“Hammer” Goodyear in a real power show

Paige Goodyear…stoppage win at The Eastside Rooms

PAIGE Goodyear, the Sedgley welter dubbed The Hammer, smashed the resistance from her opponent in four rounds on Sunday.

In her final scheduled six rounder, the former outstanding amateur produced her most emphatic performance to date. Now it’s on to eight and 10 rounds.

On BCB’s Eastside Rooms, Birmingham, bill, Paige had too much of everything for Marija Zivkovic. The Serbian was rescued at just 24 seconds of the fourth having been decked dramatically by a thunderous right hand-left hook.

That’s win number four for 22-year-old Goodyear, a former outstanding amateur - and her first inside distance. Dhe appears to be improving with each outing. Goodyear was certainly the trimmest she’s been since turning over.

Sunday’s show was entitled “Crunchtime at Lunchtime”. Paige provided the crunch.

Afterwards, the jubilant fighter posted: “Straight from the off we got to work!

“Thank you so much to all my family, friends and supporters who bought tickets out of their hard earned money to come and watch me. It truly means the world to me! I wouldn’t be able to do this without you guys.

“I’m on cloud 9 at the moment and I’m so happy I got to show you all some of different things we’ve been working on, they definitely paid off in there!

“Each fight I’m learning and stepping up the ladder each and every time! Step by step we are climbing.”

Goodyear certainly has the credentials to go far.

Trained by Steve O’Rourke, managed by Richie Poxon, Paige’s glittering amateur CV has meant she “turned over” with the weight of expectation on her shoulders.

She was ranked third in the world, took bronze at the 2018 Youth World Championships, captained the England team, reaching the quarter-finals of the European Youth tournament and claimed four national title.

All that was achieved in 32 bouts.

Paige insists she’s relishing the pressure.

“I wouldn’t change anything about my amateur career,” she said. “When you start off, that’s what you want and dream about.

“You have that experience and pressure and, when you turn over, it helps you, it makes you believe what you can achieve. I went professional because of lockdown, really. I couldn’t do anything and I’m one of those people who can’t sit still.

“My coach said, ‘why don’t you do it (turn pro)?’. I thought, professional boxing for women is thriving, I’ll give it a crack.”

“We want to go the old-fashioned route of English title, British title, European…I’m only 22, time is on my side.

“It’s about adding pieces to the puzzle. The last fight, I was practicing things. It’s about adapting things for every fight.”

Zivkovic, aged 37, has won one of 17 (one draw).