JAYE Helyer made the perfect start to her amateur boxing career after scoring a points victory on Sunday.

The 13-year-old from Barrow ABC is one of a growing number of female boxers from the Brook Street gym to become carded and had her first outing on the Fit2xl show in Darwen.

Helyer defeated B Milner, of Blackburn club Technique ABC, and Barrow head coach Jeff Moses was delighted to see her taking her first steps in competitive action.

“She’s only 13, but she’s tall and I would think she’ll have an advantage over others because of that,” said Moses.

“She boxed well and she got over the nerves side, because it’s a big thing for them.

“It’s (women’s boxing) developing all the way across now, which is good.

“It’s not just lasses training on the keep-fit side like we do some nights, I’ve got another young lass here who has gone off, and is boxing, performing and winning.”

Saturday night saw Ryan Jones make his bow for Barrow ABC too, with the 10-year-old taking part in a skills bout against L Nimroy.

A recent change in the rules by international governing body AIBA means boxers can have non-competitive bouts from the age of 10 where no scores are recorded, but they still have the opportunity to box an opponent on an official show.

Moses was pleased with how Jones handled the occasion despite his tender years and hopes other juniors training at the club can look at him as someone of their own age who is an example to follow, rather than just the senior members and professionals to have graduated from the gym,

“It’s a big thing when you think he’s still only in junior school, yet he’s going to a massive boxing venue where there are 24 or 25 tables and people shouting, but he dealt with it pretty well,” said Moses.

“It’s a great experience, it gives him confidence and it shows them that it’s not just training, you have the opportunity to do things and he’s done it now.

“It’s massive for them and he’s another example for when I have the juniors on a Friday, and there’s 30 or 40 training, instead of using the other carded boxers or the pro lads as an example I can say there’s one in their age group who is out there performing.”

The club have two more young boxers set to make their debuts next week, with Cameron McBain and Ewan Taylor having their first contests on the horizon.

Also coming up next month is the England Boxing Women’s Box Cup in Manchester, which could feature some of Barrow ABC’s members in action.