From herding sheep in Sweden to training to become a ballerina… Lucy Wildheart is the professional boxer that has her sights set on becoming a firefighter after featuring on the Cameron vs Taylor undercard
- Lucy Wildheart grew up herding cattle and training to become a ballerina
- Now she is a professional boxer with the aim of becoming a firefighter
- Wilder: Joshua has to be shut-up by his own people – listen to The Hook podcast
From herding sheep in rural Sweden to training to become firefighter, Lucy Wildheart’s journey to professional boxing has been somewhat unconventional but she wouldn’t change it for the world.
The 29-year-old Swede, who lives in Brentwood Essex, will face undefeated Australian boxer Skye Nicolson on the undercard of Katie Taylor’s rematch with Chantelle Cameron this weekend.
However, it’s Wildheart’s background that has garnered much of the attention in the build-up to the fight. She grew up on a farm working long hours before moving to Stockholm to pursue her dream of dancing.
Speaking exclusively to Mail Sport, Wildheart said: ‘We had a farm with lots of cows. I was outside working with them a lot. Especially when it was nice weather! I grew up riding horses and everything like that so I adore the countryside. But, that wasn’t all I did growing up.
‘I was training karate for a very long time before I moved for work when I was about 18. I also loved dance and trained as a dancer for a long time before transitioning into boxing.’
From herding sheep in rural Sweden to training to become firefighter, Lucy Wildheart’s journey to professional boxing has been somewhat unconventional
Wildheart will face Skye Niclson on the Chantelle Cameron vs Katie Taylor undercard
Over six years ago Wildheart packed everything she owned into one single suitcase and moved to England to forge a career in professional boxing. Wildheart was reluctant to move at first but knew it would propel her career.
Speaking about the move, Wildheart told Mail Sport: ‘It was really hard. It wasn’t easy and it still isn’t easy. It’s all the small things really. Trying to figure how taxes work over here, how the banks work, how to get around.
‘Even the language, it’s really hard to learn how to speak English. People used to always tell jokes and I couldn’t get in on the fun. Or, I would try to make a joke and no one was laughing because of the language barrier. I was so misunderstood. Getting everything right was hard.’
Despite struggling with the language, Wildheart is glad she moved to England as relocating has provided her with greater opportunities within the female side of the sport.
Female boxing is more social acceptable in the UK. However, that’s not always been the case. Female boxing was banned in Britain until 1998, when Jane Couch went to the High Court to get her licence. Since then, female boxers have taken the world by storm.
Katie Taylor, Claressa Shields, Savannah Marshall and more have paved the way for female boxers – something Wildheart is particularly grateful for. She says it’s an honour to be fighting on the undercard of Taylor’s rematch considering everything she has done for the sport.
Wildheart said: ‘Getting this opportunity is unbelievable. Thanks for Matchroom and Eddie Hearn. Thanks to Ireland too for making this possible.
‘It’s an amazing card topped by two amazing fighters. I watched the fight last time and it was epic. This is second time they will fight each other and I think the audience will be even louder and everything.
‘It’s a 50/50 fight between them as well. It’s exciting. After my own fight, I hope I can come out and watch theirs.’
Wildheart’s goals and ambitions encompass more than just boxing. The 30-year-old told Mail Sport about how she wanted to help the community by becoming a firefighter.
Wildheart (above) is also passionate about CrossFit and trains five to six times a week
Wildheart credits CrossFit with improving her boxing given it is functional training
Wildheart says she has spent the majority of her life focusing on herself and that she wants to help others – revealing it’s her dream to ‘drag a person that weighs 100-110 kilos out’ of a fire.
She told Mail Sport: ‘I’ve always been a risk taker. I love an exciting life, I want things to happen but mainly, it’s about the feeling of saving people.
‘Imagine walking into a building that is on fire and dragging a person that weighs 100-110 kilos out, saving their life. That feeling must be amazing. Imagine how happy you would feel after saving someone’s life.
‘I’ve had this thought for many, many years. To become a firefighter. It’s a job that would not only suit me but also my career as a professional boxer. I am the stage now where I want to do something more with my life. Something for the community. I do feel like I have more hours in the day and that I can do this.’
Wildheart is one step closer to achieving her dream after passing her physical assessment while preparing for her bout with Nicolson.
‘It’s a bleep test, it’s a carry equipment test under pressure, you can’t see anything and then you have to wear a mask so you can’t really breathe. Then they send you over some hurdles and up a ladder.
‘You then have to take equipment apart and put it back together in stressful situations. There are about seven or eight tests in one day. They are incredibly strict when it comes to the testing procedure too.
‘When I completed it I was really, really relieved. So, now I have been offered a spot. But, nothing is guaranteed yet. There is still more to do as well. I am still in the process. I am hoping to become an operational fire fighter by next year.’
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