Bateup has makings of pro boxer

MOVE over Lauryn Eagle there might be a new glamour girl of Australian boxing in town.

Gold Coast surf lifesaving superstar Hayley Bateup will make her ring debut in a charity bout at the Gold Coast International on May 21.

Promoter Jamie Myer, who has been helping respected Tweed Heads trainer Tony Nobbs mould the gritty ironwoman, said Bateup had all the right attributes to carve out a professional boxing career if she ever wanted to take it to the next level.

“Lauryn Eagle was a champion water skier who has gone into the fight game and if Hayley wanted to go that way, I believe she would be 100 per cent better than her,” Myer said.

“She hasn’t done a great deal of training, we just sort of threw her off the deep end into sparring and she has gone forward in leaps and bounds.

“With a bit more training I have no doubt she could beat Eagle.

“Her greatest attribute is that she has that fighting spirit, which she has shown time and time again in the surf.

“She has that competitive streak, the will to win.”

Sydney stunner Eagle, who is also a former Miss Universe entrant, has been creating headlines since taking up boxing last year and has since had five professional fights (2-2-1).

Bateup will wear headgear when she steps into the ring against colourful Gold Coast identity Belinda Gavin, whose resume includes a stint on American Gladiators, bull riding and adult films.

But the three-time Coolangatta Gold champion, who has been fitting in her boxing training around ironwoman commitments, refused to rule out a future foray into the professional ranks.

“I would for sure if the right money was there, because obviously you are going in punching each other so it would have to be worth it,” Bateup said. “But I would have to really train for it.

“I am a competitive girl, whether it is a game of scrabble or a race down the beach, I want to win.

“I know for this fight she (Gavin) is a bit more experienced then me, but I will still give it a good go.”

Gold Coast super middleweight contender Les Sherrington will headline the Black Tie Charity Boxing card when he returns to the ring against Kashif Mumtaz.

Sherrington has been out of the ring since December with a serious foot injury.

Source: Gold Coast Bulletin