Amy Greatorex: “The win means the world to me.”

Amy Greatorex: “The win means the world to me.”

Life on the road is incredibly hard. The away corner can be a thankless and unrewarding job. Even when you win. You don’t. Amy Greatorex knows this better than most. Before her fight on Saturday night, Greatorex had only won once in thirteen previous fights. Success has been hard to come by. But over the weekend in Sheffield, the 40-year-old finally tasted victory again.

Greatorex (2-12) outpointed Tracey Webber over six rounds. A 59-55 scorecard was enough to give the Chesterfield fighter her second professional victory.

“The win means the world to me, Greatorex told FightPost. “I’ve had an amazing sponsor that’s helped me get a home fight, which is what I’ve wanted all along. I didn’t really want to go in the away corner, but my hand was forced because of ticket sales. So being able to do a home show, and it being the first home show at the Old Forge, is amazing. It felt good too, especially because I think a few people had written me off.”

It’s fair to say the boxing career of Amy Greatorex hasn’t gone the way she had initially hoped for. The realisation that the comfort of being in the home corner relies on how many tickets you can sell. In simple terms, she doesn’t sell enough for that luxury. But Greatorex adapted and accepted where she was in the sport. But she has been conflicted many times. “I’m always in two minds about it,” Greatorex admits. “I know when I’ve really lost, and I know when the decision should’ve gone my way. I’m not delusional, and I can kind of live with that. But it does become very disheartening when people who don’t understand how boxing is and how hard it can be ask “did you win then,” and I say “no”, but. You almost instantly see their eyes roll as if they’re thinking oh here we go again. But I love to box, so needs must I guess.”

Greatorex turned professional in 2022 with a points defeat to the underrated Vaida Masiokaite. A tough start. It didn’t get any easier. Her resume is full of prospects who are expected to go far in their sport. For Greatorex, her expectations differ somewhat. “My ambitions were always to go as far as I could go,” Greatorex says. “That’s still the case. I’m 40 now, so I want to get as much as I can out of it while I can.”

In terms of what’s next, Greatorex isn’t sure. “Honestly, I’m not sure at the moment. I want to enjoy my win, but I’m sure there will be news soon.”

Life will probably return to normal. A boxing life back on the road. The away corner will be waiting for her. But Amy Greatorex had a moment on Saturday night. A special moment. It might go unnoticed by many. But for Greatorex, it means everything. Boxing hasn’t always been kind to her. It’s been a long time coming, but her sport finally gave her a night that she will never forget.

Photo Credit: Sweet Science Media