6 days ago
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Tiah Ayton has been touted as British boxing's next big thing, and the comparisons to Irish icon Katie Taylor aren't just based on talent.
Just like Taylor, Ayton took her shot by messaging promoter Eddie Hearn on Instagram, long before she was signed by Matchroom.
Now, after years of waiting, the teenage prodigy is finally getting her chance - making her debut on June 21 after signing a multi-year deal with the promotional company.
'I literally messaged Eddie and said, "One day, can you sign me?"' Ayton laughs during her interview with Mail Sport. 'He never got back to me… but now I'm signed with him.'
The full-circle moment came after Hearn watched her spar with former featherweight world champion Skye Nicolson.
The Matchroom promoter tagged Ayton in a picture on Instagram, causing her message to resurface in their chat.
Tiah Ayton has been touted as British boxing's next big thing after signing with Matchroom
Now Ayton (pictured above) is making her professional debut in Birmingham on June 21 and has been compared to Katie Taylor
Ayton's comparisons to Irish icon Taylor (pictured on the right) aren't just based on talent
'He tagged me and saw the old message. It was funny. From me just asking him to sign me to now being signed.'
The 18-year-old will make her highly anticipated professional debut on June 21 in Birmingham, stepping into the ring for the first time without a head guard - something she admits will be a new experience.
'I haven't sparred without one yet,' she says. 'But I'll have too much adrenaline to feel the punches anyway, so I'll be fine. I'm looking forward to it.'
Ayton's journey to this moment has been anything but conventional. Starting out in kickboxing at just six years old, thanks to a childhood rivalry with her sister, she racked up over 300 fights before the age of 12.
From there, she transitioned into Muay Thai, MMA, and eventually, boxing - admitting it was hard to stop herself from kicking during her first couple of sessions.
'At first it was hard,' she says of the switch. 'I kept thinking about kicking people when I was sparring. I had to tell myself, 'Tiah, this is boxing now—just punches.' But once I got into it, I started to love it.'
It's not just Ayton's raw talent that's turning heads, it's her mindset. Undefeated as an amateur and with only three losses across all her combat sport ventures (the last one coming at age eight), she thrives under pressure.
Just like Taylor (pictured in the middle), Ayton took her shot by messaging promoter Eddie Hearn (pictured on the right) on Instagram, long before she was signed by Matchroom
'I've always had pressure on me,' she says. 'Everyone's always thinking, "When's Tiah going to lose?" But I think only great people have pressure. I thrive off it.'
To Ayton, the Katie Taylor comparisons aren't just hype, she embraces them. 'I like being compared to her. If I do half of what she's done, I'd be happy. She's amazing for women's boxing, and she's proved we can box just as well.'
Her goals are crystal clear: she wants to fight at Madison Square Garden and headline at Ashton Gate in her hometown of Bristol.
The 18-year-old is also aiming for undisputed world champion status and hopes to become a multi-weight titleholder.
Off the canvas, Ayton enjoys downtime with her family, walking her Dogue de Bordeaux, and watching anime - something she plans to immortalise with a full tattoo sleeve.
'I guess that might surprise people,' she says, laughing. 'But I've got anime tattoos already, so I'm committed!'
But at the heart of it all, Ayton is driven by a love for performing. 'I want fans to be entertained. I want them to enjoy watching me fight and enjoy the journey. I'm only young, I'll be around a long time.'
That journey starts next weekend in Birmingham. And if her trajectory mirrors anything like Katie Taylor's, boxing fans better buckle up.
