Matt Windle

A professional since 2015,^[3] Windle faced Tommy Frank for the vacant British flyweight title at Ponds Forge in Sheffield on 18 September 2021, losing via unanimous decision.^[4][5]

In his next fight, he dropped down a weight division to claim the vacant Commonwealth light-flyweight title by stopping previously unbeaten South African boxer Siphelele Myeza in the 11th round at Premier Banqueting Suite in Burmantofts, Leeds, on 8 October 2022.^[6][7]

Windle challenged Commonwealth flyweight champion Connor Butler at Liverpool Olympia on 9 June 2023, with the vacant European title also on the line. He lost by unanimous decision.^[8]

Dropping back down to light-flyweight, he made the first defense of his Commonwealth title against Craig Derbyshire at Lions Centre in George Town, Cayman Islands, on 8 December 2023. Windle took heavy blows throughout the contest and lost when his corner halted the fight at the end of round five to avoid him sustaining further damage.^[9][10]

Windle is a three-time Birmingham Poet Laureate.^[11][12] Using the nickname Poet with a Punch, he has written poems for the 2022 Commonwealth Games opening ceremony, the World Badminton Championships and the BBC.^[12] Windle also teaches poetry and creative writing in schools.^[3][6]