Meet the Million Dollar Babies of North Devon

ANYONE who has seen Million Dollar Baby will recall how Clint Eastwood's character Frankie Dunn needed convincing boxing was a suitable sport for a woman.

The hardened trainer was schooled in a male-dominated art and insisted the boxing ring was no place for a girl.

His attitude was finally changed by the determination of the movie's heroine, Maggie Fitzgerald, played by Hilary Swank.

For Bideford ABC's latest recruit, Roxane Guttridge, the story has been a source of inspiration.

"I've watched it about a million times," said Guttridge, who last week became the first female boxer to compete for Bideford in the club's 52-year history.

Along with fellow newcomer Emma Hoyle, Bideford now have two girls licensed to compete on the amateur stage.

The pair are enjoying slugging against stereotypes with their tough training schedule at the Clovelly Road gym.

"We had to prove ourselves, which is what you want," said Guttridge. "You don't want to be put in cotton wool.

"People look at you and they think you're going to break a nail or something.

"We don't have make-up and we don't have our hair looking good, we just turn up and train hard."

Convincing Bideford ABC's Dick Kersey they were ready to box was tough enough, and Guttridge admits she was on the phone every week until he relented.

"I just harassed him for a couple of months," she laughed. "Dick has warmed to the idea and we have earned that respect."

The 24-year-old certainly earned some respect at Blandford ABC, winning an explosive debut against Portland's Carla Nash by first-round stoppage.

With female boxing now accepted as an Olympic sport, there has never been a better time for girls to get involved.

Eagerly waiting for her first bout, Hoyle, 29, hopes the attitude of some old-school fight fans will start to change.

"Still people have got that same perception when they see these girls boxing that 'ladies don't fight'," she said.

"A lot of people don't agree with it but you're going to get that in any sport.

"With 2012 and girls being able to box in the Olympics, there will be a lot more interest.

"It will be good for the younger girls to come up and start boxing."

Already Hoyle has noticed a change at Bideford where the girls join in with the lads, training two or three times a week.

"When we walked in, I think they all thought we were only here for one night," she said.

"Now they treat us just the same and we feel like one of the lads."

Boxing is not a sport that sits easily with the girls' professional lives though.

As a dental technician, Guttridge is more used to fixing teeth than breaking them.

But that hasn't stopped her causing facial damage to her friend during intensive sparring sessions.

"You have got to get used to getting hit," said Guttridge. "It's something that's going to happen no matter how good a boxer or fighter you are."

Looks are important to Hoyle, a glamour model, but she has already sustained the traditional badge of honour for boxers — a broken nose.

"Roxane made it bleed," she laughed. "She cracked it and Matt Van Emmenis broke it — I was dead proud!"

The occasional black eye must be carefully managed.

"I can't spar when I've got a shoot coming up," added Hoyle."I just have to make sure I don't have any bouts around work. And there's always foundation!"

Gruelling gym work has seen Guttridge lose 10 kilos in the last four months and the foundations were certainly in place for her debut victory over Nash.

"I wasn't expecting it — I don't think anyone was," she said.

"When we were toe-to-toe she landed a couple shots. But when I took a step back and gave myself some space, that's when my shots were landing.

"It felt good to win but I would have liked to have done the full three rounds to test myself."

On February 27, Guttridge will box in North Devon for the first time as Barnstaple ABC host a show at Petroc.

Hoyle may also be added to the bill if a match can be found.

Featuring up to 15 bouts, the show will include most of Barum's top boxers and two from Ilfracombe ABC. To order tickets, look into the Mill Road gym or call Sarah Simpson on 01271 345638.