Jane Couch: Britain’s first female boxer

The Final Round is the inspirational story of one woman and her fight to be able to box. Growing up in Fleetwood with no career aspirations, Jane Couch’s world changed overnight when she watched two American women boxers on TV and knew she’d found her calling.

However, at that time, women weren’t allowed to box in the UK – so Jane had to train under the radar, sparring illegally with men and travelling abroad to fight. She had to prove herself at every turn, but in a country that wouldn’t let her do what she loved, she was up against the ropes. But Jane fought back.

In 1998, a court of law found the British Board of Boxing Control guilty of discrimination, and she became the first female to be awarded a UK licence to box. Far from being celebrated, she was ridiculed and labelled a ‘freak show’, the subject of TV chat show debates. Having paved the way for women to box, Jane found herself hung out to dry by the male-dominated boxing establishment. Her story is one of passion, guts and determination.

Jane Couch’s brutally honest and frank autobiography is the tale of someone who doesn’t give up even when everyone is against her. Read The Last Round and you will discover:

• How Jane helped her schoolmates by standing up to their bullies
• The thanks she owes her inspiring mum and brother, who helped her find her true destiny beyond the northern fishing town where she grew up
• What happened when she found out she was entered into a World Title fight against a world-class opponent – after only four previous unlicensed, underground matches
• Why she was portrayed in the media for being brash, loud, aggressive and offensive because she simply wanted to be able to earn a living through boxing
• The memorable conversations she had with Princess Diana over lunch about boxing and women being unstable
• The truth behind her infamous encounter on the Michael Barrymore talk show – and why she became a figure of hatred for injuring a national treasure
• Why being up against the ropes from the BBC and the media finally took its toll, and she conducted her very own funeral
• How Olympic gold medallist Nicola Adams thanked her for being a pioneer of the sport, and why she would not be boxing if it weren’t for Jane