Fired up by dance anthem Freed from Desire as she entered the ring, city teenager Ella Lonsdale has boxed her way to glory.
Boxing star Ella, 19, started her latest bout as the underdog, competing against women a decade older than her, as she makes the transition from junior to adult level in the sport.
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But she smashed it after travelling to Derby to compete in the finals of the England Boxing National Amateur Championships (NACs) – formerly known as the Elites and the ABAs – which is the oldest and most prestigious amateur boxing competition in the country.
The city fighter brought home the gold belt, despite being the youngest in her category, fighting against the favourite to win in the female u60kg category.
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Proud mam Anna Lonsdale said: “I was panicking a bit because she’s moved up to senior level so is fighting women up to 40-years-old in her category now and she’s just 19.
“But she put in extra training, extra strength and conditioning and it really paid off for her. She was brilliant and the commentator said she is definitely one to watch.
“It was a great fight and she got to do a proper walk to the ring, which she did to Freed from Desire.”
Ella’s ultimate goal is gold at the Olympics and she’s one step closer as she rises in the sport and qualifies for Great Britain assessment.
Fighting out of East End ABC in Hendon, Ella juggles regular sparring sessions there with training at JD Gym and Unit 29 Fitness in Washington.
Ella juggles boxing with running her own business, Hendon-based Keith’s Quality Coving, which she took over from her late grandfather, who was well known in the city for his coving, a craftsmanship he passed on to his granddaughter.
Sporting success is no stranger to the determined teenager.
Last autumn, Ella won gold 60kg category at the Under 19s European Championships representing England Boxing.
It was the latest in a long line of Junior level wins for Ella who is already a World Champion, National Champion, European Gold Medallist and Team Captain, as well as a 2-time European Bronze Medallist.
Her other titles include being a 2-time Tri-Nations Champion, Monks Town Box Cup Champion, Angel of the North Champion, 12 Nations Cup Serbia Champion, Hull Box Cup Champion, Winter Box Cup Champion, and Brandonberg Box Cup Champion.
Ella’s been boxing since she was 10, spurred on by her late Nana Les’s passion for the sport, and she dedicates every fight to her nana with a Strongest Women badge.