Ashley Brace | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born | 9 March 1991 [1] | ||||||||||||||
| Statistics | |||||||||||||||
| Weight(s) | Bantamweight, Super-flyweight | ||||||||||||||
| Height | 5 ft 2 in (157 cm) [1] | ||||||||||||||
| Stance | Orthodox | ||||||||||||||
| Boxing record [2] | |||||||||||||||
| Total fights | 9 | ||||||||||||||
| Wins | 8 | ||||||||||||||
| Wins by KO | 3 | ||||||||||||||
| Draws | 1 | ||||||||||||||
Medal record
| |||||||||||||||
Ashley Brace (born 9 March 1991) is a Welsh former professional boxer who held the European female super-flyweight title. As an amateur she won a bronze medal in the 57kg category at the 2008 European Youth Boxing Championships. Brace has also competed in bare-knuckle boxing.
Brace started kickboxing at the age of eight after being bullied at school and initially tried boxing to improve her hand speed. [3] Having switched sports, she won a bronze medal, representing Wales, in the 57kg category at the 2008 European Youth Boxing Championships in Yambol, Bulgaria. [4]
Brace defeated Lynsey Holdaway by split decision to win the 51kg division at the 2014 Welsh Elite Boxing Championship. [5] She was subsequently selected for Wales team to compete at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland. [3] However, Brace was dropped from the squad when the International Boxing Association ruled her ineligible as she had previously taken part in professional kickboxing, a claim she denied. [6] [7]
Brace turned professional in 2015, defeating Bojana Libiszewska on points over four rounds on her pro-debut in Newport on 30 October that year. [8]
Unbeaten in her first five paid fights, she faced Alexandra Vlajk for the vacant WBC International female bantamweight title in Ebbw Vale on 22 April 2017, winning the contest by stoppage in the ninth round. [9] [10]
Brace fought Melania Sorroche for the vacant European female bantamweight title in Merthyr Tydfil on 15 December 2017. After the full 10 rounds were completed, her opponent was announced as the winner via majority decision. However, whilst Sorroche was celebrating her triumph, a recount of the scorecards took place and a calculation error was discovered leading to the result being changed to a split draw with one judge favouring each boxer and the third ruling the bout a tie. [11] [12]
On 14 April 2018, Brace got a second shot at a European championship, this facing time Xenia Jorneac for the vacant super-flyweight title at Ice Arena Wales in Cardiff. She won by unanimous decision. [13] [14]
In September 2024, BYB Extreme Fighting Series announced it had signed Brace to a multi-fight contract. [15] She made her debut for the promotion at BYB 36: Cardiff Brawl 2 on 1 February 2025, taking on Bianca Daimoni. [16] Brace lost the five-round super-welterweight contest by split decision. [17] [18]
