Kirstie Bavington
Kirstie Bavington is an English professional boxer. She is a two-time European female welterweight champion and fought in the first-ever professional women's British title contest.
Professional boxing career
Having turned professional in 2018 and compiled a record of two wins and a draw, Bavington fought Cherrelle Brown for the vacant WBC female super-lightweight International title at York Hall in London on 20 July 2019 losing by unanimous decision.In her seventh fight, she provided the opposition for future WBO female welterweight world champion Sandy Ryan on her pro-debut going down to a points defeat in the six-round bout on 31 July 2021.
Bavington won her next two fights before taking on Hungarian Timea Belik for the vacant European female welterweight title on 6 May 2022, claiming the belt with a unanimous decision victory in her hometown of Wolverhampton.
She successfully defended her title on 19 November 2022 against Naomi Mannes from Germany, winning their bout in Rotherham by unanimous decision.
Bavington was named women's boxer of the year at the 2022 Midlands Area Board of Control Awards.
She lost by split decision to Canada's Kandi Wyatt in a contest for the vacant WBA female welterweight Intercontinental title in Wolverhampton on 10 March 2023 and was subsequently stripped of her European titie.
In April 2023 it was announced that Bavington had been chosen to fight Olympic gold medalist and future world champion Lauren Price in the first-ever female professional British championship bout. She lost the welterweight contest in Birmingham on 6 May 2023 by unanimous decision.
Bavington lost her next fight to April Hunter on the undercard of the Savannah Marshall vs Franchón Crews-Dezurn undisputed female super-middleweight championship showdown in Manchester on 1 July 2023 before getting back to winning ways with a points success against Tereza Dvorakova on 16 February 2024 in Birmingham.
On 19 October 2024, Bavington became a two-time European female welterweight champion by claiming the vacant title with a split decision win over Marine Beauchamp at Espace Mayenne, Laval in France. Two ringside judges gave her the fight 98-92 and 97-93 with the third scoring it 96-94 for her opponent.
She was scheduled to face Olympic bronze medalist Cindy Ngamba in a non-title contest at the Royal Albert Hall in London on 7 March 2025. However, Ngamba withdrew from the bout the day before it was set to take place due to an issue discovered during her pre-fight medical.
Personal life
Bavington is a PE teacher and has played football for the women's teams at Wolverhampton Wanderers, West Bromwich Albion, Birmingham City, Coventry City, AFC Wimbledon, Kidderminster Harriers and Crystal Palace.Professional boxing record
| No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round, time | Date | Location | Notes |
| 16 | Win | 9–5–2 | Marine Beauchamp | SD | 10 | 19 October 2024 | Espace Mayenne, Laval, France | Won the vacant European female welterweight title |
| 15 | Win | 8–5–2 | Tereza Dvorakova | PTS | 6 | 27 April 2024 | H Suite, Edgbaston, Birmingham, England | |
| 14 | Loss | 7–5–2 | April Hunter | PTS | 8 | 1 July 2023 | Manchester Arena, Manchester, England | |
| 13 | Loss | 7–4–2 | Lauren Price | UD | 10 | 6 May 2023 | Resorts World Arena, Birmingham, England | Lost challenge for the vacant British female welterweight title |
| 12 | Loss | 7–3–2 | Kandi Wyatt | SD | 10 | 10 March 2023 | The Hangar Events Venue, Wolverhampton England | Lost challenge for the vacant WBA female welterweight Intercontinental title |
| 11 | Win | 7–2–2 | Naomi Mannes | UD | 10 | 19 November 2022 | Magna Centre, Rotherham, England | Retained the European female welterweight title |
| 10 | Win | 6–2–2 | Timea Belik | UD | 10 | 6 May 2022 | The Hangar Events Venue, Wolverhampton, England | Won the vacant European female welterweight title |
| 9 | Win | 5–2–2 | April Hunter | PTS | 6 | 16 October 2021 | Newcastle Arena, Newcastle, England | |
| 8 | Win | 4–2–2 | Beccy Ferguson | PTS | 6 | 1 October 2021 | The Hangar Events Venue, Wolverhampton, England | |
| 7 | Loss | 3–2–2 | Sandy Ryan | PTS | 6 | 31 July 2021 | Matchroom HQ Garden, Brentwood, England | |
| 6 | Draw | 3–1–2 | Vaida Masiokaite | PTS | 4 | 22 February 2020 | Holte Suite, Villa Park, Birmingham, England | |
| 5 | Win | 3–1–1 | Monika Antonik | TKO | 2 | 18 October 2019 | The Hangar Events Venue, Wolverhampton, England | |
| 4 | Loss | 2–1–1 | Cherelle Brown | UD | 10 | 20 July 2019 | York Hall, London, England | Lost challenge for the vacant WBC female super-lightweight International title |
| 3 | Win | 2–0–1 | Katarina Vistica | TKO | 2 | 9 March 2019 | Town Hall, Walsall, England | |
| 2 | Win | 1–0–1 | Elaine Greenan | PTS | 4 | 7 July 2018 | The Venue, Dudley, England | |
| 1 | Draw | 0–0–1 | Borislava Goranova | PTS | 4 | 19 May 2018 | Holte Suite, Villa Park, Birmingham, England |