We wrap up the Unpacked summer season with a chat that’s punchy in more ways than one as Neil sits down with Kingswood’s rising boxing star Tiah-Mai Ayton, a year on from her turning pro with Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing.

The 19-year-old started out kickboxing aged six and has been beaten just three times in any of the disciplines she’s tried since. She’s enjoyed a meteoric ascent since entering the boxing ring at 13, and took a gold medal at the 2024 World Boxing Under-19 Championships.

Tiah turned pro in May 2025, winning six straight fights since then, and has her sights set on becoming undisputed world champion.

So what lies behind that success? In this episode – the last before we take a break for summer – we talk to Tiah about her journey to the big time.

We get into family life, the sacrifices young athletes have to make while their mates are out partying, the benefits martial arts can bring to girls, and to kids struggling at school – and of course the growth of women’s boxing and her ongoing part in that.

Whether you’re already a fan of the sport or not, we recommend you wrap your ears around this one. Enjoy and have a great summer, we’ll see you in September.

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