GABRIELLE Fanning says she cannot wait to pack a punch in Ludlow.

The 16-year-old has been training at Ludlow Amateur Boxing Club for two years and was due to compete at the club's diner show earlier this month.

But a late cancellation meant that Fanning was unable to show what she could do.

However, the Tenbury College student is on course to make her debut soon.

"I was looking forward it because it was going to be my first fight," said Fanning.

"No-one has seen me fight yet, so I wanted to surprise everyone."

Fanning said that she got into boxing because she wanted to follow in the footsteps of her grandfather, who was also a fighter.

She added that the coaches at Ludlow ABC are very supportive and provide her with good advice.

"The coaches at the club are great and they tell you when to keep my guard up and my elbows in," said Fanning.

"They teach me a lot.

"It has been good at the club and they have all been supportive."

However, the teenager added that she has experienced some doubters who do not believe she has what it takes to compete in the ring.

"Some people believe in me, some don't, but you just have to carry on," she said.

"I think more girls should box just as much as the boys.

"You should just train hard and go in there and do your best.

"I left it two years until I was ready.

"People tell me not to go in there, because they think I'm not actually good enough.

"But I was still going to go in there and show them what I had.

"I think more girls should box just as much as the boys."

Meanwhile, Ludlow ABC's James Key's journey in the Novice National Championships came to an end last Saturday when he lost to Dan Wellings from Grimsby Boxing Academy in the quarter-finals.

Key went into the bout on the back of winning the Midlands division of the England Development Championships.

But he came unstuck against Wellings, who proved to be a tough opponent at the fight in Swadlincote, Derbyshire.

Elsewhere, F.M Caine and Sons will be sponsoring Chadd Woodfield this season.

The Knighton firm collect and dispose fallen stock for famers and livestock owners.

Woodfield won his match against Ryan Cowling at Ludlow ABC's dinner show and is in fine form.