More than 500 female boxers gathered in Sweden – and it was Dorset’s Ruby White who emerged as Golden Girl champion on the biggest stage
The Golden Girl Championship has always carried weight in women’s amateur boxing, but the scale of this year’s tournament underlined just how far the sport has grown.
Held in Sweden for the 16th time, the 2026 event was the biggest yet, attracting more than 500 competitors from 30 countries – making it the largest female-only amateur boxing competition in the world.
‘Last year was big, with around 330 competitors,’ says Shaun Weeks of Sturminster Newton Amateur Boxing Club, who travelled with a strong squad. ‘This year it was 520. That tells you everything.’
The tournaament doesn’t just attract European teams: boxers also travelled from from Canada and the USA. For young fighters, the appeal is obvious. ‘The girls are guaranteed bouts,’ Shaun says. ‘And because of the level, it makes it one of the most elite competitions they can enter.’
Golden Girl’s structure also sets it apart. Younger boxers compete in ‘diploma boxing’, judged on skill rather than power – footwork, defence, movement and clean punching – before progressing to open competition at junior, youth and senior levels. ‘It’s not something we do in this country,’ Shaun says, ‘but it makes a lot of sense.’
This year’s results reflected the depth of talent. Awards went to boxers from across Europe, with England well represented but far from dominant. The breadth of categories – from Best Junior and Best Youth to Elite, Showmanship and technical awards – reflected a sport developing across ages and styles.
Bottom row fro. left to right – Ruby Gibbon – Ebony Isaacs – Ruby White
The Stur six pack
That was evident within the Sturminster Newton squad. Ebony Isaacs reached the final after a strong semi-final win, eventually taking silver against a multiple national and current European champion. ‘She competed,’ Shaun says. ‘She didn’t get stopped, she didn’t get an eight count – it showed she’s at that level.’
Miraya Ivanova delivered what Shaun described as one of her best performances to date, winning gold after boxing with confidence and control. ‘She loves to train,’ he says. ‘The harder you train her, the better she gets. But something just clicked for her in Sweden.’
Katie Isaacs also impressed across two age groups, taking gold and silver in bouts where she was often younger, lighter and less experienced than her opponents.
‘Anything near 30 points in diploma scoring is exceptional,’ says Shaun. ‘She’s definitely one to watch.’
Others had tougher weekends but gained valuable experience. Georgia Allcott, new to the club, lost narrowly on a split decision against a strong French opponent. ‘Give her four or five months with us and you’ll see a different boxer,’ Shaun says.
The return of Ruby
Against that backdrop, Ruby White’s performance sits in sharper relief – not because it eclipsed the rest, but because it represents the long arc of development the younger girls are on.
Now competing at 51kg, having moved up from 48kg, Ruby boxed opponents ranging from her own age to senior fighters in their 20s. ‘She was just boxing better than them,’ Shaun says. ‘She handled all distances. She was never in danger. She controlled every single bout.’
Her progression was visible across the weekend. ‘Even in the final,’ Shaun adds, ‘she just stepped up a gear. She wore her opponent down and finished it early.’
Beyond the ring, Ruby was recognised twice more. Following a public vote – which she apparently won by a wide margin – she was announced the People’s Champion.
Then, the tournament’s top senior award, she was announced as overall Golden Girl, the tournament champion. The unanimous jury’s decision was unequivocal, citing: ‘… sharp, hard, clean punches, never in any danger, always controlling the bout. A complete boxer’.
‘I’ve been so overwhelmed by the support from everyone,’ Ruby says. ‘I feel incredibly grateful and really loved, both online and in person. So many younger boxers – and their mums! – came up to me at the tournament, asking for photos and advice, which was really lovely. I’m always happy to help anyone.
‘All three of my bouts were tough, and I was proud to share the ring with my opponents from Ireland, Canada and Germany – they’re all great boxers and genuinely lovely people. Respect is a huge thing for me in boxing. People who know me know I always show that. The fights can be entertaining and intense, that’s what the crowd loves, but before and after the bell we’re all good – when it rings, we’ve just got a job to do.
‘I want to thank Sturminster Newton Amateur Boxing Club and all my coaches for the time and effort they put into me. I had the best time at Golden Girl this year … But now, it’s straight back to the gym and back to work.’
For Shaun, the moment carried personal significance. ‘When Ruby first went there as a schoolgirl, she won gold and also Best Prospect,’ he says. ‘And she said then, “One day I want to come back and be the Golden Girl.” She’s done it – at the first opportunity.’
Eyeing the five rings
What comes next is still unfolding. Ruby is awaiting confirmation on selection for the GB podium squad, a key step towards international championships and, ultimately, Olympic contention.
‘Anybody can turn pro,’ Shaun says, ‘but not everyone can be an Olympian. That’s always been
the goal.’
If Golden Girl 2026 demonstrated anything, it is that women’s boxing now rests on depth, structure and opportunity.
For some of the Dorset team, the weekend marked potential realised; for others, lessons learned.
For Ruby White, it marked another milestone – she is no longer a prospect chasing the field, but a standard against whom others are measured.
Ruby will be boxing at the Amateur Show on 14th March at The Exchange. It’s a rare chance to watch an international-level boxer compete live, and a great way of supporting a not-for-profit local boxing club too.
Ruby faces a tough test against multiple-time national champion Jasmina Lujkaj of Redcar, in what promises to be an exciting, high-quality contest.
