Fifteen-year-old Charlie Browne has vowed to keep pushing forward after her first international amateur fight was called off when her Spanish opponent, Lucia Sanchez Gonzalez, failed to make weight.
Charlie, who trains at Thetford’s East Anglia Kickboxing Academy, has already won her previous four fights under the guidance of her coach, Billy Brown. Recently, she attended a major event in Rotterdam and took part in sparring sessions in Eindhoven, gaining valuable international experience.
Now proudly sponsored by FWBeauty, a local business championing strength, beauty, and female empowerment – Charlie is the only girl on her gym’s fight team and hopes to inspire others to follow in her footsteps. “Just because girls don’t do it, doesn’t mean they shouldn’t,” she says. “It’s not just about the fights; it’s about fitness and training too.”
Inspired by UFC and WWE icon Ronda Rousey, Charlie first put on a pair of boxing gloves in 2019. Since then, she has achieved her 1st Dan Black Belt – the highest grade available for her age. “I’m really proud of what I’ve achieved in a short time,” she says. “Now, it’s all about the fights.” Plans are already underway to arrange a replacement match before Christmas.
Charlie trains five nights a week, plus Saturday mornings for bag work. Safety is a priority at EAKA, where all U18s wear headguards and shin guards when fighting. Although her dedication is clear, her mum, Zoe, makes sure school comes first. Charlie follows in the footsteps of other barrier-breaking women from Thetford in sports like rugby and boxing. Her dream? To fight in Thailand and Japan and, if kickboxing ever becomes an Olympic sport, represent Great Britain on the world stage. Follow Charlie’s progress on Instagram at: @charliebrownekickboxing
