GB amateur Omarah turns pro with BCB
Omarah Taylor…makes her debut in Birmingham
FORMER GB Amateur Omarah Taylor has signed for Black Country Boxing and will make her pro debut on December 20 at Birmingham’s Eastside Rooms.
The 30-year-old grew up in Great Barr but now calls Sandwell her home. Her path to boxing was unconventional, answering an advert for UK Sports’ “Discover Your Gold” campaign following the 2016 Rio Olympics.
The initiative, designed to identify untapped sporting talent and launched by Sir Steve Redgrave, had a woman’s boxing category. Taylor managed to beat thousands of applicants, landing a place on the prestigious GB boxing squad.
This was the start of a stellar amateur career, which saw Omarah reach the final of the national championships, losing in the final to Cindy Ngamba. After having already previously reached the semi-final of the same competition and with 27 bouts to her name, she made the decision to head to the paid ranks.
“It was frustrating not to win it, but I gave it my best go and had the decision gone the other way It would be a different story. I used those six or seven years to learn and being around other talented fighters and experienced coaches taught me a lot.
“Turning 30 was a factor in me deciding to turn pro, it just felt right for me. Woman’s boxing is getting more respect and more recognised than ever before so I can’t think of a better time to do it.”
Despite not having boxed pro, the light-middleweight has been in high demand, with some of the best pound for pound boxers in the world having her in for sparring sessions.
Omarah said: “I have just got back from being in camp with Clarissa Shields in the States and have sparred with Chantelle Cameron, Natasha Jonas and Sandy Ryan. They have been great experiences for me and I will take a lot from those sessions in to my first fight.”
Her passport may have been getting plenty of stamps, but the Midlands is where she calls home. Training under experienced coach Joby Clayton in Wolverhampton, she shares a gym with Olympic silver medallist Ben Whittaker and heavyweight prospect Emanuel Odiase.
Away from the ring Taylor keeps busy running her own organic superfood business called One Self Well Being with her partner as well as working in the security industry.
“I’m passionate about my work but I want to become a world champion. I shouldn’t aim for anything less than that. December 20 is just the start of what I know will be a great journey.”
“It’s a great signing for us” said BCB boss Errol Johnson. “Omarah was an elite amateur, she had spent a lot of time in our gym so I have seen plenty of her sparring Kirstie Bavington and she will be a great addition to the team. We have a deep roster of female fighters and I am happy to add another talented boxer to the BCB stable.”
Tickets for the December 20 show at the Eastside Rooms are available now from the boxers directly or by emailing ticketing@bcb-promotions.com prices £40 standard and £80 VIP Ringside.