Larkhall Lightweight Adele Craw fights out of Forsyth’s Boxing Club in Hamilton. Adele has made an impact on Scottish Boxing, and has her sights firmly set on becoming a Professional Boxer. However, for the time being she is looking no further than the Scottish Championships in January.
Growing up in Larkhall, South Lanarkshire, Scotland, was very difficult for Adele; she has blurry memories of her childhood, “I was a nightmare, very impatient, nervous - a very frightened child. I never wanted to go to school”. She did manage to get herself into a lot of trouble in the later years of high school.
A cruel tragedy struck the family within a three year period, “My cousin and uncle were murdered. It was two separate incidents. I know my uncle Robert was murdered outside the doctors, he was battered to death”. This brutality must have scarred Adele who was only 17 when her uncle was taken under horrific circumstances.
Adele started playing football for Ballieston but kept getting sent off. She was gradually spiralling out of control; she became a real wild child. Adele admits, “I was totally off the rails”. She tried to drive a car home from the pub while under the influence of alcohol, “I went off the road and crashed the car. I got 32 stitches in my hand, broke my shoulder, and had a broken arm”, the doctors told her if she wasn’t drunk she would have killed herself, “I was in the car myself, the car flipped, and I punched my hand through the sunroof to get out”. Adele received a £350 fine and was banned for a year, “I learned my lesson never to drink and drive again”, she said.
Tragedy struck the family again another three years down the line, “My cousin was out watching a Celtic and Rangers football game around Christmas, and got stabbed through the heart”. Adele had such a close family, her uncle and cousin had lived next door. This latest horrendous misery must have taken its toll on Adele, “To be honest, I think it affected my dad more. I was just going through the motions, just had to get on with it, and felt as though I had to stick up for myself”.
Adele was making a name for herself for all the wrong reasons; she was fighting in pubs and clubs every weekend. She fought with men, women and bouncers. She got charged with Police assaults, and carrying offensive weapons. She got barred from all pubs in Larkhall to Hamilton. She did try karate, but opted for Thai Boxing due to the savage nature of the sport. It was during her time as a Thia boxer that she started going to Forsyth’s Gym in Hamilton to help improve her punching technique. This is where she met the owner and trainer Stephen Forsyth.
Adele had one exhibition and one professional fight as a Thai boxer, Stephen came along to watch her fight as a professional. It was then that Stephen suggested to Adele that she gave boxing a try; he thought she had a lot of potential.
Adele was at the stage her friends wouldn’t want to come out with her, for obvious reasons. It was at this time Adele seriously assaulted a guy in a nightclub, she could have got a jail sentence, but got a Police tag strapped to her ankle and 15 months probation. She was fed up letting her friends down and knew something had to give. Adele took up Stephen’s offer and started attending boxing classes at Forsyth’s Gym.
Growing up in Larkhall, South Lanarkshire, Scotland, was very difficult for Adele; she has blurry memories of her childhood, “I was a nightmare, very impatient, nervous - a very frightened child. I never wanted to go to school”. She did manage to get herself into a lot of trouble in the later years of high school.
A cruel tragedy struck the family within a three year period, “My cousin and uncle were murdered. It was two separate incidents. I know my uncle Robert was murdered outside the doctors, he was battered to death”. This brutality must have scarred Adele who was only 17 when her uncle was taken under horrific circumstances.
Adele started playing football for Ballieston but kept getting sent off. She was gradually spiralling out of control; she became a real wild child. Adele admits, “I was totally off the rails”. She tried to drive a car home from the pub while under the influence of alcohol, “I went off the road and crashed the car. I got 32 stitches in my hand, broke my shoulder, and had a broken arm”, the doctors told her if she wasn’t drunk she would have killed herself, “I was in the car myself, the car flipped, and I punched my hand through the sunroof to get out”. Adele received a £350 fine and was banned for a year, “I learned my lesson never to drink and drive again”, she said.
Tragedy struck the family again another three years down the line, “My cousin was out watching a Celtic and Rangers football game around Christmas, and got stabbed through the heart”. Adele had such a close family, her uncle and cousin had lived next door. This latest horrendous misery must have taken its toll on Adele, “To be honest, I think it affected my dad more. I was just going through the motions, just had to get on with it, and felt as though I had to stick up for myself”.
Adele was making a name for herself for all the wrong reasons; she was fighting in pubs and clubs every weekend. She fought with men, women and bouncers. She got charged with Police assaults, and carrying offensive weapons. She got barred from all pubs in Larkhall to Hamilton. She did try karate, but opted for Thai Boxing due to the savage nature of the sport. It was during her time as a Thia boxer that she started going to Forsyth’s Gym in Hamilton to help improve her punching technique. This is where she met the owner and trainer Stephen Forsyth.
Adele had one exhibition and one professional fight as a Thai boxer, Stephen came along to watch her fight as a professional. It was then that Stephen suggested to Adele that she gave boxing a try; he thought she had a lot of potential.
Adele was at the stage her friends wouldn’t want to come out with her, for obvious reasons. It was at this time Adele seriously assaulted a guy in a nightclub, she could have got a jail sentence, but got a Police tag strapped to her ankle and 15 months probation. She was fed up letting her friends down and knew something had to give. Adele took up Stephen’s offer and started attending boxing classes at Forsyth’s Gym.
This was not just a turning point in Adele’s life, it was a god send. She started pushing herself to the limit during training, and then the time came for Adele to step through the ropes for her first fight. Adele had been really nervous on her way to the show, she was under the impression her opponent had no contests, but it turned out she had 2 fights under her belt. While staring across the ring at her opponent Adele had a thought, “She’s built like a tank”, and said to Stephen, “OH MY GOD, I can’t do this...” The nerves were getting the better of her, but as soon as the bell rang she was totally in her comfort zone. The fight was a close one, there was only a point in it, but Stephen felt she had done enough. Adele was awarded the decision by the smallest majority, “In the last minute I caught her with a big uppercut, I think that point won the fight for me”, Adele declared. After the fight Adele was in high spirits, legal ones this time, “I was buzzing, and couldn’t wait for my next fight – I loved it”. Adele was still wearing a Police tag round her ankle during the fight. It was a long time coming but Adele had finally found what she was looking for. A female boxer of African origin was up next for Adele, the venue was Cleland Miners Club, “I was more nervous for this fight. I was excited, felt the pressure and needed to win”. Adele won the fight by 5 points on this occasion, and voiced her thoughts, “Winning is the best feeling in the world”. She then entered the Scottish Novice Championships at Ravenscraig. In the final she fought a boxer called Robin Swan, and dropped her for a count of 8 after 1 minute and 20 seconds of the 1st round. The points scoring were a dead heat, so the judges had to go to count back, and awarded the Gold Medal to Adele by way of majority decision 47-43. Robin Swan wanted a rematch ASAP, Adele was more than happy to oblige. This time Adele won by a straight win coming by way of a clear majority. Even although Adele’s record read 4 fights 4 wins, she still fell into the novice category. However, this year she jumped up in class and fought in the Scottish Open Class Championships. In the semi-finals Adele was drawn against a boxer called Natalie McKay, this was just a random name to Adele at the time. She felt as though she made a big mistake by looking at Natalie’s record card. Everywhere she looked the words TEAM SCOTLAD were jumping out at her. Natalie had been representing the Scottish National Squad. Adele’s curiosity handed the psychological advantage to her opponent. It was a close fight that went to the scorecards, Adele lost by a minimal margin of 2 points, “This fight was a learning curve for me, I learned a lot from it. Natalie is one of the best boxers in Scotland, and in hindsight I wish I hadn’t looked at her record”. Adele had fought her last 2 fights with a broken nose, “I didn’t even know, I got an operation in July to fix it. I’ve been out for two and a half months, but I’m back now”.
Stephen Forsyth has been a huge influence on Adele, who says, “He believes in me, I would not be where I am today if it were not for Stephen. He’s been a huge help, and so have all the guys at the club”. Adele spars with all the guys at the club, her theory is, “I like to spar with all the big heavy guys, because no lassie is going to hit you as hard as they do”.
Adele trains 6 days a week, and takes a Saturday off. Her training includes strength and conditioning, sparring and pad work. Adele is currently being sponsored by her dads business Paintpot Decorators; she has also had a few offers from people wishing to sponsor her privately.
Mike Tyson was Adele’s favourite boxer growing up, currently its WBO World Lightweight Champion Ricky Burns, whom she would love to meet. Adele met my dad Ken Buchanan in February, because he fought way back in the 60’s and 70’s she did have to check the internet to find out more about him, “It was brilliant to meet a guy like that, my dad is a massive fan”. Adele has a few favourite boxing films such as, Million Dollar Baby, The Fighter and her favourite is Rocky IV, “I like when Rocky beats the Russian, because he thinks he’s impossible to beat”.
Adele has never been in trouble since she started boxing. These days she likes to train through the day and chill out at night. She is now getting more recognition for being a successful boxer opposed to the lassie who got barred from all the pubs. Adele is an inspiration to all the boxers at the club, her friends included. She got good standard grades at the school, and passed higher grades also. Adele is currently studying Psychology at University.
Adele would like to thank everyone for their support, and a big thanks to Stephen and everyone at the club.
When Adele hears the bell ring she’s buzzing with excitement, full of adrenalin, heart pumping, and ready to go. In so many ways you could say, Adele was Saved By The Bell.
I’ll leave the last words to Adele, “I love boxing; I’m good at it, and I want to become a Professional”.
By Raymond Fraser Buchanan
Adele trains 6 days a week, and takes a Saturday off. Her training includes strength and conditioning, sparring and pad work. Adele is currently being sponsored by her dads business Paintpot Decorators; she has also had a few offers from people wishing to sponsor her privately.
Mike Tyson was Adele’s favourite boxer growing up, currently its WBO World Lightweight Champion Ricky Burns, whom she would love to meet. Adele met my dad Ken Buchanan in February, because he fought way back in the 60’s and 70’s she did have to check the internet to find out more about him, “It was brilliant to meet a guy like that, my dad is a massive fan”. Adele has a few favourite boxing films such as, Million Dollar Baby, The Fighter and her favourite is Rocky IV, “I like when Rocky beats the Russian, because he thinks he’s impossible to beat”.
Adele has never been in trouble since she started boxing. These days she likes to train through the day and chill out at night. She is now getting more recognition for being a successful boxer opposed to the lassie who got barred from all the pubs. Adele is an inspiration to all the boxers at the club, her friends included. She got good standard grades at the school, and passed higher grades also. Adele is currently studying Psychology at University.
Adele would like to thank everyone for their support, and a big thanks to Stephen and everyone at the club.
When Adele hears the bell ring she’s buzzing with excitement, full of adrenalin, heart pumping, and ready to go. In so many ways you could say, Adele was Saved By The Bell.
I’ll leave the last words to Adele, “I love boxing; I’m good at it, and I want to become a Professional”.
By Raymond Fraser Buchanan
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