Rising Chichester star: My route to pro boxing wasn’t easy – but I made it

Payne has been boxing since she was 14, and in just two years as an amateur she won a national title, a Midlands Box Cup title, three Southern area championships and a silver medal in the biggest European Box Cup.

"When I turned 18 I knew I wanted to go pro straight away, but I didn’t know how long a journey it would be to even get there,” she told us.

"I quit college in my second year to dedicate myself to it, moved around gyms to try to find the right team for me and as soon as I passed my driving test was driving myself over two hours into London (in my really quick Nissan Micra!) to spar with world champions and the best girls at the top of the pro game.

"As much as it cost a lot in fuel and was quite mind-numbing being in a car for so long, I really enjoyed it. I’d do the drive, turn up and get the rounds done – I didn’t have a coach with me for any of these rounds so turning up by myself was quite nerve-racking at first, but I was looked after by everyone’s team.

"But in January this year I travelled to spar a top girl, Lillie Winch, in a gym I’d been to once but where I’d been in contact with the coach Rod Julian.

"Rod had been in contact with my dad Mark since my only spar there in 2024 and had given me kind words after one of my bouts. We’d spoken to Rod about me going pro but I was only just 18 with no driving licence and couldn’t afford it or find a place to stay or a way to train up there so the idea fizzled out.

"But after I went back up there in January, Rod found me a place to stay – someone he knew had a caravan they would let me stay in. So that’s exactly what I did, I moved up there to train and have been there ever since and I’m forever grateful to have had that chance.

"I had a debut date booked for April, but I discovered I had two stress fractures in my leg two weeks out and had to pull out. I was put in a boot and on crutches for almost two months. But looking back now I believe everything happens for a reason.

"I’d been struggling for tickets for that debut – not a lot of people know it costs a fighter around £3000 – at least – to fight. And to be able to fight you have to sell that amount of money in tickets before you even get a penny of it yourself.

"So I came back more knowledgeable about what I had to do but it was still hard. I got back into my routine of driving up to Essex on the Monday morning, training twice a day, working my little job in between training and driving home to work again and resting at the weekend.

“I got a new date for my professional debut locked in against Alisha Lewis at Harrow Leisure Centre.and prepared. The number of hours of training, driving, sacrifices and sparring top girls felt like it had lasted years (which it sort of had) and I couldn’t have had asked for a better camp.

"Rod had me round every night for dinner during fight week and the way everyone at RJs gym has looked after me like family has been special and I can’t thank them – especially Rod – enough.

"I managed to sell quite a bit over in tickets which took the worry off my shoulders. And a big thank-you goes to my dad for taking on selling tickets too.

"There a lots of thank-yous – to everyone who got me there – because as much as it’s a solo sport, without selling tickets and having a great team behind you, it would be very, very hard.

"Fight night came around so quickly, one minute I’d weighed in, next the kit was on, warming up and then the ring walk.

"As a massive Oasis fan my idea was to go through the live ‘25 setlist with each ringwalk so I had to start off with Hello- and had “it’s good to be back” written on my kit. As soon as that ‘blip blip’ went off in the centre it was time to get to work.

"I managed to get a second round knockout, which was a dream come true, it couldn’t have gone any better. With no headguard now and smaller gloves it felt good to get in there and test it out.

"I’ve got some big things coming up and am looking forward to getting back out very soon.

"I’d also like to say a massive thank-you to the sponsors that have supported me and made it possible – A White Meats, The Lighthouse fish and chip shop in Chichester, Daedalus Drylining and Plastering and Hoyles Honey Hut.”