A teenage boxer who is putting Oldham on the map in women's boxing has taken home some hefty championships this year - and has her sights set on joining the GB team.

Naomi Kalu started getting into boxing when she was just 14 years old.

However, the now 18-year-old said she has had quite the "impactful year" in 2022, having gained a collection of impressive titles to her name - including her most recent bout at the England Boxing Winter Boxing Cup 2022.

The competition took place over the course of a weekend, December 3 to 4, and saw Naomi fight and beat two major competitors in the class A elite under 60kg category.

She fought Liz Parsons, a new entry onto the GB programme, and Sian O'Toole a former GB boxer and was crowned the winner of both fights after Parsons fell to an injury and she beat O'Toole by unanimous decision.

Naomi said: "I was very happy to win.

"The two girls I was against were levels above me on paper, especially with them being GB boxers and I had only just entered the tournament."

She said taking home the gold meant a lot to her and her coaches at Boxing Oldham and Personal Development Centre, particularly as the teen had only ever had two fights before Covid and was juggling studying her A-levels at Oldham Sixth Form College in-between training.

Naomi attends the club at least four times a week to study, train, coach and mentor youngsters as well as teach a women's class.

But now she has two times National Champion, two times North West Champion, International Champion and Winter Box Cup Champion to her name - and hopes 2023 will see her foot in the door of the GB team.

The rising star also said she is "excited" by how far women's boxing has progressed.

"There are a lot more girls in the sport and the level is rising, which is good to see.

"And you see a lot of younger girls in the classes now who aren't being forced there, they genuinely have a passion for the sport and it's so nice to see that younger generation coming up.

"The average person is now talking about women's boxing too with more becoming household names.

"But people do underestimate your skills and even the pros at the moment are only boxing two-minute rounds.

"It's about giving women the opportunity to box more, for longer, and to get more coverage.

"But I'm happy and excited to just be a part of it."

When asked what the future holds, she said: "I didn't even realise I'd get this far this year but I know whatever I do, I'm supported by the club, family and friends.

"Getting onto the GB team and levelling up in each fight is next - my goal is to compete at the Olympics and in the world championships, but to get to that point I need to get onto the GB team.

"I've just boxed three of their boxers so hopefully, I'll have someone coming to see me", she added.