RISING South West boxing star Chantel Whiting from Tavistock flew out to Dublin, Ireland, to compete in Europe’s biggest all- female amateur boxing tournament.

The tournament attracted more than 280 female boxers from Ireland, England, Scotland, the Isle of Man, Poland, Canada, Sweden and the Netherlands, with the bouts taking place at the Christian Brothers CBS Sports Hall, Lucan, Dublin.

Whiting weighed in at 46kg on Friday, to which she was pleased to qualify at the upper limit of the 44-46kg category.

Chantel was drawn in the semi-finals and with unbeaten Irish boxer so she knew she was up against a tough opponent and a partisan home crowd.  

Although Chantel was boxing away from the UK for the first time, she remained focused and calm which allowed her to show her full potential by comprehensively outboxing and overpowering her opponent.

Whiting was simply too good for the home fighter, almost forcing a stoppage but ultimately cruising to a unanimous decision into the finals on Saturday.

It was a North versus South derby on Saturday as Tavistock’s Whiting was drawn against another tough unbeaten fighter from Yorkshire in the final.

This time it proved to be a much closer affair as the Yorkshire fighter gave it everything, but Chantel had the edge with her strength and superior boxing skills. Chantel was the victor with a unanimous decision, winning the gold medal in the 44-46kg weight category and crowned the New Esker all-female boxing cup champion.

Chantel thanked her Coach Erik Sprangle for all the hard work he has put in with her in the gym, and to her sponsor Redrow Homes for helping her to get to Ireland.

Chantel is back in training again and will be ready to go to Sweden to compete in the Golden Girl All-Female Cup in February.