Ellie Scotney is challenging for a world title in her seventh fight at Wembley, an iconic boxing venue. She will remember it for the rest of her life.
The 38th anniversary of my victory over Eusebio Pedroza just around the corner in Shephard’s Bush passed on Thursday. All though I’m not fighting I still get a tingle on weekends like this. More than 18.5 million watched me on TV on June 8, 1985. Nowadays you are lucky to get 150,000 tuning in. Walking into Wembley will bring it all back.
Scotney was incredibly disappointed to be dropped from the Katie Taylor/Chantelle Cameron bill in Dublin last month, but has put that behind her and is ready to take her chance. She is up against a more experienced opponent in Cherneka Johnson, who has lost just once in 16 fights, but has the tools to dethrone the IBF super bantamweight champion.
Johnson is tall and rangy, a box-fighter and very tough. She throws a decent right hand but is not particularly aggressive. Scotney is the opposite, great on the inside with good upper body movement and a great left hook to the ribs.
Johnson will find it difficult to hold off Scotney as she goes through the gears, running off combinations. Scotney has been with us 18 months now. Shane has done a terrific job, not only improving her technically but building her confidence.
At 25 she is in the embryonic stages of her career. And at 5ft 4 and a half she can easily go up in weight. Scotney was sparring with super featherweight Mikaela Meyer before the Alycia Baumgardner bout last year and was dominant for most of it. We were not surprised by that.
All she needs is an opportunity and to be busier. This is a problem for all fighters not just her. I had 11 fights in my first 12 months. I earned just 500 quid a pop for my first ten bouts, but money was not the objective. It was about building momentum.
Scotney has been a pro two and half years and has had just six fights. It’s the world we are in. To put on a show these days is expensive. It is more difficult for small hall promoters to operate.
So this is an important opportunity to showcase her talent. She is the chief support on a Wembley bill, which is a big deal for her. But I believe Scotney will rise to the occasion, and this will be the first of many titles.
Follow Barry on Twitter at @ClonesCyclone @mcguigans_gym
