Tiah-Mai Ayton: A New Beginning

Tiah-Mai Ayton: A New Beginning

It could be the start of something special. A professional debut for an 18-year-old who many are tipping to be a future superstar.

Tiah-Mai Ayton hasn’t lost a single fight inside a boxing ring. On Saturday night in Birmingham, the odds are that her unbeaten record will not be troubled too unduly.

Eddie Hearn saw something in a sparring session with Skye Nicolson that he liked. Ayton and Nicolson were trading blows. Ayton did well enough to convince Hearn to sign her. In twenty-one amateur fights, Ayton wasn’t beaten. Last year, she travelled to America and came home the World U19 World Champion.

The Hungarian Sara Orszagi will welcome the much-hyped Ayton to the world of professional boxing. Orszagi, a late replacement when the intended opponent dropped out at the eleventh hour, has two wins in nine fights. Her resume is highly unlikely to improve against Ayton.

If Ayton can replicate her amateur success in her new world, Hearn could have found his new star on the female side of the sport. Maybe at a time, he needs it the most.

Elite fighters like Alycia Baumgardner and Ellie Scotney have left the Matchroom bubble for pastures new in recent times. Both have joined the Jake Paul revolution. Skye Nicolson and Rhiannon Dixon have now lost their world titles, and while Katie Taylor still sits proudly at the top of Hearn’s female roster, the Matchroom stable is certainly lacking in depth somewhat. Tiah-Mai Ayton could be an incredibly important fighter for Hearn going forward. And just maybe, for women’s boxing period, certainly on this side of the pond.

The likes of Ellie Scotney, Chantelle Cameron, Terri Harper, and Lauren Price all have big fights in their future, but Caroline Dubois aside, where are the fighters of the future for women’s boxing in Britain. Ayton could be that fighter.

Ayton, who will look to win world titles in multiple weight divisions, isn’t phased about the lofty expectations. “The more pressure I am under, the better I perform,” Ayton told me last month. “I just want to work my way up, and I am hoping I can be a world champion in three years’ time.” But she has time, and plenty of it. Saturday night is a new beginning, but that’s all it is. Patience will be key. However, a potential star needs the kind of promotion that will make her that star. Tiah-Mai Ayton just has to make sure she plays her part. From what we have seen so far, there is every chance that she will.

Photo Credit: Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing