Kirstie Bavington (born 21 August 1992) is an English professional boxer. She is a two-time former European female welterweight champion and fought in the first-ever professional women's British title contest.
Professional boxing career Having turned professional in 2018 and compiled a record of two wins and a draw, Bavington fought Cherrelle Brown for the vacant WBC female super-lightweight International title at York Hall in London on 20 July 2019, losing by unanimous decision.
In her seventh fight, she provided the opposition for future WBO female welterweight world champion Sandy Ryan on her pro-debut, going down to a points defeat in the six-round bout at Matchroom HQ Garden in Brentwood, on 31 July 2021.
Bavington won her next two fights before taking on Hungarian boxer Timea Belik for the vacant European female welterweight title on 6 May 2022, claiming the belt with a unanimous decision victory in her hometown of Wolverhampton.
She successfully defended her title on 19 November 2022 against Naomi Mannes from Germany, winning their bout at the Magna Centre in Rotherham by unanimous decision.
Bavington was named women's boxer of the year at the 2022 Midlands Area Board of Control Awards.
She lost by split decision to Canada's Kandi Wyatt in a contest for the vacant WBA female welterweight Intercontinental title at The Hangar Events Venue in Wolverhampton on 10 March 2023 and was subsequently stripped of her European titie.
In April 2023 it was announced that Bavington had been chosen to fight Olympic gold medalist and future world champion Lauren Price in the first-ever female professional British championship bout. She lost the welterweight contest at Resorts World Arena in Birmingham on 6 May 2023 by unanimous decision.
Bavington lost her next fight to April Hunter on the undercard of the Savannah Marshall vs Franchón Crews-Dezurn undisputed female super-middleweight championship showdown at Manchester Arena on 1 July 2023, before getting back to winning ways with a points success against Tereza Dvorakova on 16 February 2024 at H Suite in Edgbaston.
On 19 October 2024, Bavington became a two-time European female welterweight champion by claiming the vacant title with a split decision win over Marine Beauchamp at Espace Mayenne in Laval, France. Two of the ringside judges gave her the fight 98-92 and 97-93 with the third scoring it 96-94 for her opponent.
She was scheduled to face Olympic bronze medalist Cindy Ngamba in a non-title contest at the Royal Albert Hall in London on 7 March 2025. However, Ngamba withdrew from the bout the day before it was set to take place due to an issue discovered during her pre-fight medical.
Having by now given up her European title, Bavington lost to Gemma Richardson on points, 60-54, over six-rounds at bp pulse LIVE in Birmingham on 29 August 2026.
Personal life Bavington is a PE teacher and has played football for the women's teams at Wolverhampton Wanderers, West Bromwich Albion, Birmingham City, Coventry City, AFC Wimbledon, Kidderminster Harriers and Crystal Palace.
Professional boxing record
ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes18Loss10–6–2Gemma RichardsonPTS629 Aug 202617Win10–5–2Linzi BuczynskyjPTS414 Mar 202616Win9–5–2Marine BeauchampSD1019 Oct 202415Win8–5–2Tereza DvorakovaPTS627 Apr 202414Loss7–5–2April HunterPTS81 Jul 202313Loss7–4–2Lauren PriceUD106 May 202312Loss7–3–2Kandi WyattSD1010 Mar 202311Win7–2–2Naomi MannesUD1019 Nov 202210Win6–2–2Timea BelikUD106 May 20229Win5–2–2April HunterPTS616 Oct 20218Win4–2–2Beccy FergusonPTS61 Oct 20217Loss3–2–2Sandy RyanPTS631 Jul 20216Draw3–1–2Vaida MasiokaitePTS422 Feb 20205Win3–1–1Monika AntonikTKO2 (4), 18 Oct 20194Loss2–1–1Cherrelle BrownUD1020 Jul 20193Win2–0–1Katarina VisticaTKO2 (4), 9 Mar 20192Win1–0–1Elaine GreenanPTS47 Jul 20181Draw0–0–1Borislava GoranovaPTS419 May 2018
References