‘In the Ring with’ Jane Couch M.B.E – a boxing pioneer

A professional fighter for 14 years, Jane Couch MBE (28–11-9kos) went in with the best women light-welterweight boxers of her generation, including Marischa Sjauw, Sharon Anyos, Leah Mellinger, Dora Webber, Anne Sophie Mathis and also the brilliant Lucia Rijker to name just a few.

Jane aka ‘The Fleetwood Assassin, credits boxing with keeping her out of big-time trouble. After being expelled from her Blackpool school as a teenager, she lived what she described as “a life of booze, drugs and street fighting” until she was 26. Then she saw a TV documentary about women’s boxing in America and decided that her future lay in the ring and in a life of boxing.

Jane from Fleetwood in Lancashire has had to overcome significant barriers in the game over the years, that prevented females from entering the boxing ring, and she has been a pioneer in getting women’s boxing recognised as a serious sport in the eyes of the games purists who saw it as wrong.

In 1998 Jane made British boxing history by being involved in the first women’s professional boxing contest to be sanctioned under the jurisdiction of the British Boxing Board of Control since it’s formation in 1929, making her the first recognised female British boxer.

The five times world champion also worked tirelessly to help get women’s boxing included in the London 2012 Olympics. In 2007 to cap a remarkable career and rise from the streets to boxing prominence, Jane was awarded an M.B.E. from Prince Charles for her achievements both in and out of the ring.

On receiving the M.B.E at Buckingham Palace, Jane said, “I’ve been all over the world boxing in some of the biggest shows in front of millions of people but this is the biggest shock ever,”

“I was so nervous that I forgot that I was supposed to call him ‘Your Majesty’. Instead I just said hello mate ! ” admitted Jane afterwards. “But he was killing himself laughing and at one point told me I was a bit unusual ! I offered to shake his hand and suggested I had better go because he had others to talk to, but he said he could talk to me all day. As for my curtsy – well it is best forgotten !” she later added.

Whatever injustice’s went on during Janes career and the reluctance of many to stop her being a boxer, and achieving her dreams, Jane never gave up and it is an absolute credit to her for never losing the desire to succeed and believing that there is no such word as ‘you can’t’

Jane with Ricky Hatton

Boxing has now embraced Jane, has she had embraced it, she is highly respected within the fight games four walls and is a guide and mentor to her many young boxing hopefuls who she promotes and manages, and will be a flag bearer for women’s boxing for ever.

Jane announced her retirement from fighting in December, 2008, and is now involved in the promotion and management of her own stable of boxers, under the banner of Blackeye promotions, and is also involved in Hatton promotions. British Boxers caught up with Jane this week for our ‘In the ring with’ series.

I saw a documentary about female boxing in The USA and started from there I didn’t realise it was illegal in this country at the time

Janes Boxing influence Tyson

Who was your first trainer?

Tex Woodward

Definitely more of a fighter than a boxer

A young Tyson

Lucia Riker

Making weight and living the life No social life

Sugar Ray Robinson My Favorite

Who do you wish you had fought or want to fight?

I fought everyone never ducked any of the top girls

Best fight you have seen? 

Theres a few Corrales v Castillo Benn v McClellan Barrera v Morales

Dream Fight? Who v Who?
Mayweather v Pacman

Childhood Hero?
My MUM

Sugar Ray Robinson and Ricky Hatton

David Haye

Promote boxing, Manage boxers, my life is just boxing If you cut me open i would probably bleed boxing (laughs)

Hard to say i don’t know anything else But definitely something unusual

Like the look of Ricky Owen he did great in Prizefighter

To be the best

Demi Moore aka Jane Couch MBE

What would you change in Boxing?

The politics

Pretty much anything

The Bible (joking) Steve Bunces new book

As Good as it gets – Pretty Woman – Once upon a time in America

Demi Moore

Fish and Chips and Italian

Desert Island with Jack Nicholson

Maldives

I take a interest in all sports

Nick Hodges (matchmaker) Tex Woodward (Manager) Tommy Gilmour MBE John Pegg (Matchmaker) Errol Johnson… God too many friends in boxing.

Jack Nicholson, Floyd Mayweather and My soul mate

I’m Mad lol

Howard Winstone

Jane with her world title belts

Red or Blue? red

Hagler or Sugar Ray Leonard? Hagler

Benn or Eubank? Benn

Haye or Lennox? Haye

Paquiao or Mayweather? Pacman

Jab or Hook? Jab

Head or Body? Head

WBC or WBA? WBC

European or British Title? British

Country? England

City? London

Drink? Vodka and coke

Animal? Dog

Website? www.britishboxers.co.uk

One thing you cant live without? mobile phone

Favorite Quote? To be great you must do great things

What does the future hold for you? Hopefully a happy healthy life