Kirstie’s out to take shine off golden girl

Kirstie Bavington….says she’s much improved at a lighter weight

KIRSTIE Bavington is a fighter at the “been there, done that” stage of a career that has delivered far more than she possibly dared dream.

But she’s not approaching the end, the Pensnett fighter stressed.

“I’ll do it until my body says it’s enough,” 33-year-old Bavington told me at the press conference for MVP’s bold “UK v USA televised bill at Birmingham’s BP Pulse Live arena on August 29.

“I’ll do it until I can’t do it any more.”

Bavington is not part of the trans-Atlantic tournament, as she’d hoped. Instead, she’s part of a packed undercard and will face former outstanding amateur Gemma Richardson over six rounds.

It is a classic youth v experience confrontation. Richardson, from Lincolnshire, turned pro 15 months ago and has peeled off four straight wins. Bavington has had 17 contests since “turning over” in 2018, losing five of them and achieving boxing milestones.

She’s twice won the European welterweight title, the second time travelling to Mayenne, France, to outpoint Marine Beauchamp. She has made boxing history by taking part in the first women’s British title fight, losing to Lauren Price in 2023. In all, she’s had nine championship bouts.

She is also considered a torch-bearer for the women’s sport, saying proudly: “I try to inspire the kids I teach.”

That’s not bad for a school sports teacher who entered the game without fanfare. It is, she maintains, the result of sheer hard work.

“I’ve put the graft in and if you put the graft in, success has to come,” she said. “You have to work as hard as I work. I wasn’t meant to win the European title in France, but I did it. I work hard for it. I sell tickets and that takes graft – you have to put yourself out there.

“I’ve done really well and boxing’s been good to me, it’s given me the deposit for a house.”

Bavington believes she is currently the best version of herself – and the experience gained will prove decisive against 25-year-old Richardson. “I feel I’m thinking more in there,” she said, “I’m bringing them onto shots.

Gemma Richardson….former outstanding amateur, unbeaten as a pro

“The conditioning is better, I was maybe too heavy and this one is at super-lightweight. I’ve come down two weights.”

She added: “I just need to win.”

That means overcoming a boxer, in Richardson, who maybe finding her feet in the professional ranks, but has struck gold in the World Youth Championships, silver at the Commonwealth Games.

And Richardson isn’t fazed by the Black Country girl’s CV. “It’s just an easy win on my side,” she told me. She’s not predicting a stoppage, just “a win you can see a mile off”.

“I think the opportunity is made for me to show how good I really am,” she added. “Every fight camp I’m getting better, every fight camp I’m showing more.”

During Tuesday’s head to head, Bavington taunted her opponent by repeatedly asking: “Sure you’re ready? It’s two weeks – sure you’re ready?”

Both are ready – and then some.