Boxing prodigy Maisey-Rose Courtney claims nothing will stop her realising her dream of being selected by Great Britain as the teenager goes in search of a perfect 2019.

The 18-year-old from Eltham came out on top at the Three Nations competition earlier this year, representing England and beating challengers from Scotland and Wales to seal the biggest prize of her career to date.

And Courtney, who took up boxing a decade ago in order to keep up her fitness while playing football, has her mind firmly set on qualifying for the Great Britain team when she competes at the Elite ABA Championships, which starts next March.

She said: “I want to get onto the GB squad. Hopefully I will be able to do that and then who knows, the Olympics are always the aim. I’ve got to win the Elite ABA’s next year in March in order to get onto the team so everything I’m doing is focussed towards that.

“I believe I can win next year and with that belief I know I can do it. It’s exciting to be going into seniors and competing against people older than me, it’s scary but I cannot wait for it.”

Courtney had been narrowly defeated in the final of the Three Nations in 2017 on a split decision, falling to Vikki Glover who went on to represent Scotland at the Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast, an achievement that put Courtney’s career progression into strong light.

“It’s been a really good year,” she said. “I’ve had a few national titles and I won the Three Nations title in March this year, that was my biggest title. I boxed for England against Scotland and Wales so it was a big thing for me.

“It meant a lot to win that title because last year I was just short, I lost on a split decision against a girl who ended up going to the Commonwealth Games so she was a very good level, but this year I nicked it so I was delighted with that. 

“Losing to someone who ended up representing at the Commonwealths put into perspective what level I’m boxing at. I didn’t realise who I was boxing and the level it was until you see them on the Gold Coast, so it was impressive.”

The Londoner was speaking at a SportsAid event where she helped put on a boxing masterclass as the charity celebrated a new three-year partnership with GVC Holdings.

The partnership will see GVC, the multi-national sports betting and gaming group behind brands such as Ladbrokes and Coral, supporting 50 of the country’s brightest sporting prospects annually through SportsAid.

The collaboration forms part of a multi-million pound investment by GVC into grassroots, community and health projects. 

The charity, which has aided the future British sporting stars since 1976, has funded Courtney for the last two years and the boxer admits having the backing has also helped her number one fan, her mother, Joanne.

She said: “I’ve had SportsAid funding for about a year now. I was put forward by England Boxing and with the funding I got last year, £1,000, I got new boots and boxing equipment and it’s helped me a lot. 

“It means a lot because I’m always pressuring my mum, asking for new boots or new kit. She’s my biggest fan and every single fight I hear her screaming for me, she’s so supportive. 

“It was a bit of a struggle and I was trying to save up myself from birthdays or at Christmas to get things and it’s always tough.

“It’s really difficult because you’re trying to combine boxing with college and it’s hard to find time and get a job in order to save that money.

“But having that support from SportsAid is really important and I couldn’t do what I do without it.”

GVC is proud to be championing the next generation of British athletes by providing them with financial support and personal development opportunities in partnership with SportsAid. Please visit https://gvc-plc.com to find out more about the Group.