GOOD luck to Harlow Boxing Club’s Francis Wright who has a very big fight on Saturday night.

Francis is in the semi finals of of the England National Championships.

Francis has only been sparring for less than a year, but has taken to the sport so well that she is now a force to be reckoned with.

Under the careful tutelage of coach Kevin Wootton – who himself came through at the Essex club and boxed at county and national level – she has flourished and now ‘believes she belongs’ as a title contender.

Her preparations have been aided by a sparring session with Ruth Huntley, a Junior Development national champion last year at Under 52kg for Rainham.

“I’ve boxed at this club since I was nine before turning to coaching and it’s been a pleasure to work with Francis, having only previously worked with boys and adults…I think we make a good team,” said Wootton.

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In the opposite corner to Wright will be Leicester Lightning boxer Geneva Jones, who has joined the club after starting out at Phoenix in Nottingham.

Although she lacks experience, according to coach Chris Slatcher, she makes up for that with her effort and a strong desire to win.

And although her boxing career is still at the fledgling stage, she already has eyes on making a name for herself.

Slatcher said: “Compared to some of the other girls in the last four, she’s relatively new to this, and it will be tough for her, but she’s very determined to give a good account of herself.

“Geneva has trained very hard and that’s one of her big strengths…she loves to train and you know she will get it done, even if it’s away from the gym with her running.

“She’s getting better and better all the time and just needs that bit of experience, but you only get that by boxing people, which is why we have put her in.

“There’s no doubt that she’s very ambitious to make a go of boxing and not settle for second best, and, hopefully, with the right bouts at the right time, she can do that.”

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