Amy Greatorex: “I can’t thank everyone enough. It’s restored my faith in people and it just amazes me that complete strangers are willing to support me.”

Amy Greatorex: “I can’t thank everyone enough. It’s restored my faith in people and it just amazes me that complete strangers are willing to support me.”

It was a Twitter post born out of desperation. A few days out from her much-delayed professional debut, Amy Greatorex still had £700 worth of tickets left to sell to even make that first ring walk. An opponent’s fee and expenses to pay for. If she sells enough, she might even have a bit left for herself. The side of boxing many don’t see. But it wasn’t about profit, it was just the desire to fight and chase her dream. In truth, Amy would probably fight for nothing.

“I’ve got till Wednesday to sell another £700 worth of tickets or my fights being pulled. Beyond gutted after the journey I’ve been on and the time it’s taken to get to this point.” The words from Monday’s Twitter post. Amy needed help and quickly. It came, and then some.

After every like and retweet, and there were many, her Twitter account started to blow up, and messages from all corners of the boxing world started to flood in with offers of help and support. The likes of Sunny Edwards, Natasha Jonas, Lee Eaton, Frazer Clarke, Sky Nicolson, April Hunter, Curtis Woodhouse, Ade Oladipo, Lucy McDonald and others all reached out in various forms. And thankfully, Amy has now thankfully ticked all the boxes needed and will now make her professional debut on Friday 9th December in Barnsley on an Outlaw Promotions show.

A relieved Amy is beyond grateful to every single person who reached out to her:

“I can’t thank everyone enough. It’s restored my faith in people and it just amazes me that complete strangers are willing to support me and help get me to where I am! The support has been overwhelming and has really humbled me even more! The whole boxing community is amazing and I’ve never known anything like it. I’m buzzing now. Yesterday I pretty much thought it was a done deal that it was going to get pulled, I actually had to make £1500 more and didn’t think I’d manage it! The boxing world has come together after one tweet that I never expected anyone to see and they are making my dream come true and I can never truly thank everyone enough!” From despair to relief and then one incredible high. The side of boxing we should see more often.

Before that one single tweet that changed, and saved everything, it looked to be another story that would end in disappointment for Amy. The professional debut was delayed by an admin error and Amy had to sit and wait to get her career up and running. The story of Amy Greatorex is a true feel-good story. Battles with anxiety and depression have been won. A battle with her weight also has been won. Amy was 14st and a size 20 when she first started her journey into boxing. A never say die attitude has got her to where she is now. Amy 36, had her first fight a few months shy of her 30th birthday and after thirty-three amateur bouts, a decision was made to enter the paid ranks. A battle to get sponsors has been well documented, another ongoing battle for Amy. A cry for help is never far away in boxing. The bigger fights are often outside of the ring. Working full-time as a personal trainer, her boxing training running alongside the day job, the days are long and hard. But rewarding. Boxing gives her so much, the battles with her mental health and her weight, boxing is the key to her happiness you feel. A story that needs to be told. And often.

All the worry and stresses are now over, and Amy will finally get to show her skills in Barnsley next week, and another fight courtesy of promoter Lee Eaton is already being planned for March in Sheffield. It’s been a long wait, a frustrating one, but things are now on the up for the Chesterfield hopeful. In many ways, boxing has saved her yet again.