Kayla Allen becomes first female Zuffa Boxing signing
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- Kayla Allen, a 21-year-old Londoner, became the first female fighter to sign with Zuffa Boxing, with her professional debut set for September 26 at London's Copper Box Arena, live on Sky Sports.
- Zuffa Boxing 11 is headlined by British heavyweight Johnny Fisher, with Allen slated to appear on the undercard as a lightweight.
- Allen began boxing less than five years ago after setting up a heavy bag in her garden and learning the craft by watching videos of Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Mike Tyson.
- GB Boxing hosted her amateur rise: Allen reached the Senior Elite finals in her first year and won gold at the 2024 Haringey Box Cup, 2025 Senior Elite Championships, 2025 European U23 Championships, and 2026 Boxam Tournament in La Nucia, Spain.
- Alex Leo, Allen's long-time trainer, will guide her professional career; Allen said she feels honored to be Zuffa's first female athlete and aims to become 'a big star on both sides of the Atlantic.'
Why it matters: Zuffa Boxing's first female signing, paired with a Sky Sports slot on a Fisher-headlined card at the Copper Box Arena, gives the promotion an immediate British TV platform to launch a women's division — and gives Allen, a 21-year-old with major amateur hardware, the stage to build a transatlantic profile before she ever turns pro.
