Tornado Tori is set to storm the pro ranks

Tori-Ellis Willetts…fights on the Ijaz Ahmed title undercard

TORI-Ellis Willetts is determined to find her feet in the pro ranks quickly and accelerate towards further prizes. 

She can make it a hat-trick of pro wins on October 20 at the Holiday Inn Queensway, in Birmingham city centre, on the undercard of the British title rematch between Ijaz Ahmed and Marcel Braithwaite. 

Willetts has every right to feel confident after a host of amateur accolades. She featured at international level and for the Team GB podium squad. 

The 28-year-old bantamweight was a two-time England Elite national title holder and a double Tri-Nations champion, with Multi-Nations gold and silver medals gained internationally. 

That’s despite taking up boxing late at the age of 18, having transitioned from kickboxing, where she won multiple honours, including a gold medal at the World Championship. 

She also boxed in the Army, where she served as a Gunner, and was a part of their Elite Athlete programme, which allowed her to still be a part of Team GB.  Both of those experiences came to an end last year when Willetts decided to undertake a Level 4 sports coach apprenticeship and turn pro. 

She is now a PE teacher, working at the Chilwell Croft Academy in Newtown, Birmingham, which is not far from her Sutton Coldfield home. 

“The Tornado” has navigated her way through a whirlwind year under the tutelage of coach Max McCraken, and has reached 2-0 as a pro. 

In her debut, she dismantled Klaudia Ferenczi inside three rounds, before a six-round points whitewash success over Wendellin Cruz.

Willetts said: “I was supposed to be boxing last month (September 9), but it didn’t happen. I only found out the week before that it was off, during my last proper training session. 

“I was soon back in the gym. I’m not very good at taking it easy. I’ve basically been through two training camps. I had a cold, too, but I still pushed on. 

“I’m a Birmingham girl, my dad lives there. Mum was in Nuneaton, but she’s moved out to Spain. I’ll go and see her after the fight, like I did after my last one. 

“I’ve got a week off this time and then I’ll fly out during half-term. I can still keep up with training, as I’ve found a local gym over there that’s pretty good. 

“The feeling of making my debut is something that I’ll never forget, to have all of my friends and family there with me. To get the stoppage was even better. 

“My jab was too much for her. When I let my hands go, she was done for. To have my second fight in my home city, with even more of my people there, was brilliant, too. 

“The opponent was heavier than me and tried to spoil my work. She could take a shot, though, and I caught her with some heavy punches. 

“This should be my last six-rounder, I’m planning to go up to eight rounds and get out again by the end of the year. After that, I’ll be ready for titles.”

 *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