A BOWHILL Miners Amateur Boxing Club starlet has set her sights on world glory after securing another prestigious title at the weekend.

Niamh Mitchell, 16, added to her growing collection of honours by packing a punch to become a British champion on Sunday at the GB Junior and Youth Three Nations Championships.

Held at the Ravenscraig Regional Sports Facility in Motherwell, Boxing Scotland played host to the event, which saw boxers from Scotland, England and Wales step into the ring across a total of 65 bouts.

Niamh, who last October made history by becoming the first female to win gold for Scotland at a major international competition, when she enjoyed a stunning 52kg light bantamweight title success at the EUBC (European Boxing Confederation) European Championships, faced fellow Scot, Sienna Thomson, in the female youth 54kg final.

The talented teenager once again produced the goods and had her arm raised in triumph by unanimous decision, and declared her latest victory as “amazing” – whilst stating her aim to try and win a global title.

“I need the world championship,” she said.

“That’s my goal, to get the gold there, hopefully, or even medal – just anything. To be selected for it would be brilliant for me as well.

“It’s always been my dream to win the British. Obviously, the Euros came first for me, because I didn’t go to the British last year, but it is what it is. It’s brilliant to win it, and another title.

“It’s the first British I’ve competed in, and only the third time doing three threes (three rounds of three minutes). It was hard. I could’ve done better I reckon, but I tried my best.”

Acknowledging her opponent, who has been a sparring partner, Niamh continued: “It is weird because I talk to Sienna; she’s a good friend and everything, so it’s weird to be in the same ring as her.

“I spar with her and everything like that, but it’s just different, because you know only one of you can win at the end of it, so it’s hard.”

One of Niamh’s coaches at Bowhill, James White, commented: “She has sparred the wee lassie she was in with, so it’s awkward when it’s someone you’re team-mates with, but she did enough to win.

“It’s a good one to win. That’s another win in the bag, and the British along with the Scottish and European. She boxed within herself and did really well.

“She’s got that experience now. I think she’ll be looking towards a world championship, qualifying for the Commonwealth Games when she turns senior, and maybe a GB assessment, in the not-too distant future.”

Niamh’s latest success comes after her historic European triumph, which saw her become just the second Scot ever to win gold at that event, 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 our sister title, the Dunfermline Press – at the Dunfermline and West Fife Sports Council Sports Awards, also for 2022, which were held in February.

And in April, Niamh made history once more when she headlined the first all-female show, hosted by Bowhill, ever to be held in Scotland.