Nicola Hopewell Moves To 2-0

Nicola Hopewell Moves To 2-0

It was a bit of the rough and tumble, valuable rounds in the bank and a few lessons learned for Nicola Hopewell tonight in Doncaster as she extended her unbeaten start to her professional career.

Buchra El Quaissi certainly came with more ambition than Hopewell’s previous opponent and gave the Worksop fighter a more than decent workout over six entertaining rounds.

It got a little bit untidy at times, and the wild swings of the Spanish fighter found their mark a little often, especially when Hopewell dropped her guard as she was leaving the pocket. But nevertheless, Hopewell has every right to be satisfied with her night’s work. The referee scored it 58-56, which was a little generous to El Quaissi. From ringside, I had it 59-55, giving Hopewell every round with the exception of the 5th.

El Quaissi took Shannon Ryan the distance a few weeks ago in London, and has a draw with Lauren Parker on her record, and will have given Hopewell a little indication of where she stands in the domestic super-flyweight picture.

Hopewell will have learned plenty from her second professional fight. With a tendency to get involved a little too much and engage at close range instead of just boxing her way to victory, Hopewell made it a little more difficult for herself at times than she needed to. But her obvious class saw her home.

After a frustrating start to the year, Hopewell is up and running. Two fights, two wins, and the unbeaten super-flyweight has plenty to look forward to in 2023.

Fights with the likes of Ryan, Price and Emma Dolan are potentially ahead of her. But more immediate, should be ones with Bec Connolly and Gemma Ruegg. But the key is patience. There is no need to rush her until she is ready. Tonight showed her strengths and what she needs to work on. The type of fight that will make Hopewell a better fighter going forward.