Black Country ace Kirstie Bavington set to star on another historic night for women's boxing
Black Country boxing star Kirstie Bavington is braced for another big night after landing a spot on next month’s historic all-women show at the Royal Albert Hall.
Bavington will join the likes of Muhammad Ali, Lennox Lewis and Henry Cooper by fighting at one of British boxing's most iconic venues, when she takes on Olympic bronze medallist Cindy Ngamba on March 7.
It is the second time the 32-year-old reigning European welterweight champion has been involved in a landmark event for women's boxing, having faced Tokyo 2020 gold medallist Lauren Price in the first-ever British title bout in 2023.
Price will headline next month’s show in a world unification fight against Natasha Jonas. Bavington now also has her place on the bill after agreeing to step up to super welterweight to challenge Ngamba, who will be making her professional debut.
She told the Express & Star: “I was offered the fight a few weeks ago. I messaged Boxxer promoter Ben Shalom saying I wanted to be on the A-side of the card, defending my European belt.
“They eventually got back and offered me the Cindy fight. We were negotiating the weight for a bit but I wanted to get on the show because it is such an historic night and I wanted to get back on TV. It is a massive opportunity for me.”
Bavington knows that, despite her far greater experience in the pro ranks, she is going in as underdog against Ngamba, who became the first member of the Refugee team to win an Olympic medal when she claimed bronze in Paris last summer.
But being the challenger is nothing new to the Midlands fighter, who won the European belt for the second time in October by beating home fighter Marine Beauchamp in France.
Bavington, who works full-time as a PE teacher at Sedgley’s Beacon Hill Academy, was controversially stripped of the European title after losing to Canada’s Kandi Wyatt in 2023, despite the belt not being on the line.
Efforts have been made to ensure the same does not happen again, should she come off second best Ngamba. Yet her main focus is on the possibilities beating the big-name boxer would bring.
“I live for risk,” said Bavington. “No risk, no reward is my motto. I just have to keep showing them, again and again. This time I plan to stay there.
“I have the experience. All eyes will be on her and I just want to prove myself again. That is the case with every fight I am in.
“I can’t moan I am not on TV if I don’t take the opportunities when they come. I just have to give my all.”
Promoter Shalom, who has signed Ngamba to a multiple-fight deal, said: "Cindy has big ambitions in the professional ranks and wants to test herself against the best.
"To face a fighter like Kirstie Bavington on your professional debut highlights that ambition. Cindy is a special person and a special fighter. She has already achieved great things in her amateur career and we believe this is going to be the start of a very exciting journey as a pro."
