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This is the chilling end to a night of women’s boxing that, say those within the sport, has tarnished the game.

And it was done in the name of charity.

Dwarfed by her towering opponent, Sue O’Hare attempts to fend off a steady stream of heavy punches – but within a round, she is sent crashing to the canvas.

Sue, 36, from Kings Norton, ended up in hospital after suffering concussion and whiplash.

The physical mismatch climaxed a “Pink Collar” all-women boxing event at The Cadbury Club in Birmingham’s Bournville.

It has been criticised by contestants and officials alike in the high-risk fight game. They have demanded answers.

Female fighters we have spoken have criticised match-ups on the night.

Three of the night’s six contests ended in stoppages, with one woman unconscious for minutes, say eye-witnesses.

But it is the violent conclusion to Sue’s battle – and her subsequent hospitalisation – that has raised most concern. The building surveyor is 5ft 4ins tall and weighs 13st 12lbs. Sue alleges she was told on the night of the show that her opponent, “Josie The Jawbreaker”, was around 18st and over six feet tall.

In the Sunday Mercury’s photographs and video, the physical differences seem vast.

The company behind the night, Pink Collar Boxing, have stressed they have run 500 events without a hitch.

But they admit they will carefully look into claims of mismatching at the Birmingham event.

“I should’ve walked away,” said Sue. “But on the day you feel so pressured, I didn’t want to let people down.”

She had sold 14 adult tickets, each costing £25, and two £12.50 children’s tickets. Her supporters witnessed a conclusion that left Sue’s mother in tears.

The fighter’s allegations about the treatment she received on the evening, organised to raise funds for the Macmillan cancer charity, are concerning.

Sue claims she only found out who her opponent was on the night and that her contest was over four rounds, not three.

She also says she was unaware the match was for a championship belt, and was to be fought WITHOUT headguards.

Sue alleges she was only allowed to wear one after she threatened to pull out of the fight. And she is adamant that no post-medical was given after the harrowing KO, although medics were present and checked each fighter before contests.

She says she was left, dazed but on her feet, as the show’s trophy presentation took place in the ring.

Sue had taken part in two white collar bouts – and lost both – before joining the Cadbury bill, organised by Derby’s Pink Collar Boxing, a company that promises women who sign up for an eight-week training course “the challenge of a lifetime”.

“I filled in a waiver form and asked for a copy of the insurance document, which I’ve yet to receive,” she said.

“I turned up, walked into the venue and saw this massive girl. I was told ‘That’s the girl you are fighting’.

“I approached the co-ordinator and asked ‘Am I fighting that girl? Are you blind? One punch from her and I could end up in a bad way’.

“There were massive differences in weight and height. I told them they had put me in a really bad position. I didn’t want to put myself in that position.

“I was told I was looking too deeply into it. An official said ‘You’ll be fine’. It was like talking to a brick wall.

“My fight came around and my mum was saying,‘I don’t want you to fight’. I told her I couldn’t let all those people down, I felt that pressure.”

Sue says she was even more shaken to discover she was to fight for a title over four two-minute rounds – and without headguards.

“I wasn’t prepared mentally,” she said. “I have never fought without a headguard. No-one told me.

“We were arguing in the corner. I was saying my opponent didn’t need a headguard because I’d never be able to reach her head.”

Sue was mercilessly pummelled and knocked out cold.

“I felt really bad afterwards,” she added. “I didn’t go to work. I couldn’t function, I was that dazed.”

She was sent by her doctor to Edgbaston’s Queen Elizabeth Hospital and told she had whiplash and concussion.

Company to probe ‘mismatched’ opponents

PINK Collar’s website proclaims: “Beginner to winner in eight weeks”.

The company also underlines its commitment to safety.

Despite Pink Collar’s pledge to provide “a life-changing journey of empowerment”, Sue says the confidence has been knocked out of her.

The company’s Facebook site is certainly littered with praise from satisfied customers, and the Midland-wide enterprise is well connected.

Sam Sheedy, who recently fought for the BBBofC’s British middleweight crown, is listed as a coach.

There is also no doubt that Pink Collar has helped a host of worthy causes. The site reveals: “So far over 3,000 ladies have boxed with us and have raised over £250,000 for local and national charities through JustGiving and sponsorship forms.”

Pink Collar declined to comment in depth to the Sunday Mercury.

But in response to one email complaint, a company representative texted: “I will look into this as we haven’t had this issue in over 500 shows.

“Due to low numbers, and not wanting to let the ladies down that had signed up, two cities joined together and were matched by the gyms/co-ordinators.

“This obviously wasn’t successful and I will follow this up.”

Another text states: “We honoured it (the show) despite having to stomach a big loss. In future, we are going to cancel to avoid any mismatches happening.

“The Birmingham and Wolverhampton ladies were put together onto one show to avoid cancelling the show, hence it being harder for two gyms in two cities to match the ladies.”



Amateur fighters take medical risk

THE British Boxing Board of Control demands an ambulance and two doctors at its professional shows.

But there are no legal requirements for such in-depth medical cover at white and pink collar bills, Jimmy Farrell, a Thames Valley paramedic used by the BBBofC, stressed.

“I totally understand that kids who want to channel their energy at an amateur club have not got the money for that kind of medical cover,” he said.

“But I’m concerned when I see online appeals saying ‘Medics needed today for a boxing show’. Paperwork cannot be checked in 24 hours.”

There is no suggestion medics at the Cadbury Club show, provided by Medistap, did not have the necessary qualifications.

White and pink collar boxing are not tied to a governing body, and set their own rules. Individuals of all ages sign up for an eight or 10-week training course that culminates in a contest.

It has become big business, but it carries risks. In 2014, Lance Ferguson-Prayogg died after a Nottingham white collar bout.