Upon receiving the call a few months ago, Jane Couch couldn’t believe that she, known as “The Fleetwood Assassin,” would be inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame alongside the class of 2024.
“Nowadays there’s hall of fames all over and I’m thinking, ‘Yeah, right’ so I shrugged it off,” she tells Boxing News.
IBHOF Founder and Executive Director Ed Brophy, seemingly unfazed, made another call to Couch after their initial conversation. This time, he inquired about her ring size, which elicited an enthusiastic response from the 55-year-old former world champion.
“Why do you need my ring size?” he asked. “Because you’re in the hall of fame,” he replied. I chuckled and said, “Seriously?” Then, I noticed Ricky Hatton was also included, and I exclaimed, “Wow!”
Couch’s induction, in contemporary terms, can be referred to as “receiving her flowers.” This phrase is commonly used both online and offline to acknowledge and honor someone for their remarkable accomplishments in their specific domain.
Couch’s initial skepticism towards Brophy’s call stems from a defense mechanism rooted in her past experiences of being mistreated when her talent and worth were not acknowledged. This lack of recognition resulted in conflicts both within and outside the ring.
She asserts, “My battle was driven by principles, not financial gain.”
In 2024, there are now many big supporters of women’s boxing who once dismissed Couch. It seems that Jane Couch’s name has been forgotten by those who owe her a great deal, and it is seldom mentioned on television. However, it is likely that her face and voice do not align with the content that broadcasters present on our screens.
Couch remembered a conversation she had with the esteemed Glyn Leach, the former editor of Boxing Monthly. He had expressed his opinion that she didn’t quite belong and warned her that a single misstep could lead to her being dismissed.
Couch described Leach as “lovely.”
“He was a true friend of mine, always honest and supportive. He would call me at two in the morning, wishing me luck in my battles and offering encouragement. He had great faith in the success of our YouTube channel, which he shared with Rita Lomas. His absence is deeply felt.”
“He was truly one of a kind. We used to engage in profound and lengthy discussions with each other for hours. Our rendezvous took place at punk gigs, but it was never about seeking fame or amassing followers back then; it was all about genuine passion. He possessed remarkable qualities and left a lasting impression on me.”
Nowadays, she has a decent amount of supporters by her side. Her partner Brian accompanies her and recently caught up with Ricky Hatton, a fellow inductee, and his entourage before heading to America. Additionally, as she mentioned, another group of people will be joining Couch on her journey.
I am accompanied by a film crew as they are creating a movie based on my life story.
The filming is scheduled to commence in November. Surprisingly, they decided to turn it into a series, although we never anticipated it. Unfortunately, production was halted due to the lockdown, but fortunately, it has now resumed. Additionally, we have a captivating fly-on-the-wall documentary in the works.
Contrary to reports, Suranne Jones will not be playing Couch; instead, that role will land on someone else’s feet and fists. Jones, however, will play one of a two-women legal team – Sarah Leslie and Dinah Rose – who fought successfully (in 1998) alongside Couch against the British Boxing Board of Control to allow women to box in the UK. Couch’s courageous and amazing story can also be read in The Final Round which was published in 2019 and will be used as material to tell her story on the big screen.
According to Couch, Suranne Jones was not portraying me, but rather she was portraying the lawyer.
In the group, there were two female lawyers and myself. Unfortunately, one of them, Sarah Leslie, passed away at the young age of 42 due to breast cancer. When I penned the book, I made the heartfelt decision to dedicate it to Sarah. The battle we fought was truly a collective effort amongst the three of us: the lawyer, the barrister, and myself. Thus, the book’s dedication was an homage to Sarah, who tragically lost her life to breast cancer. Undoubtedly, she would have felt immense pride witnessing the incredible progress and achievements in women’s boxing today.
Despite winning the case, Couch still carries deep emotional wounds. Although the bitterness has decreased, the memories persist, yet she finds solace in a sense of contentment. Surprisingly, she has now become a member of the esteemed International Boxing Hall of Fame. However, her biggest challenge this weekend appears to be the speech she must deliver as part of the induction, along with a jam-packed schedule.
She expressed, “I excel in conversation, but when it comes to public speaking… I find myself at a loss for words.”
BN asked Couch if she had anything prepared.
“Enjoy yourself,” she chuckled. “I’ll simply do it spontaneously. No pretenses or affectations from my end.”
America feels like a second home to the pioneering Couch, who has spent a significant amount of time there fighting at prestigious venues such as the Foxwoods Resort in Connecticut or the Staples Centre in Los Angeles. One memorable experience in America stands out among all others for Couch.
I achieved an incredible feat in 2004 by winning the world title in the super-lightweight division. My fight against Jamie Clampitt was so intense that it was named the Ring magazine’s female fight of the year. It means a lot to me that she will be present at my induction into the hall of fame. Another unforgettable moment was winning the first world title in Denmark, which was a crazy time. The Lewis-Klitschko bill stands out as well because my fight with Ryker was a brutal battle. I also had the opportunity to fight on a Roy Jones Jr undercard, which was an amazing experience. There are so many great memories, but receiving the MBE for my accomplishments is definitely one of the highlights. It’s incredible how time flies – I’m now 55 years old and we’re all still going strong.
“I simply choose to view it all skeptically,” she remarked. “I don’t indulge in any of that celebrity nonsense; it’s not my style, not my environment. I’m simply relishing life in Fleetwood, by the serene sea. It’s pleasant that you’re receiving recognition in a film and the hall of fame, I suppose.”
And so, Couch said her goodbyes as she prepared for a moment in her life that she truly deserved and had been waiting for far too long.
