A WOMAN who was told she may never walk again has defied the odds to become a boxing champion.
Laura Pain and her family were told she’d likely be unable to walk after a hip surgery as a baby due to a condition called bilateral dislocation.
After using a wheelchair until the age of two, Laura learnt to walk and discovered the sport of boxing.
Now aged 24, Laura is celebrating a first-round knockout victory in the inaugural Jane Couch British Challenge, held at the City Coast Centre in Portslade, Brighton, on May 29.
The super flyweight boxer, who works as a personal trainer in Portsmouth, said she thought her dreams of fighting were over at the age of 16 after she had to quit kick boxing due to stiffness in her hips.
“I was speechless when I won, and so excited and happy. I've never felt like that before. I knew as soon as I agreed the fight that I was making history, and that felt fantastic,” she said.
Laura is the only female in the UK to hold a British title, until fights have taken place in other weight categories.
"I knew I just had to win. I had no fear, I just gave it everything I had,” she said.
"Normally I'd take a couple of rounds to suss out my opponent, but I just went for it with both hands and just didn't stop.
"I'm so glad they've finally given women the opportunity to compete in a specific UK fight. Every female fighter wanted that.
"The only difference now with the men is the length of round, and there's a physiological reason for that. It doesn't feel male dominated anymore - women are just smashing it."
Laura won the fight inside 90 seconds of the first round.
"I always knew my career would be in sports,” she said.
"Boxing is like an escape from everything else - you have to keep your focus, or you'll be hit. It's like a chess game, you have to keep figuring out what your opponent might do next. But I’m not a violent person.
Laura became eligible to be a professional boxer after winning the Harringay Box Cup in 2019. She got her licence in June 2020 after delays due to lockdown.
Laura was then the first to accept a fight to win the new British title eight weeks ago.
The title is named after the first British female boxer, Jane Couch, who has campaigned to promote women in boxing.
"I'm so glad I found boxing. I'll take as many fights as I can,” she added.
"Now I've won this, I absolutely fear losing it, but I'll just have to keep defending it. I'll always have to be top of my game now."
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