A woman who was told she might never walk again as a child has defied the odds to become a boxing champion.
Laura Pain, 24, punched her way to a knockout victory on May 29, winning the inaugural Jane Couch British Challenge.
The super flyweight is the only female boxer to hold the title currently until fights have taken place in the other weight categories.
And proud Laura, who won the fight in the first round, said doctors told her parents she'd likely never walk after hip surgery when she was a baby.
But the determined toddler pulled herself up out of her wheelchair at two years old and practiced walking until she could do it.
She then discovered her love of boxing when she had to quit kickboxing eight years ago because of stiffness in her hips.
Laura Pain celebrates winning a British boxing title. (Photo by Sophie McCartney via SWNS).
Personal trainer Laura, from Portsmouth, England, said: "It feels amazing - it's a massive achievement!
"I was speechless when I won, and so excited and happy, I've never felt like that before. I knew as soon as I agreed the fight that I was making history, and that felt fantastic.
"It was brilliant, I knew I just had to win. I had no fear, I just gave it everything I had.
"Normally I'd take a couple of rounds to suss out my opponent, but I just went for it with both hands and just didn't stop.
"I'm so glad they've finally given women the opportunity to compete in a specific UK fight. Every female fighter wanted that.
"The only difference now with the men is the length of round, and there's a physiological reason for that. It doesn't feel male-dominated anymore: women are just smashing it."
Laura's parents Caroline, 55, a council worker, and Kevin, 56, a postman, were told their young daughter would be unlikely to walk because of a condition called bilateral dislocation of the hips, let alone be able to take part in sports.
But adventurous Laura gave them hope as toddlers when she pulled herself up out of her wheelchair using a table in a cafe and tried to walk.
She then kept up her efforts until she eventually was able to go without her wheelchair all the time.
Always talented and active, Laura, who grew up in Dorking, played soccer for the Chelsea academy, then went to college-age 14 to study sports.
She always enjoyed contact sports and took up kickboxing in her teens as a form of self-defense.
But a lack of hip flexibility caused her to give it up aged 16.
Pursuing her love of punching, Laura then switched to boxing as her primary sport.
Laura, who trains up to four times a week with boxing, running, swimming, and weights, said doctors were concerned to hear of her boxing at an annual check-up when she was 18, but she has no pain and says her hips don't affect her ability to fight.
The fighter, who has one older brother, said her love of sport really helped her through hard times, like her parents separating, she said: "My hobbies have always been around the gym, apart from fishing, which is definitely where I relax.
"I always knew my career would be in sports. I'm always the first to arrive at training and the last to leave.
"Boxing is like an escape from everything else - you have to keep your focus or you'll be hit.
"I help loads of people now who want to gain confidence or are being bullied in school."
Laura became eligible to be a professional boxer after winning the Harringay Box Cup in 2019.
She got her license in June 2020 after delays due to lockdown and has been sponsored by big names such as Adidas.
Laura was then the first to accept a fight to win the new British title eight weeks ago, shortly after it was created.
The title is named after the first British female boxer, Jane Couch, who has campaigned tirelessly to promote women in boxing.
The belt hasn't been fought for yet in other weight categories, so Laura is the only female in the UK to hold a British title currently.
Laura won the title decisively, winning within 90 seconds of the first two-minute round at the City Coast Centre in Portslade, Brighton, on May 29.
She then went out to celebrate her win with her coaches and partner Sophie McCartney, 25, who is also a personal trainer.
Laura Pain celebrates winning a British boxing title. (Sophie McCartney via SWNS).
Laura said: "Boxing is like that - there’s going to be only one winner and you have to do what you need to to be that person.
"It's like a chess game, you have to keep figuring out what your opponent might do next. I’m not a violent person!
"It's just how the sport works and I happen to be very good at it - it’s crazy!
"After the fight you always check in to make sure they’re okay, and give them a hug or whatever, but often if you lose you just want to get out of the venue.
"Losing is very hard, you feel invincible and then suddenly very vulnerable, and social media isn't very kind so I avoided it for ages after I lost once.
"Losing spurs you on to get better though, it isn't the end of the world, but at the time you go from top of the world to rock bottom at the flick of a switch.
"I'm so glad I found boxing. I'll take as many fights as I can.
"Now I've won this I absolutely fear losing it, but I'll just have to keep defending it, I'll always have to be top of my game now."
Stories and infographics by ‘Talker Research’ are available to download & ready to use. Stories and videos by ‘Talker News’ are managed by SWNS. To license content for editorial or commercial use and to see the full scope of SWNS content, please email licensing@swns.com or submit an inquiry via our contact form.
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept All”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
Cookie
Duration
Description
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional
11 months
The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy
11 months
The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.