Sandra Rees, from Annan, Dumfries and Galloway, says she wants to ‘build a legacy’ after starting to box just four years ago.
Sandra ‘The Tartan Witch’ Rees is Scotland’s first bare knuckle female boxer(Image: Sandra Rees/GoFundMe)
A Scots mum says she will “make history” to become Britain’s first female bare knuckle champion.
Sandra Rees, from Annan, Dumfries and Galloway, started learning to box just four years ago in a bid to improve her mental health.
But the 33-year-old – who is also an astrologer and goes by the nickname the Tartan Witch – has already built a strong reputation in the sport after becoming the first Scottish woman to compete bare knuckle last year.
Now, the mum-of-two is training to take on a Northern Irish woman nicknamed ‘Loopey’ for the inaugural British female flyweight title in just two months’ time.
She said: “When I take the belt home I’ll be the first British woman ever to be crowned a bare knuckle champion.
Sandra Rees after winning her first bare knuckle bout last year(Image: Sandra Rees/Facebook)
“It means everything because it’s not just a fight – it’s history.
“It’s the first fight of its kind. In 100 years from now that will be something that is written.
“It’s not just the fighting for me, it’s building a legacy and being the first female to do that.”
Sandra was 29 when she decided to take up boxing to deal with suppressed anger from a difficult childhood and focus on a new goal after a challenging spell which involved caring for husband Tim after open heart surgery.
It soon became clear the mum, who was previously diagnosed with ADHD and suspected autism, had a talent for the sport.
Sharon, who is mum to daughter Kerris, 11, and stepdaughter Shannon, 21, said: “It was something I wanted to try and tick off my bucket list.
“Growing up I loved gloved boxing and followed it. I have always been very athletic but I’d just gone down other avenues and focused on other creative pursuits.
“Coming out of school I was a lead actress in a small budget horror film as acting was the route I wanted to go down.
“I’m also a practising astrologer and have been learning that for the past six years. I’m a tarot reader, passed down from my mum and her grandmother as well.
“I’m definitely one of a kind. But it was mental health that unlocked that hidden talent for boxing.”
Sandra says she will win her fight to make history
Sandra learned the skill for more than two years before a bare knuckle fighter and friend, Matt ‘the Savage’ Sutton, put her in touch with promoters.
Sandra dazzled the crowd at WBKB3 in Whitehaven, Cumbria, last August, defeating Tammy O’Connor from Leeds and catching the eye of the President of the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC), who offered to sign her up on the spot.
She said: “I’ve been really working hard. I was due to fight again in February but my opponent pulled out so it was a case of training and waiting for the right opportunity.”
Sandra will take on Linsey ‘Loopey’ Moore from Northern Ireland.
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The mum is training under world-class coach Andy Davison at O’Toole’s Gym in Newcastle, sharing camp with world heavyweight champion Mick Terrill and other elite fighters.
She’s also hoping to attend an intensive training camp in Italy, sparring with a top 10 world-ranked female fighter, and has launched a fundraiser with a £700 goal to help cover the costs of the trip and finalise her fight camp.
Sandra believes she has what it takes to clinch the title.
She said: “I’m working with the best coach in the industry. I’ve got a very good team around me.
“With bare knuckle you’re getting major cuts and recovery time is a lot longer.
“My first fight I came out very clean with a bruise on my chin, one on the side of my cheek and my hands were bruised. But I was very lucky.
“The hope is you get in and get the job done and get out as cleanly as possible. If it has to go to a war, then so be it.”