Nineteen-year-old Ruby White, a rising star in British boxing, is preparing to make her highly anticipated Commonwealth Games debut in Glasgow, bringing with her an astounding unbeaten record of 68 fights. The Dorset-born boxer, nicknamed the 'Pocket Rocket' due to her 5ft 1in stature, was reportedly surprised by the call-up from GB Boxing performance director Rob McCracken earlier this summer, despite her impressive track record.
White's journey to elite boxing has been swift and successful. Having started boxing at the age of seven, she has accumulated numerous accolades, including seven national championships, four European titles for England, and the under-19 world title in 2024. Her unbroken streak of victories also includes clinching the Golden Girls Boxing Cup in Sweden in February, a competition featuring over 500 female boxers from across the globe. She only formally joined the Great Britain Boxing academy in May of this year.
The young pugilist will compete in the flyweight 51kg class and is one of 14 boxers selected for England who are all making their first appearance at the Commonwealth Games. White openly expressed her excitement and nerves ahead of her debut, stating she had "no clue" why McCracken, who has trained boxing greats like Anthony Joshua and Carl Froch, wanted to speak to her. Her coach, Ben Stewart, had hinted at the significance of the call, leading White to initially fear she was "in trouble."
For many British boxing stars, the Commonwealth Games have served as a crucial stepping stone in their careers, with Olympic gold medallists Nicola Adams and Lauren Price being notable examples. White herself draws inspiration from these figures, stating her ambition to "follow in the same footsteps" and return from Glasgow with a gold medal. Her long-term goal extends to the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.
White's first challenge in the SEC Arena is scheduled for Monday (18:30 BST) against South Africa's Thandolwethu Mathiba. Acknowledging the pressure that comes with her unbeaten status, White stated, "Every time I step in that ring I know that my opponent wants to take my unbeaten record from me." Despite admitting she will likely be "very nervous," she remains focused, asserting, "All the training's been done, the hard work's been done in the gym I just need to perform and put on a good display of boxing."