New pro Toran - the Flashdance fighter!

Winning team…Welterweight Toran Kelly and Kieron Gray

NEW pro Toran Kelly’s bringing a touch of Flashdance to the fight industry.

Like the dance movie’s lead actress, Jennifer Beals, she’s a welder by day – the only female one at the Telford engineering plant where she works.

And manager Adam Harper reckons former national champ Toran is set to send sparks flying in the welterweight division.

Toran, who lives in Donnington, will train out of Kieron Gray’s Slammers gym in Broseley, Telford. He’s the coach who took her to a national development title and ABA elite semi-final last year.

With only 11 amateur bouts under her belt, Toran, refreshingly, refuses to boast about future glories.

“I’m taking it step by step,” the 27-year-old said. “I’m quite a strategic thinker, I’m very realistic. The dream for every boxer is to become world champion, but I want to take it fight by fight, enjoy my boxing, enjoy my training and if the opportunities come my way, I’ll grab them with both hands.”

Toran played football at a high level – the clubs she represented including Wolves Ladies, then went to a boxing tournament and decided, “that’s for me”.

She attended both Madeley and Donnington gyms before settling at Slammers. The pro game will bring out the best in her, Toran believes.

“I’m a very strong fighter,” she said. “I’ve always been told my style is more a professional style. I’m not getting any younger and with the way things are going in women’s boxing, it’s the right time for myself. I want to make an impact in my local community as far as getting women into boxing.

“Kieron believes I can make it and do really well. In the past, I didn’t have that belief in myself.”

Toran is under no illusions she’ll have to take bouts on the road and occupy the away corner. In fact, she prefers it that way. “It will put less pressure on myself and is a way of making a name for myself,” she said.

The choice of Tewkesbury’s Adam Harper, a former English champ, as manager is something of a surprise. Toran let her instincts dictate that move.

“I’m very much a ‘first impressions’ kind of person,” she added. “I feel if I can’t get that first impression from you, I’ll struggle.

“Adam was open and talkative, I see a lot of what I am in him. I’m a people reader.”

Harper said: “If you win a national title and reach a national elite semi-final, as Toran has, then nothing is out of touch.

“With the pool being smaller in women’s boxing, Toran is one or two wins away from a Midlands title. Some women have boxed for a Midlands title after one fight.

“Honestly, if she got a good win in her first fight, I’d ask for a Midlands title fight immediately – if that’s what she and Kieron Gray wanted.

“Kieron has a wealth of experience, he’s guided Toran to titles – I think it’s going to be a great team. I think she’s going to win titles, cause a lot of headaches and the journey is going to be a lot of fun.”

*Anyone wishing to sponsor Toran should contact Slammers on 07811 132170.