In the ring with Stacey Sloan

It has only been a year since the ‘Hooley in the Cooley’, in Bready, but boxer Stacey is chasing down her first official title tonight in the Ulster Intermediate Novice Championship in Belfast

The 23-year-old is looking forward to the bout and is in peak condition thanks to her coaches Jim Knox, Robert Whiteside and Sean Devenney.

However there is one thing Stacey would really like, and that is to see more women boxers. Because there are so few women boxers Stacey got a walk through to the final at the Ulster Intermediate Novice Championships.

“There just aren’t enough women in boxing,” said a very focused Stacey.

“I first started boxing last year in a community boxing event, the Hooley in the Cooley, and I started from there.

“Eglinton Amateur Boxing Clun asked me would I consider boxing for them and when they saw me they thought I had a lot of potential. I was very enthusiastic about the step and they asked me to join,” said Stacey.

Since last year Stacey has had an operation on her shoulder to free up a joint which had become ‘enclosed’ due to her other love - horseriding, and this has dramatically improved her swing.

“I did not start training with Eglinton ABC until late in February and tonight I will fight one other woman in my weight category, 69kg, middle weight,” she said.

Stacey will travel to Belfast with a contingent of supporters and no doubt among them will be her parents, Jackie and Chris Sloan.

Hopefully it will be the first of a long line of successful encounters in the ring for the dedicated amateur.

To see Stacey in action watch the video attached.