WEST FIFE boxing sensation Niamh Mitchell is hoping that headlining an historic night for the sport in Scotland can open doors for female competitors.

The talented 16-year-old, from Rosyth, topped the bill for the first-ever all female show to be held in the country when her club, Bowhill Miners Amateur Boxing Club, recently hosted the event.

In conjunction with Doonhamers Amateur Boxing Club, they brought together female fighters from across Scotland and England, as well as from the Brantford Black Eye Boxing Club, from Ontario, Canada.

A total of 16 bouts took place on the evening and Niamh, who stormed to a stunning European title last year, made it a night to remember by moving up to a weight of 57kg to box Canadian Kelsee McPhee, and winning by unanimous decision.

Her latest piece of history comes after she became the first female to win gold for Scotland at a major international competition in October, when she collected the 52kg light bantamweight title at the EUBC (European Boxing Confederation) European Championships.

Niamh, who had only taken up the sport just over three years prior to that triumph, also became just the second Scot to ever win a gold at that competition, and only the seventh, male or female, to do so at any level of European competition.

Those achievements saw her named as the Young Athlete of the Year at the Scottish Sports Awards 2022, and as the Sports Personality of the Year – sponsored by the Press – at the Dunfermline and West Fife Sports Council Sports Awards, also for 2022, which were held in February.

When asked if she hoped that the show would help open more doors for females looking to participate in the sport, Niamh replied: “I hope it does, I really do.

“It was a brilliant night. It was a really good night for female boxing. Even getting that opportunity - I had the opportunity to go to the Euros and, then, on top of that, I’ve had that opportunity now - I didn’t actually think I’d get an opportunity like that away from Boxing Scotland (the sport’s governing body).

“I didn’t think I’d be given any major opportunities, but that was quite a big one, so I was quite happy with it.”

Ahead of the event, Niamh found herself being the subject of national media attention – something she described as “a weird feeling” and that she’s “not used to” – but was delighted with how it went in front of a capacity crowd.

“I thought it would make me more nervous, but I feel like I kept quite calm throughout the whole night, so it was not bad,” she said.

“I think I boxed pretty well. It was my second fight doing three, three-minute rounds, so I feel like I spaced out the time of the rounds and everything. It was one of the best I’ve boxed i reckon.”