Worksop's Nicola Hopewell heading for boxing's big time after latest Commonwealth title defence success

She has now signed a deal with Fight Zone and promoter Dennis Hobson who has seen her star quality and wants to take her to the next level.

Hobson believes Hopewell can go on to win major titles and said: “This could have been a banana skin, Mary was a tough southpaw, she is better than what I thought.

“But Nicola's attitude is fantastic.”

Hopewell added: “I have now signed a three-fight deal with Fightzone and Dennis Hobson which I am really happy about and I am looking forward to working with Dennis going forward.

“He has said the next show will be around February.”

Hopewell's opponent arrived with 12 wins and 10 knockouts on her record.

But Hopewell won a bloody bout with a unanimous decision and put her opponent on the canvas just before the final bell.

“At the weigh-in day Mary told me the belt was going back to Nigeria with her. I bit back and said it wasn't,” said Hopewell.

“Mary was very confident at the weigh-in and during her ring walk she danced her way to the ring.

“The first round was more of a feel out, seeing what each other had. Mary tried to take the centre of the ring for this round.

“After going back to my corner and assessing how she fought and what her power was like, from the second round I stepped on the gas and took control.

“The bell saved Mary a few times during the fight.

“I think if the rounds had been three minutes I could have got her out of there before the final bell. But Mary was game and very tough.

“In the 10th round we had a clash of heads where I had a small cut which needed three stitches after the fight.

“Also in the 10th round I threw my backhand straight down the middle onto Mary's chin where she ended up landing on the canvas.

“Mary did get up after the count but there was only 10 seconds left, and I won the fight on the score cards unanimously 99-89.

“After this dominating performance I am now currently ranked No.1 in the UK and 20th in the world in the flyweight division and I am really excited for my future in boxing.”

The build-up to the fight was far from ideal for Hopewell.

“My main trainer suffered an injury at the beginning of my fight camp so my friend and former world champion Ebanie Bridges did all my pad work for this fight,” she said.

“But we added things to my skills which I showcased in this fight.

“Ebanie is a great teacher and I absolutely loved working with her for this camp.

“She's one of my best friends and stepped up when I needed her, which is what good friends do.

“My main trainer Daz Medcalf viewed from the sides of the ring and was the eyes and support during the camp - he gave feedback and tips for us to work on looking from the outside of the ring.

“There were many comments on Saturday night about how strong and dominant I looked in the fight.

“This was from the boxing skills we had been working on to control the fight, but also down to the strength and condition session I had been having with Marfisia Lanza pre camp and during fight camp.”

“I'd like to personally say a massive thank you to everyone who came along to support me on Saturday night as without the ticket sales these shows cannot happen.

“I'd also like to say a massive thank you to my trainers Daz and Ebanie for all their help during my camp and getting me ready to defend my title against a good girl, to Marfisia for my Strength and Conditioning Sessions and my nutrition coaching, and finally to my sponsors 7 Core Electrical, The Mallard, BRS Electrical, JTM Building, Advanced Engineering Techniques, Anytime Fitness Worksop and In Sam's Name.

If any businesses would like to sponsor me for my next fight in February please get in touch [email protected]​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​