Paige’s eight months of boxing frustration
Paige Goodyear…hit by illness and cancelled contests
AN eight-month absence from the ring will have Paige Goodyear raring to go when she’s back in her hometown for a fight.
The countdown is nearly over and culminates at the Town Hall in Dudley, on Saturday night, as part of a show hosted by BCB Promotions.
Goodyear, from Sedgley, engages in hometown action for the first time as a pro, having represented Woodsetton’s Brooklands Boxing Club as an amateur.
“The Hammer” last featured at amateur level in 2019, finishing up with an unpaid record of 25 victories from 32 bouts, claiming four national titles along the way.
In addition, she claimed bronze at the 2018 Youth World Championships and captained the England team, while reaching the quarter-finals, at that year’s European Youth tournament.
Goodyear then took the plunge and turned pro in April of last year, and was pushed hard by a tough opponent, when tackling Argentina’s Linda Karen Ascencio.
The 22-year-old light-middle managed to see off Asencio, getting past her by a point, 39-38 after four rounds.
A second pro contest arrived in October, where Goodyear again had to work for a victory over Ester Koncena, an experienced performer from the Czech Republic.
But she reached 2-0 with another points success, dropping a round against Koncena early on, but rallying to secure a 39-37 verdict.
Goodyear is now set for a rematch with Koncena, hoping to secure a spotless success on this occasion. Waiting has certainly been the hardest part.
She was due to box in December, at the Hangar Events Venue in Wolverhampton, on another BCB show, and at Dudley Town Hall this March.
Both dates never came to fruition, with opponents falling through at pace and then injury and illness, leaving Goodyear a frustrated figure, but still toiling away in the gym.
Her pro outings have seen her old amateur coach Darren McDermott, an ex-pro and former English middleweight champion, in the corner.
She’s also been working with Steve O’Rourke, who is most notable for helping to launch the career of 2020 Olympics silver medalist Ben Whittaker.
Tickets for the Town Hall bill are still available, priced at £40 standard or £75 VIP ringside, directly from the boxers or by visiting myfighttickets.com.