FIGHTING CHANCE

Gypsy Kids’ girl, 16, trains to be a boxer… and has to fit punishing training sessions around her chores

Jessie has wanted to be a boxer since she was a little girl and trains with the boys at her gym - sometimes coming home with a black eye

Hannah Ferrett

Published: 15:26, 17 Sep 2017
Updated: 15:51, 17 Sep 2017

GYPSY Kids star Jessie is tearing up the rule book by training to be a professional boxer - and she has the full backing of her dad.

Traditionally it's the men in the community who take to the ring, but the 16-year-old from Surrey knew she wanted to box from an early age.

Jessie, 16, has been training to be a boxer since she was little and would like to compete in the OlympicsCredit: Channel 5

She said on the Channel 5 show: "I don’t know why I want to do boxing, I’ve just always loved it."

Her pastime doesn't mean she gets out of the sort of chores many of the other girls in her community have to do though.

Jessie's brother Bill explained: "She has to make time for it an’ all, while cleaning, doing the house.”

The teenager trains at a gym and often spars with boys, sometimes coming away with a black eye.

That doesn't concern her at all, but it took her dad Jesse a bit of getting used to.

He explained: "Traveller girls are brought up to cook and clean and look after the home.

The teenager spars with boys at her local gym and sometimes ends up with a black eyeCredit: Channel 5

"Boxing is a hard sport and I was just worried about her

"When she first started I thought she’d jack it in, find out the training was a bit too hard for her. She proved us all wrong."

Jesse was initially worried about his daughter boxing.

She refused to listen to his fears though, and now he is totally on side - even if he does worry about her in the ring.

During the TV show Jessie - who hopes to compete in the Olympics - represents the South of England in a contest against the North, with her dad cheering her on ringside.

He explained: "When I watch her it’s still nerve-wracking, but she holds her own.

Her dad Jesse was initially unsure about her passion for boxing, but now gives her his wholehearted supportCredit: Channel 5

";She’s proved that she’s got talent and she loves doing it. From now on I just support her.

"She isn’t nervous but I fall to pieces when she’s fighting. I get frightened when she goes in the ring."

With leading coaches from the sport watching on, Jessie gives the bout her all.

Sadly it's not enough to win, but despite previously saying losing would be the worst thing than could happen the teen remains philosophical afterwards.