Tony Bellew believes he has spotted a boxing star of the future.
Bellew enjoys the sport at all levels and has been quick to back young heavyweight hopeful Moses Itauma recently, though has stopped short of saying he is yet ready to take on the very best in the division. He is a champion of Nick Ball and many rising stars from overseas. It is, however, another fighter that he believes will be ‘the face of the sport.’
IIn response to a picture of Tiah-Mai Ayton having her hands wrapped ahead of her second pro fight, ‘The Bomber’ heaped praise on the emerging talent.
“I said in an interview two weeks ago that this girl is going to be the face of boxing! I’ve not seen someone like her in her first pro fight ever!”
Bristol-based Ayton is just 19 years old but has already set her sights high. She hopes to become the youngest ever undisputed champion – in both male and female boxing – in the four belt era.
The current record is held by American Gabriela Fundora who was 22 back in November 2024 when she cleaned up in the flyweight division.
Ayton has already fought 300 times outside of boxing with a mix of Muay Thai, mixed martial arts, kickboxing and jiu-jitsu contests, recording just three defeats, all of which were later avenged.
The young star is following in the footsteps of female trailblazers such as Katie Taylor, Amanda Serrano and Claressa Shields, all of whom have won multiple world titles and opened the door for women in the sport to earn huge purses for the first time.
She is signed to Matchroom Boxing and has previously won the Haringey Box Cup in the 60kg category and is now competing at super-bantamweight. Taylor, like Bellew, recently said she was the best female fighter in the sport.
