Still just 17 years old, Ruby White made boxing history in November as the first ever Under 19 World Champion, putting her small Dorset hometown of Stalbridge on the map. Her rise to the top has been anything but easy, shaped by hard work, determination, and a refusal to be outworked – both in and out of the ring.
Image: Courtenay Hitchcock
Training for the world stage
Ruby’s preparation for the World Championships involved an intensive eight-week training camp in Sheffield and Aldershot. ‘We were in camp every weekend,’ she says. ‘We did have a rest weekend, but I didn’t take it. Instead, I joined a tri-nation camp with Wales and Scotland. It was good training, but it meant I didn’t stop.’
Unlike her teammates, Ruby balances her training with a full-time job, a challenge she embraced despite its difficulties. ‘I’m the only one on the England team who works full-time. Even at the senior level, no one else does,’ she says. ‘It’s hard fitting everything in, but I’ve always funded myself, with a bit of help from my parents. I just didn’t like the idea of asking for sponsorship before.’
In late November, Ruby headed to Colorado to represent England on the world stage. ‘We flew out on 21st October and had a couple of days to adjust before the draw was announced on the Friday. I thought I wouldn’t fight until the Tuesday, but I ended up in the ring on the Saturday. It caught me off guard a bit. I wasn’t really ready!’
The road to victory
Ruby’s first match, against Thailand, ended in a third-round stoppage. ‘I could have stopped her earlier, but it was my first bout of the tournament. I just needed to settle in and shake off the nerves.’
The semi-final saw Ruby face Canada, where she stopped her opponent in the second round. ‘I like to take the first round to work them out,’ she says. ‘In the second, I caught her with some big shots. The referee was a bit lenient – she should’ve stopped it earlier, but thankfully it ended the way it needed to.’
The final against India was more intense.
‘I won the first round, but she took the second,’ Ruby says. ‘I started the third strongly and was on track to win, but then the referee disqualified her.’
With that, Ruby became the first ever U19 World Champion. ‘I’m proud to be the first – it’s a bit of history, isn’t it? No one else can say that.’
Balancing life and boxing
Outside the ring, Ruby’s life is a juggling act. Since moving into her own place near Gillingham, she balances her job with training, and admits it’s becoming ever harder. ‘I leave for work at six and get home at six: finding time for training is tough. I need to improve to try to get on to Team GB. I need to train full time – morning, lunch, afternoon, and then strength and conditioning and running … I can’t fit it around my work.’
Looking to the future, Ruby’s goals are clear. ‘The dream is to win gold at the Olympics and then turn professional. I’m happy to keep working hard – it’s not about the money for me – but women’s boxing still has a long way to go in terms of pay. I’d like to see it level up.’
What’s next
For now, Ruby is enjoying a short break, but she remains focused on her next challenge.
‘I have to win another European title to try get on to Team GB, because I’m too young at the moment. You’ve got to be 19. I’m also too light, I’ve got to go up to 50kg instead of 48kg. And I have to build muscle, because people are going to be a lot taller!’
She’s also building connections with professional boxers like Bournemouth’s Chris Billam-Smith, WBO cruiserweight champion until he lost the title last month. ’We’re planning to do a training camp together soon.’
And the plan now? ‘I’ll carry on winning and bring Olympic gold home to Stalbridge and Dorset.’
