JANE COUCH led the revolution in women’s boxing when she became the first female fighter to be officially licensed by the British Boxing Board of Control back in 1998.

The self-styled "Fleetwood Assassin", who won numerous world titles in a 14-year career, was subsequently followed into the ring, and the spotlight, by Olympians Nicola Adams and Katie Taylor.

Now there is a new girl on the block – Aberdonian Kristen Fraser, a 28-year-old subsea engineer – who will make her professional bow at the city’s Treetops Hotel on a wine and dine show being sponsored by Northern Sports Events.

She will make history as Scotland's first women's pro fighter against Lana Cooper of Wales, who has eight bouts under her belt.

Despite her own inexperience, the newcomer is confident of making a winning start.

She said yesterday: “I’m feeling relaxed and ready to go after chilling out now that all the hard work has been done. There is no point in expending energy by getting uptight and nervous as I have complete faith in myself and coach Davie McAllister.

“The show was a sell-out within a couple of weeks and people are still chapping my door looking for tickets. It’s great we’ve had that response, and Billy Stewart, who is also having his first outing as a professional, and I are buzzing off the back of that. This is the realisation of a dream.”

Fraser has been boxing competitively since the age of 17 and, in addition to winning five Scottish amateur titles, is also a two-time British Universities champion.

Yet, she was very nearly lost to the sport three years ago, after suffering Commonwealth Games heartache in 2014. Having been assured there would be a place for a female boxer in the squad for Glasgow, Amateur Boxing Scotland then decided to pick an all-male squad.

“It was terribly deflating after working so hard and I came close to quitting in disgust at the times,” said Fraser. “But I missed the training, the exercise and the banter with the guys in the gym.

“I found myself wanting a good spar and a session on the pads and that is what took me back in to the sport.

“But I then had a choice to make. It was either a case of returning to the same cycle at amateur, or turning professional and, as I am not getting any younger, I decided on the latter.

“I’ve got ambitions and dreams to chase – and that’s what pushes me to get out of bed at five o’clock in the morning.”

She has also been encouraged by her coach McAllister to make the most of her undoubted talents, and also by the impact of Adams and Taylor on women’s boxing in England and Ireland respectively.

She said: “Nicola and Katie have raised the profile of women’s boxing. When I boxed for Scotland at the first all-female international match in Ireland, I was amazed to learn there were more women registered in one club there than in the whole of Scotland.

“That gives you an idea of the impact Katie has had. And I hope to have the same presence in a bid to encourage like-minded girls.

“A decade ago there was no female GB Boxing team. But Adams in Britain and Taylor in Ireland were regarded as elite athletes with the necessary pulling power to bring younger girls through the ranks.”

However, while she accepts there is a general perception that female boxers lack the usual womanly charms, Fraser insists she has no shortage of grace and poise.

She added:“I enjoy doing my hair and wearing nice clothes – what girl doesn’t? – and I’m in no way butch.

“I also enjoy the nicer things in life, like culture and history, and my wife and I are heading to Florence next week for a five-day break. It will be like having my own tour guide as my partner is very much into history – and there is no shortage of that over there.”

Fraser had better make the most of her holiday as she has already pencilled in a return to the ring at Peterhead on May 27, which also happens to be her birthday.

The rapidly emerging bantamweight is in the midst of a boxing revolution that could eventually transform the sport in the north-east of Scotland.

Davie and Matthew McAllister, brothers of Lee, the former double-Commonwealth champion, are leading ground-breaking changes they believe can transform boxing throughout the north-east and Highlands by coaching, managing and promoting fighters locally.

Davie said: “Too often the promising fighters from this part of the world have been forced to sign for Glasgow promoters or travel further afield to get proper training facilities.

“But the Northern Sporting Club and Northern Sporting Events will focus totally on developing local kids and talent and give them the chance to make it big closer to home.”