BRUNEL ABC duo Maddy Salone-Howell and Leni Dawson don the gloves for bouts in Chippenham on Saturday night.

Ten-year-old Maddy, who lives in Hannington and goes to Fairford Primary School, makes her skills fight debut at the Emeralds ABC gym.

She is following in the footsteps of her mum Kelli, who was Swindon’s first female boxer and has also excelled at sports as diverse as downhill mountain biking, motocross, supercross, cage fighting and skydiving.

Referring to her own ring career, Kelli, who is completing a boxing referee’s course and is hoping to train more girls in the sport, said: “It caused quite a stir in the town. Many felt a woman should not be allowed to fight in the ring.

“Now 20 years on, my daughter is fighting. Attitudes are changing and she really is a chip off the old block.’’

Thirteen-year-old Dorcan Academy pupil Dawson will also take part in her second skills fight in Chippenham.