Ellie Scotney critical of her performance despite claiming European super-bantam title
BY RICHARD CAWLEY
richard@slpmedia.co.uk
Ellie Scotney was not completeley satisfied with her performance despite winning the European super-bantamweight title on Saturday night.
The 24-year-old, from Catford, is 6-0 in the paid ranks and looks set to face IBF world champion Cherneka Johnson early next year.
Scotney won a unanimous points verdict over Spain’s Mary Romero at Wembley Arena last weekend by scores of 96-94, 97-94 and 97-93.
Romero, 37, had made two successful defences since claiming the European title against Ivanka Ivanova in January 2020.
The veteran headed into the capital clash with Scotney off the back of victories over Amy Timlin and Maria Cecchi, who were 4-0-1 and 7-0 at the time.
“She was a legit champion,” said Scotney, who made her ring entrance wearing a Crystal Palace football shirt. “She held the belt for years and upset two prospects.
“It wasn’t the performance I wanted. I thought she was going to bring it [fight aggressively]. She was on the back foot and moving a bit erratically. I didn’t quite do what I wanted to, at times.
“A lot of it was me trying to press the fight. That was me at 60 per cent. I was so angry with myself. But if I can win the European title off the champion at 60 per cent then I’ll take that and just push on.”
Scotney felt she merited being a wider victor on the scorecards.
“The 96-94 I was a bit like ‘okay’,” said the South Londoner. “In the ninth I really pushed it and I felt like I hurt her a lot. I was anticipating a different fight, but I adapted.
“I had an injury which had been lingering and I couldn’t do certain things in training camp, that was a nightmare.”
Johnson has been a professional since 2016 and her only reverse came in a challenge for the WBA Gold world bantamweight title, dropping a split decision to Shannon O’Connell in March 2021. But the Australian won the vacant IBF super-bantamweight belt in her next fight, 13 months later, with a majority points triumph over Melissa Esquivel.
Johnson has not fought since outpointing Susie Ramadan a year ago.
“I want Johnson and that will be what we’re working towards early next year,” said Scotney.
“I’m doing it the right way. I’m fighting hard fights so that when I get to the top I’ve earned it. I’m on the right path, for sure.”
New Cross middleweight John Harding Junior (11-2-1) faces Angel Emilov (10-44-1) at Tolworth Recreation Centre tomorrow.
Croydon’s Sunny Edwards (18-0) defends his IBF world flyweight title against Felix Alvarado (38-2) at Sheffield Arena on November 11.
PICTURES: MARK ROBINSON/MATCHROOM BOXING