The look of a winner

After success on the amateur level, local kickboxer devotes her time to sport and walks away from first pro bout victorious

Sitting backstage before the Glory 63 weigh-in Thursday, Bekah Irwin is focused on her phone. Perhaps in an attempt to ignore the guys trying to sweat out extra weight or perhaps not bring attention to the fact she’s the only girl in the room. More than likely, it's because like any 18-year-old, she’s focused on texting and checking social media.

“Phone and fighting,” her coach, Michael Corley, says with a laugh about her habit.

Her name is called, and she stands by the curtain waiting for her cue. She’s shaking from the air conditioning and not having eaten in the last 12 hours to lose the extra half a pound from the day before.

The three-time Internatonal Federation of Muaythai Amateur gold medalist loves to fight. She’s finishing her senior year with online courses so she can spend more time training. She is at home in the gym, sleeping on the sofa and grabbing drinks out of the fridge. With workouts, training and teaching young kickboxers, Irwin spends about four hours at the modest gym, sometimes the whole day. But that’s the quiet side.

A month after turning 18, she signed with Glory, becoming the youngest person the professional kickboxing promoter has signed. It wasn’t the knockout in the second round she had predicted, but Irwin won her first pro kickboxing match at the Arena Theatre on Friday night by unanimous decision.

Bekah Irwin waits backstage while on deck for her first pro kickboxing match in Glory 63 at the Arena Theatre on Friday night. She won by unanimous decision.

Irwin loosens up before her workout at Heritage Muay Thai in Houston in late January.

Irwin lands a right on Stephanie Skinner on her way to a victory by unanimous decision in Glory 63 on Friday at the Arena Theatre in her first pro fight.

Irwin, checking her phone, and other competitors while away the tense minutes as they wait for the Glory 63 weigh-in ceremony Thursday.

Michael Corley helps cool down Irwin after a recent workout session.

Irwin waves to her supporters after her victory in Glory 63.

Trainer Bobby Benton wraps Irwin’s hands before her bout Friday.