A BOXING club is encouraging Newport girls to follow in the footsteps of world champion Jane Couch by taking to the ring.

It may seem like a man's world but at Bettws Amateur Boxing Club they are having more girls taking up the sport than ever before, bidding to be the next Laila Ali or simply getting fit by taking up boxing training.

The Bettws club has been given 1,000 for new equipment by the Welsh Church Fund and David Sheppard, organiser and fundraiser, said the club is hoping to buy new gloves for the girls and special bandages to protect their knuckles.

He said: "The money is great so we can buy new equipment and some for the girls because we are getting more girls coming along, which is great.

"They come for the physical fitness as much as anything but we have had six girls come in the last couple of months and they do circuits, skipping and keeping fit."

Becky Price, 19, from Bettws, has been going along to the club for five years.

She said: "I love training and keeping fit and it's fun.

"Boxing and the training is a great way to keep fit and healthy without going to the gym.

"I think more girls are coming now because they see it's not just for boys.

"I think more should be done to promote women's boxing and show just how popular it is becoming."