I feel massively lucky and honoured to be part of Pontypool ABC. I have trained out of Pontypool for over two years now and train between here and the Welsh team.

The coaches and boxers at Pontypool have contributed massively to my success. When I come back from training camps with the Welsh squad, Arch, Eddie, Dai, Connor, Jeff and Kevin have spent a considerable amount of time and effort helping to further develop me as a boxer. I have taken something from all of them.

They never ask for any credit but they are a great team with massive knowledge and passion for the sport that you don't see very often. In addition to the coaches it's great to train alongside great boxers; Kieran, Jayden, Wang and Lauren to name just a few.

There is always a great vibe in the gym and I love being a part of it

Q&A - Rosie Eccles

Q: How did you get into boxing?
Rosie: At 16 I walked into a boxercise class for the first time. The man who ran the class had a martial arts background and saw something in me and began training me after classes and before school. Soon after I went to my first club and it went from there

Q: What did your family and friends think/say when you said you wanted to be a boxer?
Rosie: Not very supportive to begin with. This is probably best illustrated by the way I started training. I mostly kept it quiet and for the first 6 months and would sneak out of my house early in the morning (around 3.30am), wheel my moped down the road and start it where it wouldn't be heard. I'd ride 45 mins to Newport at 30mph to train in the boxing gym, train, then ride back, wheel moped back up the road and get back into bed for 20 mins before getting up for school. After doing this for a couple months I went to my first boxing gym. Support was relatively low for the first couple of years from most people (not all) but it didn't really matter to me. I've always been stubborn so it likely made me better.

Q: Who are your favourite boxers?
Rosie: GGG. I admire his style and physical attributes and think he is very exciting to watch. I also did really like Canello however not so much since he failed drugs tests. I typically enjoy watching pressure fighters both because I think they are often involved in exciting fights but also because that's the way the I like to fight. But everyone in boxing I think must admire Lomanchenko.

Q: What advice would you have for young girls wanting to get into boxing?
Rosie: I think I would just advise them to walk into their local club and give it a go. And to then just enjoy it. If they do then I would say to stick to it regardless of the attitude of others. I think more than ever, clubs and coaches are massively encouraging of girls now, especially my club. I would then say the same as I would say to any boy or girl boxer; find a good club, train hard and smart, enjoy it and you will see the results.

Q:What are your plans for the future?
Rosie: My ambition is to go progress onto team GB and have success at the worlds and Olympics. And to better my silver in the GWG in Birmingham in 2022, both proudly representing Pontypool ABC and my country.

Q:Any role models/inspirational figures?
Rosie:I mostly look up to the people closest to me. I am surrounded by really talented coaches and team mates both within my club and squad team. I mostly aspire to reach the top of my sport and then to give back to it like my coaches have done so.

Q: What is the state of womens boxing now?
Rosie: Women's boxing is getting bigger and better all the time and the following is increasing. Even the pro field is beginning to develop. There are some very talented  young girls coming through and at the top level some very talented women. I think attitude has changed massively even in the last 5 years since I began the sport. I am very much treated like a boxer by my coaches and team mates, not as a 'female boxer'.

Q: What would you like to see changed in the sport
Rosie: More than anything I would like to see the best boxers always winning. Amateur boxing is still at times very corrupt. Yes, it is a subjective sport to some degree, however I have witnessed multiple corrupt judging decisions made within every tournament I have ever competed. It is very sad to at times see the most talented boxer robbed of the result they deserve. I don't think officials realise the hard work and sacrifice that goes into every performance. Which is what makes poor judging even harder to tolerate. However, we are unable to contest any result so just focus on the boxing.



Thanks for your time Rosie, and from everybody at Pontypool Boxing Club - Good Luck !