Tori-Ellis Willetts: Beyond The Ropes
Tori-Ellis Willetts once told me that boxing has given her “Discipline and a desire to be great.” Willetts gets such an opportunity on December 5th in Wolverhampton when she takes on the unbeaten Tiah-Mai Ayton for the British and Commonwealth featherweight titles.
Ayton is seemingly on her way to superstar status. Hailed by many as the future of her sport, the 20-year-old has blasted her way to seven professional wins in rapid fashion. Talk of world titles is already in play. That talk doesn’t seem misplaced. Ayton has impressed immensely since she turned pro after an unblemished amateur career, but she has one final hurdle to navigate before an assault on the world stage.
The 31-year-old Willetts will be in the opposite corner next month. The former two-time National champion turned professional in 2023 and went unbeaten in her first five professional fights. Willetts then challenged Tysie Gallagher in 2024 in a double-title super-bantamweight showdown. But it wasn’t to be for Willetts, when Gallagher outpointed her over ten rounds. It was probably a little too soon for the challenger. But Willetts overcame a slow start to be competitive down the stretch.
Willetts got back on track by beating Beccy Ferguson and Gemma Ruegg in 2025. Two good victories that gave Willetts a touch of momentum. Willetts then travelled to Denmark to face the unbeaten Melissa Mortensen, and lost on points over eight rounds. It was an incredibly tough away day assignment. For context, in her very next fight, the Danish fighter upset Mayelli Flores Rosquero to win the vacant WBA world super-bantamweight title. Willetts might have two defeats on her resume, but they have come against two world-class fighters.
It’s far too easy to write off a fighter after a couple of defeats. It’s too easy to dismiss what came before, and forget who those defeats have come against.
As an amateur, Willetts defeated the likes of Chloe Watson and Nicola Hopewell in the unpaid ranks. After a successful period on the Team GB setup, Willetts turned professional with lofty ambitions: “I believe I am more than capable of winning world titles,” Willetts told me in 2024.
Willetts hasn’t yet achieved anywhere near what she wants to do in her sport. But the two setbacks haven’t dampened those ambitions. “Obviously, you doubt yourself, and if you can achieve the goals that you have set out,” Willetts told me after her defeat to Gallagher. “But I know I won’t quit until I have achieved those, so it’s just motivated me to become a better fighter.”
You sense, win, lose, or draw against Tiah-Mai Ayton next month, that mindset won’t change.
