Sian O’Toole is looking to put on a worthy sequel after catching the eye with her pro debut.
She goes again at the Holiday Inn Queensway, in Birmingham city centre, on the undercard of the Ijaz Ahmed Marcel Braithwaite British Super Flyweight Title rematch, on October 20th.
O’Toole, who is from Droitwich, Worcestershire, turned over in Birmingham, at the start of last month, during a BCB offering at the Eastside Rooms, putting on an impressive debut.
The 24-year-old featherweight went straight into a six-rounder against Amy Greatorex, giving her opponent little cause for optimism over-the-distance.
She put combinations together and targeted both the head and body, with precise punches, as all of the rounds went her way, making for a 60-54 points scoreline, at the final bell.
O’Toole was soon back in training and returning to her other profession, as a maths teacher at a secondary school, at Bishop Perwone C of E College (Worcester).
She also has a son, Michael, who is two in November, from her relationship with partner Frankie Gavin, a former British and Commonwealth welterweight title holder.
Gavin was Britain’s first world amateur champion and O’Toole is also highly-rated, from her own amateur exploits, having three national titles to her credit.
That included two NABGC (National Association of Boys and Girls Clubs) and one England Youth accolade. She has international experience, too, through two years with Team GB.
He said: “I’ve gone through another brilliant training camp and I only took a week off, after my debut, but I still did my runs every day. I feel good and I want to keep that up.
“That was my best performance in a long time and the first time that I’ve boxed since April, in the England Elites (against Vivien Parsons, lost by majority decision).
“I went in there confident that I would perform, to the level that I’m capable of, and my opponent was different from what I’ve come up against before.
“The only thing that really took a beating was my right hand, with the amount of shots that I landed! It was certainly different with 8oz gloves on (amateurs wear 10oz gloves).
“I’ve shown that I can be fancy, on my toes, and move inside and out, so it’s about finding that balance now. There’s still a lot to work on and I’m not the finished article.
“I wanted to do six rounds, on my debut, and I had the option to do four, so it was my choice. Whatever comes next, I’ll just adapt again. You train to what you’re fighting at.
“I’m used to fighting three, three-minute rounds, from the amateurs, so to box two-minute rounds was rapid. I actually got more rest, between the rounds.
“I think that it will change and there will be three-minute rounds for women, in the pros. It’s just a matter of time. I don’t mind too much, either way, because I’ll have to get on with it.
“It’s nice to know that I’ve made the right decision to turn professional and I’m taking it seriously, in the same way that I do with teaching and tutoring.
“I tell the kids about my boxing and they enjoy hearing about it. I’m passionate about everything that I do, just like when I’m at home, being a mum.
“I’ve bought Michael a 2ft punch-bag, for kids, and he absolutely loves punching it. We are definitely a boxing household, with me and Frankie as the parents!”
Tickets for the Holiday Inn bill are available, priced at £40 standard or £80 VIP ringside, directly from the boxers or by visiting myfighttickets.com.
