Shona Whitwell, Gemma Richardson, Jade Pearce, & Mae Astbury Four Potential Stars About To Enter The World of Professional Boxing

Shona Whitwell, Gemma Richardson, Jade Pearce, & Mae Astbury Four Potential Stars About To Enter The World of Professional Boxing

If women’s boxing is to keep growing, it needs new talent to enter the fold and improve the depth of the female ranks. To help with that, four new potential stars will be making their professional debuts in the next few months. All four fighters have the potential to force their way into the British title conversation. In truth, you’d expect them all to go way beyond that. Shona Whitwell, Gemma Richardson, Jade Pearce, and Mae Astbury all have the potential to go a very long way in the sport.

Former Team GB standouts Shona Whitwell and Gemma Richardson can be more than frustrated with how their amateur careers ended. The Amy Broadhurst Olympic saga took away plenty from both. In many ways, unfinished business. Their loyalty to the brand wasn’t replicated by some, and the decision to leave the amateur ranks behind was a mere formality. It was a painful and bitter end to two incredibly successful amateur careers. In simple terms, both deserved better. Much better. But the professional world has now gained two immensely talented fighters. It would be a seismic shock if both Whitwell and Richardson are not in contention for major honours within the next few years. Two blue-chip prospects who will almost certainly be pushing for world titles before their careers are over.

Jade Pearce didn’t quite reach the same heights in the unpaid ranks as Shona Whitwell and Gemma Richardson, but she is a more than interesting addition to the world of professional boxing. Pearce had her amateur career blighted by injuries, but the fighter, who will look to compete in and around the super-featherweight division, still has the potential to go far. Pearce turned professional under the guidance of Carl Greaves, and that could be a move that could play out quite nicely for Pearce. Emma Dolan has benefited just fine since hooking up with Greaves, and Pearce could be another little gem of a signing.

It has been a long time coming for Mae Astbury. The application for a British Boxing Board of Control licence has been long. A process that has taken well over a year. Thankfully, Astbury has now received the all-clear to begin her professional career. The Northwich bantamweight was a late entry to her sport and subsequently doesn’t quite have the amateur accolades of the other fighters mentioned in this article, but Astbury could be a real dark horse. Astbury wants to go all the way. She just might.

Shona Whitwell, Gemma Richardson, Jade Pearce, and Mae Astbury will all look to make their professional debuts in the spring. Four talented additions to their new world. The only question might be who will get into title contention first?