North-East boxing has another female professional and Darlington its first.
Shannon Bowe will join WBA Inter-continental champion Savannah Marshall and unbeaten newcomer April Hunter in the paid ranks – subject to British Boxing Board of Control approval.
The 20-year-old already knows her way around a ring having been a very talented amateur boxer.
She will be trained by in-form coach Pete Shepperson and will be managed by Geordie fight figure Steve Wraith.
“I think this signing will excite the North-East boxing public and I’m looking forward to watching her box,” Wraith told punch-lines.
“She’s Darlington born and bred and has good support from sponsors as well as her family.
“I think I’m right in saying she is the first female professional from Darlington and it’s something to be immensely proud of.
“I’m really excited about this signing
“All promoters should look to embrace female fighters, the women’s side of boxing is taking off in a big, big way.”
Darlington’s recent boxing history is a rich one and Shannon will be walking in the ring steps of a number of top class operators.
Stuart Hall was the town’s first world champion, Isaac Ward a Commonwealth belt holder, Francis Jones was a British title challenger, Chris Burton a Prizefighter finalist and Michael ‘Oscar’ Hall a leading light-welter.
Most recently Troy Williamson extended his unbeaten run while Ellis Corrie stopped Tom Hill to become the Northern Area welterweight champ.
There are many others – those boxers are merely the top of the iceberg.
“It’s a great signing,” added Wraith, who manages Corrie as well as Darlo light-heavy Steve Cooper.
“The women’s game is really on the up.
“Phil [Jeffries] signed April Hunter last year and I’ve always been interested in signing a female boxer, but it’s been a case of biding my time.
“Shannon is someone I’ve followed for a while and has done really, really well under Pete’s guidance.
“We spoke a couple of years ago and her ambition was to turn professional but I didn’t want to pressure her into making a decision.
“It was a little like Anth Ornsby, another young amateur talent. I liked what I saw but I left them to make their decision.”
Now she has and the gifted boxer will campaign at bantamweight.
Bowe could not be in better hands with Shepperson, who has just guided Corrie to glory at the Rainton Arena.
“With a relatively short amateur career we know that it’s going to be a work in progress and Shannon will have to learn on the job, as all boxers do,” said the coach. “But she feels that now is the time to make the transition and has my full support.”
Words: Roy Kelly
