It’s girl power from Ruby & Madison
Two young martial artists from a Rutherglen gym are ending 2019 in celebratory style.
Ruby Rossi and Madison Mair are both coached by world champion fighter Amy Pirnie at the Inferno gym on Cathcart Road.
Nine-year-old Ruby has already landed an honour of her own, winning the Scottish Kickboxing Open in November, while Madison, 10, earned a hard fought draw in her first bout on the same card.
And Amy is predicting big things for bothof her young charges.
She told the Reformer: “There’s bright futures ahead for both of them. They did us proud last month, and they’re both very talented fighters.”
Loch Primary pupil Ruby, who lives in Rutherglen, has been training with Amy for less than a year, but her proud mum Gianna believes she has come on leaps and bounds since her first lesson.
She said: “Ruby’s always been strong and we’d been looking at gymnastics for her, then it turned out a lot of kids she knew were all going to a martial arts class.
“After she went there for a few months they suggested she go to Amy, as they felt she could really improve with her.
“She lost her first fight earlier this year, but got a rematch in Aberdeen in November.
“She was absolutely amazing. Watching her move around the ring, she was blocking and moving so fast. It was incredible to see how far she had come.”
Gianna admitted that Ruby’s passion for the sport has taken her by surprise.
“It’s not something I’d ever thought about for her, but she absolutely loves it”, she said. “She works so hard and is so dedicated to it all.”
Top trainer Amy – who captured the Lionfight World Super Flyweight title and the Infusion title this year – trains both girls along with her coach, Rab Izak.
Dedicated young Madison travels with dad Brian from East Kilbride for her workouts.
Brian said: “Madison used to dance at a really high level, so she’s very athletic.
“I’d taken Muay Thai when I was younger and watched fights, so she knew all about it through that.
“She went to a gym in Glasgow but it went a bit stale there, so we moved her to Amy’s gym.
“There’s just been a constant progression. She fought in Aberdeen in November and got a draw, which was an amazing outcome for her first fight.
“She was nervous beforehand and so was I. I thought I might have a heart attack at the start!”
Both girls will be back in action when they fight in Paisley on February 1.