Gran Patricia Furness’s Mother’s Day present has proved a big hit in more ways than one.
Because the 59-year-old full-time carer stunned her family by asking for a pair of… boxing gloves.
And the unlikely bruiser is now training for her second fight after a ring debut against a female opponent 41 years younger to raise funds for a mental health charity.
She lost that one narrowly on points over three rounds in Leeds last month – and is now left hooked on the sport.
“I got hit for the first time and thought ‘wow’,” said Patricia.
“But that made me think ‘you don’t know who you’re dealing with’.”
Courage
The bout caught the eye of bare knuckle boxing star Smudger Smith, who told her he was “astounded by her courage, tenacity, heart and soul”.
Now the gran-of-six is training at home when she’s not wearing different gloves to tend to her flowers.
Sporty Patricia, who has played rugby league, took part in the MINT (Men In Need Together) fight night after the suicide of a cousin with depression.
She said: “Too many take their own life. The more they can talk, the better.”
Now she hopes to inspire other women to get involved in contact sports.
“Women are tough,” she said.
“So less of the selfies and silly diets, more boxing and rugby.”
