Thetford's Roni Dean to fight on Norwich card

Roni Dean on her way to her first professional win at York Hall

Roni Dean says she cannot wait for her first professional fight in Norfolk as she looks to continue an impressive start to her career.

The 28-year-old, from Thetford, will feature in a special show in Norwich on 10 December.

"For my fans to be able to just travel up the road, it's gonna be class," she told BBC Radio Norfolk.

Dean only turned pro earlier this year, beating Slovakia's Klaudia Ferenczi on points at York Hall in April.

She followed up that win with another points victory over Poland's Karina Szmalenberg in Harrow in September.

Now she is getting ready for a chance to showcase her skills to a home crowd for the first time since her amateur days.

"You get a different buzz from it - to be fair I like going away and being an underdog, but being in your own county, you get a different sense of pride," she said.

"Boxing alongside your teammates just gives an extra boost."

Roni Dean and her coaching team including trainer Graham Everett (right)

Those teammates include the Walsh twins, Liam and Ryan, who have a wealth of experience between them.

Liam, now retired, is a former Commonwealth and British Champion, as well as having fought for the IBF super-featherweight world title where he lost to the still-unbeaten Gervonta Davis.

Dean feels she is benefitting from that boxing know-how.

"All the knowledge he gives to me, especially over the last few months, I feel like I've come on loads," she said.

Ryan Walsh is also a former British champion - he will be headlining this Norwich card in his first fight since losing to Maxi Hughes in an IBO World Lightweight title fight in March 2022.

"When I found out Ryan was gonna boxing as well I was absolutely buzzing," Dean said.

"That's someone you look up to and to be fighting on the same show as someone like that, it's quality."

Challenging for titles

While it is still very early in her career, she is already being tipped for bigger things in the near future.

"I wouldn't do it if I didn't think I was capable of winning titles. That's my goal, that's why I'm here."

Her trainer Graham Everett is excited by her potential too.

"I believe she'll challenge for titles in a year or so, I genuinely do," he said.

"Hopefully she'll be three unbeaten, all at six rounds - a lot of fighters start on four rounders but she's been straight in at six with two tough opponents."

"We're trying to push her on and get her involved. It's an exciting time for women's boxing and she's good enough, exciting enough and interesting enough to be noticed."