents and he will be eager to make good use of his powers over the next fortnight.
The Independent
an hour ago
- The Independent
Championship 2025/26 fixtures – live: EFL opening matches and full schedule revealed
The Championship's 2025/26 fixtures are being revealed today as all 72 clubs of the English Football League (EFL) find out their journey through the season. The schedule for the Championship, League One and League Two will be released simultaneously with the three divisions following quickly after the Premier League 's matches were confirmed earlier in June. After a play-off final win, Charlton are back in the second tier of English football along with Birmingham City and Wrexham, while Leicester, Ipswich and Southampton dropped down from the top-flight. Barnet and Oldham navigated out of non-league at the end of last season to return to League Two, replacing Carlisle and Morecambe. In League One, meanwhile, the quartet of Doncaster, Port Vale, Bradford City and play-off winners AFC Wimbledon take the places of Crawley, Cambridge United, Bristol Rovers and Shrewsbury, who were all demoted in 2024/25. Follow the fixture release for the 2025/26 season as it happens with our live blog below, plus watch every Fifa Club World Cup game free on DAZN: Sign up here now. Key 2025/26 dates The 2025/26 EFL season will begin on the weekend of 1-3 August in League One and League Two, and 8-10 August in the Championship. The second-tier's fixtures take place over 33 weekends, nine midweeks and four Bank Holidays, while League One and Two's match rounds are structured across 33 weekends, five midweeks and eight Bank Holidays and International Breaks. The final games of the season take place on the weekend of 2/3 May 2026, before the play-offs begin: Championship Play-Off Final – Saturday 23 May 2026 League One Play-Off Final – Sunday 24 May 2026 League Two Play-Off Final – Monday 25 May 2026 Will Castle26 June 2025 10:30 When are the EFL fixtures released? The EFL fixtures will be confirmed at midday BST on Thursday 26 June. Every Championship, League One and League Two team will have their schedule confirmed for the new campaign simultaneously. The round one draw for the Carabao Cup will also be made later in the afternoon. Will Castle26 June 2025 10:15 Will Castle26 June 2025 10:00 Lawrence Ostlere26 June 2025 08:41
The Independent
an hour ago
- The Independent
F1 movie release date: Blockbuster film starring Brad Pitt drops in cinemas
Formula 1 have revealed that the highly anticipated film starring Brad Pitt in the lead role will be released on 25 June 2025 in cinemas worldwide. The Apple Original Film, in conjunction with F1 and Warner Bros. Pictures, sees Pitt star as a former driver returning to Formula One, with British actor Damson Idris his rookie team-mate at fictional team APXGP. Filming took place at races in 2023 and 2024, most notably at Silverstone in 2023 during the national anthems on the grid, and concluded at last year's Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in December. A new teaser trailer was released for the movie in the build-up to Super Bowl LIX, with the official trailer released in March. The film, simply titled F1, has a release date of Wednesday 25 June internationally and Friday 27 June in North America. Lewis Hamilton is also playing a part as executive producer, with the film directed by Top Gun: Maverick director Joseph Kosinski. Academy Award-winner Javier Bardem, nominee Kerry Cordon and Emmy Award-winner Tobias Menzies also star in the 2025 blockbuster. An F1 press release said: 'Made in collaboration with Formula 1, the movie is a landmark for the sport and cinema, filmed in real-time during grands prix around the world and involving the Formula 1 community, including all 10 teams, the drivers, the FIA and race promoters. 'The new feature film is set in the exhilarating and cinematic world of Formula 1 and will immerse audiences in the spectacle of the most popular annual sports series, celebrating the skill and heroism of the drivers while showcasing the incredible challenge of competition in Formula 1. 'The global theatrical release will also include IMAX theatres. 'The crystal-clear images, coupled with IMAX's customised theatre geometry and powerful digital audio, create a unique environment that will make audiences feel as if they are in the movie.' Speaking at the 2023 British Grand Prix about the role, Hollywood star Pitt said: 'Tell you what's amazing about it. You'll see cameras mounted all over the car. You've never seen speed, you've never seen the G-forces like this. It's really amazing.' He added that driving around the circuit was 'humbling', saying: 'I don't know if you could call mine a hot lap, I'd call it kind of a warm lap. 'I've taken a few tours, unintentionally, through the grass,' he said while confirming he hadn't hit anything hard yet, 'Only my ego.' Asked how he felt driving in front of the British GP crowd, Pitt said: 'I wasn't nervous... The guys really prepared me well. 'There's a couple of corners where I can see the stands, but I was focused on the lines. I was able to appreciate the experience of driving when I was on the straights. This should be as authentic as we can get it. 'Lewis [Hamilton] wants us to respect the sport, that we really show it for what it is. As a civilian, I had no idea what it takes to be a driver. 'The aggression and dexterity, I have so much respect for it.'
