Catford’s Ellie Scotney wants to be unified world champion by end of 2023

BY RICHARD CAWLEY
richard@slpmedia.co.uk

Ellie Scotney won her first world title on Saturday night and then instantly set a new target of becoming undisputed super-bantamweight champion.

The 25-year-old, who had ‘Made In Catford’ on the back of her shorts, won a unanimous decision over Australia’s Cherneka Johnson to claim the IBF title.

Scotney – who is 7-0 in the professional ranks – said her achievement hit home on Sunday evening.

“I was sat there in silence and it was weird, I just felt a tear roll down my face,” Scotney told the South London Press. “I wondered why I had a tear on my face, but that was when it sank in.

“I first walked into a boxing gym when I was nine. I was that fat kid that just wanted to be like my brother – there were no girls in there. I only lasted a year but I went back when I was 17. It’s been eight years of being in the gym, religiously, and I mean it being every thought of every day.

“It’s a blessing how I am, because everything for me is boxing. I genuinely do not have a life outside of that.

“There have been a lot of sacrifices. Not just for me but for my mum April and my family. To hear those words (that she was the new champion) just cemented what they always believed and thought would happen. It was just about getting it over the line.

“When I had the job at B&Q it was a nine-to-five thing but boxing is 24-7, I’m talking from when your head hits the pillow until it gets off the pillow. This camp has been about eight-nine months long – I haven’t had a chocolate bar for however many weeks. But I’m so lucky to be doing what I’m doing.

“Normally I’m like Willy Wonka after a fight but this time it feels a little bit different. Saturday night has changed my life and, with that, I’ve got to change. I haven’t gone mad on the chocolate yet.”

Scotney tweeted that the first thing being a world champion had got her was a free banana milkshake from Walnuts Cafe in Sidcup.

“I was surprised – when the woman came up I thought she was going to ask my for payment before we ate,” said Scotney.

“But she gave me a drink on the house – my mum drank it, the cheeky sod!”

Scotney is waiting for the IBF to send her the belt. Despite posing in the ring with Johnson’s version immediately after the 10 rounds, it stays in the dethroned fighter’s possession.

The South Londoner, born in Lewisham, is looking forward to being able to take it to show her nan Eileen, who turns 99 in August.

Scotney was critical of her performance immediately after her momentous victory.

She watched the fight back on Monday morning.

“It was definitely better than what I thought when I was in there, but I know what I’m capable of,” said Scotney. “It was a long camp and I did have a few niggles. I picked up an illness last week.

“I didn’t feel great in the warm-up and there was the pressure of it being my first world title.

“I know there is so much more to give but this is my debut on the world stage. It will genuinely only get better. That wasn’t me as fully-fledged Ellie, I’m 25 and only seven fights in.

“By the end of the year I want to be unified. I think we’re all on the same page – that includes me, that includes Shane (McGuigan, trainer) and that includes Eddie (Hearn, promoter).

“The key for me is activity. I’d been out of the ring for nine months and I’m having to learn in big fights. I need activity to show everyone what I can do.

“It can be easy for people to forget who you are if you’re not active enough. That’s going to be something I’m really going to be pushing on.”

Scotney has been with McGuigan since 2021, opting to split from Adam Booth. Stable-mate Chris Billam-Smith recently won the WBO cruiserweight belt off Lawrence Okolie.

“I was lucky enough to train alongside CBS for this camp and we made a promise – we had circuits called the world champ circuits,” said Scotney. “He went in as an underdog, and a big one. There is him and Caroline (Dubois) – we all push each other on.

“I can’t give Shane enough credit about how good he is as a coach. We all get so much time and that’s whether we’re four fights in or we’re a world champion.

“He is so young in the game too. He has got everything nailed on. Josh Pritchard is a great assistant and Jake (McGuigan) and Barry (McGuigan) as well. Barry is a legend, so when he talks I am always sure to listen. To have those people around you, it keeps you in the best kind of mindset.”

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