Laila Sutton: “I want to climb up the ranks and hopefully reach the pinnacle of female boxing.”

Laila Sutton: “I want to climb up the ranks and hopefully reach the pinnacle of female boxing.”

The deeper you delve, the more you unearth hidden gems. Women’s boxing has grown significantly in the last ten years or so. It’s been a difficult twelve months. But the talent is there to help the female side of the sport to not only survive but to thrive. The likes of Laila Sutton will play a big part in that future. The Bolton-born 18-year-old Laila Sutton is well on her way to being part of that future.

“I had an excellent upbringing,” Sutton says of her early years. “My parents split at a young age. But they both always supported everything I did and helped me to become the person I am today. I am super close to my family and wouldn’t have been able to do anything like this without them. I was quite fortunate growing up to have stability from my family.”

Before boxing came into her life, Sutton found success elsewhere in the sporting world. “I did gymnastics competitively for nine years and got to a quite successful level just before I turned to boxing,” Sutton relayed to FightPost. “I have also done cheerleading, swimming, and most other sports. But boxing is the one that I have fully committed to.”

“My dad started going to the gym when it opened in 2012. It was just after lockdown, and I had stopped doing gymnastics and cheerleading, so my dad suggested for me to join the class for fitness. I fitted in well and started doing private sessions with my head coach Brian, then I got carded, and the rest is history.” Was how Laila Sutton started her boxing journey.

“I love the sportsmanship behind it,” Sutton adds when I ask what the attraction of her sport is. “One of the best things for me is getting to know your opponents after you have fought and then getting to use one another for sparring. I really like how we all have the same goal but are yet willing to help each other to become successful.

“On a personal level, this sport has given me so much confidence. If I compare myself now to my first fight it’s two completely different boxers. The challenge and discipline needed to be successful has really allowed me to prove myself and that anything is possible if you put the right work in. On the other hand, boxing has given me some of the best connections I have. I have met so many friends and people in the sport that I now consider family. It truly has given me a sense of belonging and belief that I can make it far in this sport as I have the right support around me.”

“I was really nervous going into my first fight as I expected,” Sutton said of her first ring experience late in 2023. “I had previously competed on skills, which is just an exhibition. However, when it came to my first decision bout, I felt the pressure a lot. It was an away fight, and I did not have that much support come over to watch, so I felt all the odds was against me. I did not know how to manage my nerves for my first few fights. So I would be a complete mess. I was a massive overthinker, and the nerves, more often than not, always got the better of me. However, with experience, I have adapted to use my nerves to my advantage, which has clearly allowed me to be successful in such a short period of time.

Even after just a handful of fights, Sutton has found success. “I have become a two-time International Champion. I won gold in November, when competing for the North West Women’s Warriors, at England Boxings Winter Womens Box Cup. This was my first bout since April, so it was good for me to get off the ring rust and get the gold. I then competed over in Sweden this February in the Golden Girls Boxing Championships, where I won two of my three fights and fell short in the final with a girl who had theee times my experience.

“There was nobody in my initial experience and weight category, so after initially having a bye to one of the finals , the matrices were that I had been moved up two weight categories and even an experience category. I went on to dominate the quarter-finals and even the semi-finals, securing the wins against people much bigger and much stronger than me. I fell short in the finals, claiming a silver medal against an elite opponent who had more stoppages than I did fights, entering this competition. This experience truly showed to myself that I do have the heart to succeed. Although it was such a great experience for me, it was very physically demanding and mentally challenging to fight three days in a row and competing in three minute rounds for my first time. However, I am over the moon with my performance out there, and it has set me up nicely for what is to come in the future.”

Laila Sutton intends to have an active and productive 2025. A year that has started strong, with more to follow. “I have a bout coming up in just under two weeks that I am preparing for, against a tough experienced opponent, and once again, I am having to give away weight for. After this, I am going to compete in the Manchester Box Cup in May, where I am looking to add another gold medal to my collection.”

“At some stage,” Sutton says of if she has dreams of ever turning professional. “It is definitely something that I am willing to work hard for. I am going to gain as much experience as I can in the amateurs and then hopefully turn professional with my head coach Brian. I come from a stable of successful professionals like Alex Murphy, who is 13-0, and one of my family members, Harry Martin, who is set on becoming 2-0. I want to climb up the ranks and hopefully reach the pinnacle of female boxing.”