Ruth Huntley: 2026 & Beyond
The future of women’s boxing in the UK is seemingly in safe hands. The 19-year-old Tiah-Mai Ayton is arguably the best prospect in boxing. After just four professional fights, and despite being in the embryonic stages of her career, Ayton is being hailed as a future superstar. At just 21, Francesca Hennessy is already moving to the fringes of world title contention. By the close of play this year, Hennessy might already have fought for, and indeed won, a world bantamweight title. Ayton and Hennessy could even be on a collision course within the next two years.
Ruth Huntley is another fighter who could go far in her sport. The 19-year-old turned professional in 2025 after a 17-fight amateur career that included two National titles. Huntley had a fair bit of hype surrounding her when she turned over under the Queensberry banner, but her debut didn’t go as planned. Regular import Sara Orszagi surprisingly beat her on points 39-37 last January at the York Hall. I am never one to get too down on a fighter because of a defeat, especially one so early in a career.
After that somewhat unflattering start to life in the pro ranks, changes were made in-house, and Huntley has rebounded from the initial setback with two wins on the bounce. Three months after the loss to Orszagi, Huntley won every round of a four-rounder against Ivanka Ivanova. In September, Huntley took a 40-36 points decision over Kira Carter. That slightly shaky start to life in the world of professional boxing has now been firmly put behind her.
Huntley returns on February 13th at the Grays Civic Hall, on a show that also features the return of former British and World title challenger Raven Chapman.
At 19, Ruth Huntley has time on her side, and there is no need to rush her. That defeat on her professional debut could turn out to be a blessing for her. A little reminder that she needs that time to develop. Time she has, and that time should be used wisely. The following twelve months should be about learning, gaining experience, and building up her resume, before fights that are a little more meaningful in 2027. Compared to the likes of Ayton and Hennessy, Huntley might go under the radar a little this year, but she is definitely a fighter to follow as her career advances.
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