A YOUNG Thai boxer is looking to continue her unbeaten streak of professional fights as her mum bravely battles through her cancer journey.
Involved in kickboxing from a young age, Hollie Bowness' switch to Thai Boxing has mirrored her mum's eight-year cancer battle and she dedicated her first championship win to her back in 2017.
While Hollie has fought in six years of Thai boxing bouts and retained a two-year unbeaten streak as a professional, her mum Jo has undergone fifteen operations during the same time, and has lost sight in her right eye due to treatment complications.
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In awe of her mum's strength of character, with Jo still working 12-hour shifts and training daily at the gym while battling through operations, Hollie also dedicated her last fight to her mum and the dedicated team at Aintree Hospital who have spent eight years trying to save her life.
This saw the 19-year-old donating all of her ticket commission and prize fund to the Head and Neck Cancer Centre at Aintree Hospital, raising £1,180 in the process.
With Jo having undergone her fifteenth and hopefully final operation, Hollie has been preparing for her ninth Thai boxing fight in which she will represent her town on the international stage.
Attempting to continue her two-year professional winning streak, the Sutton Manor recruitment agent will take on a Slovakian fighter in a flyweight world championship bout in Leamington Spa next month.
Hollie, 19, said: "I'm feeling ready for the fight and really excited to get back in the ring.
"I'm ranked number eight in the flyweight division at the moment so I want to keep winning and climb up to the No.1 spot. From there I'd like to get into the sport more professionally.
"I work full time and head straight to the gym after work to prepare for my fights, but that's nothing to what my mum has gone through so I know I can do it."
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