Lynn fighter claims European crown

West Norfolk has a new European Champion in the shape of Stevi Levy.The Lynn fighter was crowned EBU European silver Super Bantamweight champion last night following a majority points verdict over Polish fighter Dorota Norek in Sheffield.Former West Norfolk Sportswoman of the Year Levy admitted her first-ever title success is still sinking in.”It doesn’t feel real yet,” she admitted after her hard-fought success in the ring.”I look at everyone else and all these other pro boxers and feel that I don’t quite belong with them. I don’t know why, but I do now, this is real.“I’ve always had a little voice in the back of my head telling me that I’m not good enough, but I am now and I’m going to keep getting better.”Levy was cheered on by hundreds of fight fans from her home town and among them was her nine-year-old son Morgan.”I’m happy that I lost in Poland and that I got to win my first title in front of him, I wouldn’t change it for the world,” she admitted.”You don’t see kids cry with joy very often and that boy cried tears of joy so that just prove what it means to him.“I’m not forcing this life on him, he wants it too.”Levy, 30, praised the support of her trainer Dave Allen.”I couldn’t have done it without him,” she admitted.”I’m grateful to every single person who has trained me or giving me their advice as it has made me who I am but he has taken me to the next level that I needed.”He’s taught me to become a good boxer, not just a hard person who is prepared to scrap.”The way he teaches is the way that I need. I couldn’t do it without him, we’re a team. I would choose him over anyone in the world to be my trainer and I’m so happy to make him proud.”The title clash was her 12th bout and second ten-rounder since her professional debut back in 2019.Levy won a gruelling battle in the ring 95-95, 98-92 and 96-94 on the judge’s scorecards.Reflecting on the fight itself, Levy said: “I knew she was going to come out scrapping and that. I thought I was going to ride her shots a bit better and counter.”She was putting her weight on me. She was very tough and a lot stronger than I thought.”I didn’t expect it to be a close fight and it was but I’m not going to kick myself over that because I’ll just give her credit rather than taking it for myself.”David always said the sooner we get her on the back foot, the better. That was always the plan, keep my shots straight, work to the body and keep her on the back foot.”Levy continues to make time to coach young boxers at the recently opened Box Cross Gym in Wisbech.She thanks sponsors Dedicated Care, Gould Barbers, Box Cross UK, Happy Motor Finance, Assemble Scaffolding, John Clarke Nutrition, AS Carpentry, Photographer MYD, and Watches of Whitby.Fellow professional Ebanie Bridges – also a sponsor – was one of the first to congratulate Levy on her success.