Lillie Winch is quickly gaining recognition as a promising talent in boxing, not only for her skills in the ring but also for her advocacy for autism and mental health outside of it.
Starting her professional boxing career with an impressive debut on June 29, Winch has mesmerized audiences through her journeys in white collar, amateur, and professional boxing.
As she forges ahead in the boxing arena, Winch is dedicated to her twin goals: becoming a world champion and advocating for autism and mental health awareness.
Inspired by Tyson Fury’s struggles with mental health, Winch aspires for her personal narrative of resilience and passion to connect with fans and motivate a new wave of athletes, much like the Gypsy King.
In an interview with Mail Sport about her transition into boxing, Winch shared: ‘I had quite a bit of trouble in school. I faced challenges in that environment and struggled to adapt.’
‘I received a late diagnosis of autistic spectrum disorder at 13, which made my school experience even more bewildering.’
‘I was filled with rage and would often punch walls! Eventually, I was hospitalized due to severe depression and anxiety.’
‘To help me channel my frustrations, my mom introduced me to boxing.’
‘After my initial session, I felt sick but also accomplished. Pushing my limits gave me a sense of pride, and I realized I could redirect my aggression into something positive.’
‘From that moment, I was hooked.’
Last year, as an amateur, Winch fully immersed herself in boxing, competing in five back-to-back bouts. However, she faced a knee injury but continued to fight through the pain.
As summer neared, her knee condition deteriorated, making it impossible for her to walk, run, or box, which led her into a deep depression.
She became isolated, spending her days bedridden, binge-watching Netflix, eating takeout, and distancing herself from friends and the sport she cherished.
‘Last August was extremely tough for me, mentally. I felt drained, both mentally and physically. I ceased working and withdrew from social interactions.’
‘I neglected my training. The knee injury I sustained after my last fight weighed heavily on me, especially since it was an old injury I believed I had overcome.’
‘With numerous fights scheduled, I tried to push through until my knee finally gave out.
‘Being unable to run or box was devastating, especially after dedicating the past three years to daily training and workouts.’
‘Consequently, I became very depressed and experienced anxiety just thinking about returning to work. It was a challenging period, and recovering took much longer than expected.’
‘I spent a month or two in bed, indulging because I knew I’d have to cut back on food once I returned to training.’
Winch disclosed that she found motivation in Tyson Fury’s mental health journey. She noted how reading his book during her challenging times illuminated a path toward hope.
‘Looking at his journey, he battled significant weight gain after spiraling out of control. Yet, like me, he collaborated with his team to make a comeback.’
‘Interestingly, during my struggles last year, I watched his documentary, which helped me get through some dark moments.’
‘It’s reassuring to see others who have faced similar circumstances, particularly someone like Fury who turned his life around and achieved incredible things.’
‘Moreover, his contributions to boxing overall are immense. He’s been a tremendous source of inspiration for me.’
‘Witnessing his battle with weight gain and depression really helped ignite a spark, reminding me that there is a way to overcome such feelings.’
Fury’s journey saw him rise to the heavyweight championship in 2015, descend into depression nearing suicide, balloon to 28 stone, and eventually return to the pinnacle of boxing in 2020 by defeating the feared Deontay Wilder.
At his lowest point, Fury recounted being on the brink of ending his life after his triumph over long-reigning champion Wladimir Klitschko, spiraling into drug and alcohol abuse, questioning what more he could achieve after such a significant victory.
‘One day I woke up and thought, ‘today’s the day I end it all,’ he recounted in an ITV interview. ‘I was driving towards a bridge, planning to crash my car at high speed, having lost all will to live.’
‘Before reaching the bridge, I heard a voice say, ‘don’t do this, you’re going to destroy your family’s life,’ prompting me to pull over. That was the moment I realized I needed to get well immediately.’
This determination to change led him to shed nine stone in less than two years, marking his comeback in the ring in 2018, which initiated a positive turn in his career.
He regained his charismatic presence, landing lucrative matches against opponents like Wilder, and reclaimed his heavyweight championship title.
Fury battled back from the brink of suicide and shed over nine stone to return to the ring
Fury recently lost his undisputed heavyweight title clash against Oleksandr Usyk
Winch aims to follow in Fury’s footsteps, hoping to claim titles in the future after securing a win in her debut against Angelika Oles and facing off against journeywoman Bec Connolly.
Even as a newcomer, Winch has already sparred with notable figures in the sport, including Nina Hughes, Caroline Dubois, and Skye Nicolson.
Reflecting on her sparring experiences, Winch recounted: ‘When I sparred Skye Nicholson, I was still new to amateur boxing, and she was incredibly supportive, helping me develop my skills.’
‘Sparring Caroline Dubois was an enriching experience; we went eight rounds. I think they wanted to stop me, but I managed to last the duration.’
‘Nina Hughes is another prominent name I have sparred with. While she sometimes had the upper hand, I frequently spar with her. She’s incredibly tactical and has an unmatched work ethic in both sparring and competition.’
Although still new to the game, Winch has been mixing with some of the most prominent names in the sport – having sparred the likes of Nina Hughes, Caroline Dubois, Skye Nicolson
Dubois – who became the European Youth champion four times and won gold at the 2018 Youth Olympic Games – has been touted as the next face of female boxing
Dubois victory has finally put her on a collision course to face Irish boxing legend and current WBC World Lightweight Champion, Katie Taylor . A fight she has always wanted
Dubois, who has been in the ring since she was nine years old and has won the European Youth Championship four times, recently returned to boxing action on August 3 to defend her IBO World Title and challenge for the WBC Interim World Title against Maira Moneo.
Her victory has now paved the way for a long-anticipated matchup against Irish boxing icon and WBC World Lightweight Champion, Katie Taylor.
While Dubois is under immense expectation, Winch is closely following in her footsteps. Her coaches are optimistic about her potential to carry the same torch in the future. Although carrying such expectations is a significant responsibility for Winch, she is determined to rise to the challenge.
Discussing her aspirations to be the next big name in GB boxing, Winch stated: ‘It’s a considerable responsibility, but I believe the foundational work is vital. It’s all about the efforts we put in away from public recognition.’
‘I focus on my immediate goals rather than external opinions.’
‘I understand what it takes to reach the top levels. I need to commit to the hard work that often goes unnoticed.
‘While the pressure can feel overwhelming sometimes, recognizing that top athletes are just like us makes the journey feel more relatable.’
‘Many high-level athletes develop a sense of arrogance, but I see myself as just an average person from Enfield, which I believe is significant.’
