When Anna Townend (History 2022) told her friends and family she was training to be a boxer, the reaction was mixed.

“My mum hated it; my dad was like ‘whatever’. My friends thought it was cool,” Anna says.

“People are sometimes a little surprised. Not many women do boxing.”

Anna’s boxing journey began at Cambridge. First she took part of the Student Fight Night, during her first year at Gonville & Caius College. The fight is preceded by a term-long training regime and coaching, and Anna earned the nickname ‘Annaconda’ and caught the boxing bug.

Anna, who has also boxed in the city’s Albion Boxing Gym, joined Cambridge University Amateur Boxing Club in her second year and in 2024-25 she is the Women’s Captain. She took part in Town v Gown contest earlier in Lent Term, but has had to prioritise her final year academic work over Varsity, which she will enjoy from outside of the ring. The annual Cambridge-Oxford event takes place on Friday 14 March in Oxford Town Hall.

“At first I thought it was really cool, then once I tried it out I really liked it. It’s a fun adrenaline rush,” Anna adds.

“I have two brothers so when I was younger I used to fight with them a lot – they know to stay away now!

“It’s very physical, at the same time it’s very logical. It’s like playing chess because you have to anticipate what your opponent is going to do.

“It’s great when you’re winning, when you’re losing it’s horrible, but when you’re in the ring you don’t really feel the punches. It’s not as painful as it first appears.”

Learning technique and sparring in five or six sessions a week has provided structure and an outlet for Anna.

“It’s great for channelling any anger or stress you have,” she says.

She won her Town v Gown contest over three two-minute rounds at the Cambridge Union by split decision; it was an internal bout due to the limited number of female boxers. 

Anna is keen to continue boxing when she graduates this summer and has enjoyed the camaraderie of the sport.

She adds: “You go in and you punch these people, but everyone’s lovely. You see each other almost every day, so there’s great friendships.”

Main photograph: Anna, in red, in Town v Gown action at the Cambridge Union (credit: Hassan Raja)