IBF World Champion Ellie Scotney says her nan will have the best seat in the house when she aims to unify the Super-Bantamweight division against France’s undefeated WBO ruler Segolene Lefebvre at the AO Arena in Manchester this Saturday – live worldwide on DAZN.

The 26-year-old Catford native, who fights in Manchester for the first time this weekend, won the IBF crown against Australia’s Cherneka Johnson on a memorable night at Wembley Arena last June and proudly raced it around to her super-fan nan.

Sadly Eileen passed away at the age off 99 at the end of August, but she witnessed her granddaughter achieve her lifetime goal of becoming a World Champion after walking into the renewed Lynn AC in South London as a small girl. Scotney says her nan will be at the front of her mind as she looks to add to her legacy by becoming a unified World Champion on Saturday’s World Title doubleheader.

“I always had this thing where I’d go down to my nan’s the week before a fight and I still did that for this one,” said Scotney. “I still went down to my nan’s; I still went in the room, and I chatted rubbish to her like I usually do. She always used to tell me that she’d say a prayer for me. I know that she’s got the best seat in the house as always. Nan always told me you’ve got to finish the collection, and we’re onto the second part of that collection and I’ve got to deliver.”

Lefebvre (18-0, 1 KO) will be making the fourth defence of her WBO crown after winning the vacant title against Mexico’s Paulette Cuesta in November 2021 on home soil. ‘Majestic’ will be fighting outside of her homeland for the first time in her career and Scotney acknowledges her 30-year-old opponent will be her toughest test to date.

“Even before the Cherneka Johnson fight, Lefebvre was someone that we targeted,” said Scotney. “We tried to make the fight previously but it just didn’t align. Now I’ve got more to offer on the table and we’re both young, we’re both undefeated and we’re both World Champions. I believe that’s going to make for a great fight.

“I promise you now, whatever I’ve got to go through I’ll go through on that night. I’ll be walking out as unified Champion of the World. I just believe that these are the fights where you’ve got to show that you’re different. She’s 18-0 and I’m 8-0. You’d look at that and think that she’s got the more experience. I just think that it’s quantity versus quality in some respects.

“It’s my hardest fight without a doubt but believe me I’m more than ready to show that I’m there. I really am. I believe that this camp has showed me there’s more to me that I haven’t really even seen myself. I’m not just talking about in that boxing ring – I’m talking out of it. I feel like I’ve really grown as a person. I think it’s happening at the right time for me. Timing is everything and on Saturday night it will be my time.”

Scotney vs. Lefebrve is part of a huge night of boxing in Manchester, Jordan Gill (28-2-1, 9 KOs) and Zelfa Barrett (30-2, 16 KOs) clash in a must-win Super-Featherweight showdown at the top of the bill, Warrington’s Rhiannon Dixon (9-0, 1 KO) looks to win her first World Title when she takes on Argentina’s Karen Elizabeth Carabajal (21-1, 3 KOs) for the vacant WBO 140lbs crown, Manchester’s Michael Gomez Jr (20-1, 5 KOs) defends his English Super-Featherweight Title against Birmingham’s Kane Baker(19-10-2, 1 KO), Liverpool Middleweight prospect Ste Clarke (1-0, 1 KO) meets Swindon’s Jensen Irving (4-9) over four rounds, Oxford Lightweight Jordan Flynn (9-0-1, 1 KO) fights Tanzania’s Tampela Maharusi (10-4-4, 5 KOs) over 8 rounds, Liverpool Super-Flyweight Jack Turner (5-0, 5 KOs) goes for another knockout against Abdul Kesi Ngaoma (7-5-1, 6 KOs), Brentwood Middleweight Jimmy Sains (3-0, 3 KOs) has his fourth pro fight against Mateusz Kalecki (2-1, 1 KO), Manchester Super-Welterweight William Crolla (3-0, 2 KOs) faces Italy’s Fabio Cascone (4-9, 1 KO) over six rounds and Swansea Super-Bantamweight Brandon Scott (6-0, 1 KO) returns for his first fight since last August when he takes on Rodrigo Matias Areco (5-5-2) over six rounds.

With thanks to Matchroom

UNIBET, part of the Kindred Group, has announced a major investment into women’s boxing, with three world champion stars of the sport becoming brand ambassadors.

Three huge figures in women’s boxing – Raven Chapman, Ellie Scotney and Nina Hughes – have all signed with UNIBET.

The deal is the largest current ambassador deal agreed with active female boxers in the UK, outstripping any similar commercial agreement made by a UK company in terms of sponsorship length and value.

Chapman, signed to Frank Warren’s Queensbury Promotions, is WBC International Champion. Scotney, is part of Shane McGuigan’s stable of fighters and became the IBF World Super-Bantamweight Champion with a victory over Cherneka Johnson. Hughes has held the WBA Bantamweight world title since July 2022.

Kindred Group has a wide-ranging and varied sponsorship portfolio. This encompasses names such as Rangers FC, Leeds United, and Middlesbrough FC. Further afield, events such as the Cheltenham Champion Hurdle are included under Kindred’s brand umbrella.

Kindred’s sponsorship model is predicated on contributing responsibly and sustainably to its recipients. The group has invested in local communities and club trusts, including its #TeamTalk initiative, a mental health project that aims to provide a ‘safe space’ for men to talk. The likes of Wayne Rooney and Steven Gerrard have supported it.

Sam Mead, General Manager, Kindred Group: “Interest in women’s boxing is booming, and we felt Kindred needed to double down on our commitment to the sport – and these three fantastic fighters in particular.

“We couldn’t think of three better brand ambassadors for Kindred, as they encapsulate everything great about boxing. We can’t wait to see what the next year will bring for them all, and we hope that Kindred’s support helps drive them to even bigger and better achievements.”

Raven Chapman, said: “UNIBET has made a clear commitment to women’s boxing, and it’s exciting to be part of it. In speaking to them, it was clear that their ambitions for the sport match mine, and their support will be invaluable to me as my career develops.”

Kindred has a long-standing relationship with boxing, including a multi-year partnership with Queensberry Promotions and several fighters in the men’s divisions.

With thanks to End to End Media