HISTORY will be made tomorrow night with Jaymyleigh Pettinger becoming the first female professional boxer from Barnsley.
At just 18, the Brampton girl, who’s also a student at Barnsley College, will make her debut at the Metrodome.
She is signed with former British champion Josh Wale and actually grew up on the same street as him.
Josh said: “It is a massive achievement.
“Women’s boxing has come on so much in a short space of time and this is a big opportunity for Jaymyleigh.
“Professional boxing is a tough challenge but it’s one she’s ready for.
“She has grown up a lot in the last few months.
“It’s different for females because there are not as many of them.
“They can move quickly whereas men have got to build.
“Jaymyleigh has a lot of time.”
Pettinger will aim to get off to a winning start against Poland’s Bojana Libiszewska who is a veteran of 75 professional contests.
Wale too turned professional at 18 and has noted the changing of the sport in the almost two decades since.
He said: “When I started out there were no women in the gym and now we’ve got five.
“There are the same opportunities out there for women and that’s great.”
Josh’s younger brother Dempsey is missing off this show as he is an expectant father.
Meanwhile, Jake Jon Cleary is after win number two as a pro but is emphasising he wants to show improvements from his debut.
The Wombwell man, 27, got off to a winning start to his paid career with a 39-38 victory over Richard Helm back in November.
He bids to stay unbeaten against Rotherham’s Nathan Darby tomorrow at the Metrodome.
Cleary said: “I will be taking a few bits from last time and improving.
“It is all about the little one per cents and doing them better.
“My coaches have been saying that I’ve been looking sharper.
“I don’t know much about Nathan but he’s a southpaw and we’ve been working on that in camp.
“I want to do little tweaks and whatever the result as long as I improve, I’ll be happy. A win would be a bonus.”
Cleary’s a big Barnsley FC fan and wants to be a part of the rising red tide in the sport.
With a date looming for British and Commonwealth champion Callum Simpson’s return to Oakwell, Cleary added: “To box there for me would be my career peaking very early.
“I’ve spoken a few times with Callum and was at his fight in Sheffield earlier this year.
“There’s real momentum there and he is bringing the limelight to Barnsley.
“I don’t think there’s going to be any problems selling out Oakwell.”
