CATHY BROWN never found her fortune in boxing but yesterday, in the final bout of her career, the tiny blonde earned her place in the sport’s history books.

Eight years ago, Brown became Britain’s second licensed female professional after Jane Couch had won her landmark High Court case against the British Boxing Board of Control. Yesterday Brown became the first female champion sanctioned by the board when she won the inaugural English women’s bantamweight title with a ten-round points victory over Juliette Winter at York Hall, in London’s East End.

Winter, 33, had beaten Brown over four rounds three years ago and had considerable height and reach advantages over Brown, who is normally a light-flyweight, but Brown was the busier and won 97-94 on points.

Brown, 36, who could not be less suited by her nickname of “The Bitch”, confirmed her intention to retire afterwards because of persistent wrist and neck injuries. She hopes to build a career in television as well as become a mentor to other female boxers. “I hope this fight will be the boost the sport needs,” she said. “It has been tough over the last eight years, but hopefully people will get behind the sport now.”

Brown has boxed at the highest level, but always in her opponent’s back yard because of the lack of support from big promoters in Britain. Last year she lost a disputed decision to Stefania Bianchini for the WBC title in Italy and put Regina Halmich, a star in Germany, on the floor before dropping another tight verdict.

In the main event, Ovill McKenzie won the vacant Commonwealth light-heavyweight title with a second-round stoppage of Peter Haymer.

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