A LIFE that started in Rowley Regis, West Midlands, was followed by periods in numerous countries across the globe before Ebonie Cotton settled and spent eight years in Australia.
But Cotton is back home now, and a new life is about to begin. Cotton was once a dancer. She has more than dabbled in the modelling world. But this Saturday night, the 30-year-old will enter the world of professional boxing.
Cotton ran a marketing company during her time in Australia, and while a new life as a professional boxer is on the horizon, the sport has been a part of her life for several years.
“I started boxing in Sydney, Australia,” Cotton told me over Zoom. “I was an Irish dancer. I was a dancer from the age of four, so I was always into competitive sports. I left England when I was 17 and moved to Greece, and I left again when I was 21 and moved to Hong Kong, Singapore, and Australia.
“I had stopped dancing, and I was in a relationship, and when that ended, I went through a period of real difficulty. Boxing was something I just fell into. I was doing CrossFit at the time. But I left and moved back to Sydney.
“My CrossFit coach at the time knew Luke Jackson, who was an Olympic boxer, and he said I had to keep training, and he told me to do some pad work with Luke. The first time I put the gloves on, I just knew this was me. It changed my life.”
It’s probably because of that difficult period that Ebonie Cotton has a deeper appreciation of her sport. “I do believe there is a link between any combat sport and good mental health,” Cotton told me. “In every gym I have stepped into, there is a family there. There is no ego in there. It’s the most chaotic but peaceful place.
“I truly believe that boxing saved my life,” Cotton adds when I ask what boxing has given her. “I mean that in so many aspects. It allowed me to find peace. It gave me a structure and focus. It created a purpose for me. Something that I have never felt before. It gave me a safe space, and every human should be able to have that.”
Due to a number of reasons, her boxing resume is limited. Four amateur fights and a few white-collar fights while she was in Australia indicate inexperience. But her love and enthusiasm for her craft do bridge that gap somewhat. However, the boxing gym has been a constant for many years. Hours spent away from the bright lights learning her trade.
Cotton moved back to the UK in 2024, and a life in the pro ranks was always on her mind. “Turning professional was always my intention,” Cotton told FightPost. “When I set my mind to something, there is no deviating from that. That was always my goal.”
The professional debut takes place on June 14th at the Aldersley Stadium, Wolverhampton, on a BCB Promotions show. It’s the only thing on the mind of the bantamweight hopeful.
“My goal right now is to focus on that debut and win that,” Cotton says when I ask what her aspirations are in boxing. “I also have my eye on that Midlands title. Once I have won that, ask me again and I’ll let you know what’s next.”
