Girl power as Sophie makes her ring debut

Shropshire's very own Million Dollar Baby, Sophie Potter, has made her boxing ring debut.

And despite dropping the decision to Danielle Price, the Donnington club's first female fighter is raring to step through the ropes again.

The 16-year-old's contest at Welshpool Town Hall on Tuesday was the culmination of two years hard graft at the Telford club's gym.

She pressed the fight against Tredegar's Price, but found the Welsh girl's unorthodox style tough to solve. Price switched stance throughout and held her hands low.

Sophie, from Newport, said: "I was well nervous on the night and waited too long to let my punches go. It was a lot different to sparring and I ended-up with a cut lip, but I enjoyed it. I think I could've done better.

"Now I've got to get back in the gym and improve."

The Burton Borough School pupil, a keen cross-country runner, decided to lace on gloves after becoming a TV fan of the sport.

"I started going with a few friends, but the dropped out. My mum is right behind me and was there at Welshpool.

" She thought I did well. All the teachers wished me luck, too."

Eight-and-a-half-stone Sophie, who describes herself as a Tom boy, added: "I've never really had a fight outside the ring - just little fights - and I've stopped doing that since I joined Donnington."

Sophie is only the second registered female boxer from Shropshire.

And the bout was a new experience for Donnington boss Brian Davies, in the corner for his first all-girl match-up.

He admitted: "I don't know who was more nervous in the dressing room beforehand.

"But I approached the fight in the same way as I would with any other fighter. She got exactly the same 'verbals' as the men.

"She started well, but just couldn't find the target as the other girl tired.

"Mind you, her opponent was very unorthodox - she had a bit of the Naseem Hamed about her."

Davies added: "I don't know what I think of women boxing, to be honest.

"Some of the lads in our gym could only benefit, looks-wise, from a few left hooks. But Sophie's a pretty girl."

By MIKE LOCKLEY