Spartans ABC fighter Ashleigh is crowned Irish champion

Following her novice title win earlier this year, the Spartans Amateur Boxing Club fighter continued to train hard with her sights set on a shot at the intermediate title.

And after four two-minute rounds against a tough opponent, she won the title on points.

She was delighted with her victory and aims to develop her boxing skills further with the intention of entering senior level boxing in the near future.

The 28-year-old fighter is married and works part-time. Five months after giving birth to her son, Saul, she was narrowly beaten in the final of the Ulster Novice Intermediate Boxing Championships in October 2013.

Undeterred, she continued training and weighed in for the Irish Amateur Novice Championships in Dublin in January.

She went all the way to the final and dominated the bout, winning all three rounds to become Irish Amatuer Novice Champion at 50kgs.

Brown has been boxing for approximately six years and trained continually up to and shortly after the birth of her child.

She has used her maternity leave from her day job to take a gym instructors course specialising in pre- and post-natal fitness having experienced first-hand the benefits and shift in attitudes towards exercise during pregnancy.

Spartans ABC is based in Ballyclare on Rashee Road and is managed by professional fighter William Thompson.