Nicola Hopewell: “I would like to box Gemma Ruegg, either in my next fight or the one after that, because I feel like that would be a good test.”

Nicola Hopewell: “I would like to box Gemma Ruegg, either in my next fight or the one after that, because I feel like that would be a good test.”

“I think watching it back I think I did better than what I thought I did last night.”

Words from Nicola Hopewell that in many ways echo mine.

It’s difficult watching friends or fighters that you are close to, fight. It makes a big difference to the viewing experience, something I found out a few weeks ago, and will do so again in a few more weeks, then again in early December. You feel and see things differently. Emotions hinder the mind.

In Doncaster on Friday night, Hopewell advanced her unbeaten professional record to two. From ringside, I had one view, and on repeat viewing, those views are largely the same, but with the result now known, the viewing was a little easier on that emotionally hindered mind.

I described the fight in the immediate aftermath as a rough and tumble affair, and a little messy at times. Hopewell did a lot right, a few things wrong, but got the deserved verdict 58-56 over the Spanish fighter Buchra El Quaissi. The referee the sole judge of the action at the Doncaster Dome.

The old cliche, a good learning fight applies again. But for Hopewell, it carries a little more genuine significance. A fight that she needed and one that she will learn from. Over Zoom, the morning after, the Worksop fighter was in a reflective mood:

“I think that is something I can take away from the fight and something to work on. Just working and waiting on the outside and not getting too greedy. Land my shots and then get out of there and not get caught up in a brawl.”

Hopewell knows how she can improve, a good skill to have for any fighter. Too many see the positives and don’t work on the weaknesses. A good comparison for Hopewell is how Shannon Ryan, a fellow resident of the super-flyweight division, and how she dealt with the very same opponent just two weeks ago. Ryan was cleaner in her work, knowing when to engage and when to stay on the outside. Ryan made it easier for herself, and Hopewell, in comparison, made it a little more difficult than it needed to be. With a tendency to smother her work, staying in the pocket for longer than she needed, Hopewell will have learned many lessons. She also found it problematic fighting a shorter opponent:

“Boxing someone shorter than you can be harder than boxing someone who is taller than you. It’s harder punching down rather than up.”

At times, Hopewell did what she needed to do, boxing nicely behind her jab, but she knows better than anyone what she did right and what she did wrong:

“I think when I did control the distance I controlled it well, I used my jab well. But when I did get a little bit too greedy that is when I messed my work up a little bit. But it’s all part of the learning process. I think I smothered my work a little bit and that is something I can take back to the gym and learn from.”

Too many fighters occupy the away corner with little ambition to win the fight. Content to spoil and survive, with a mind on lasting the course so the next payday isn’t delayed by a suspension. But El Quaissi, to her credit, came to win and made it, at times, an uncomfortable evening for Hopewell. But Hopewell is nevertheless appreciative of what the experience will give her:

“She wasn’t the typical journeywoman, she wasn’t someone who has had 10 fights and lost 9. She came to win and that is good for me. I need those sorts of opponents, so I can learn from them. When I look at who she has boxed, she got a draw with Lauren Parker, she has boxed Shannon Courtenay and Shannon Ryan. I think it was a good fight for me.”

Hopewell has things to work on, and while she has been told to take a well-earned rest, there is that urge to put things right immediately:

“I have been told to have a week off and not go to the gym. Just have a total week off. But that sort of fight and knowing there is stuff I need to work on, and that makes me want to get straight back to the gym on Monday. It has just made me more determined to learn more in the gym. I know what I need to work on.”

The domestic super-flyweight division might be low in numbers, but not in quality. Boxrec has Hopewell ranked 4th out of the five active fighters. The ones above her are in her sights, but equally, she knows she needs a little time before testing the deeper waters of her division. But the fighter ranked just below Hopewell, is of more immediate interest:

“Before I fight the likes of Lauren Parker, Shannon Ryan and Emma Dolan I feel I need a few more fights like the one last night. But I would like to box Gemma Ruegg, either in my next fight or the one after that, because I feel like that would be a good test.”

This observer had his first live experience of a GBM-promoted show, and I was more than pleasantly surprised. Production values that wouldn’t have looked out of place on a much bigger platform, a virtually, if not sold-out show made for an excellent night’s boxing. It was a new experience also for Hopewell:

“When I walked in and saw it all, I was shocked. From what they said and all the videos we had done I knew it would be good because they had put money and effort behind it. It was more than what I expected as well. To be honest, I was nervous about the ring walk because I had not done anything like that before, and I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t expect all the fireworks, but I did like it. I would love to be on one of their shows again because I think it is a really good production.”

Less than 24 hours after her second professional fight, Hopewell is already looking at more, and closing out the year with a third. Talk of titles for next year are already in play, Commonwealth or International titles before hopefully, world honours in the next 18 months or so. But as ever, there is no rush to push that button. It will come, Hopewell just needs time.

Last night will serve Hopewell well. The opponent wasn’t the originally intended opponent, and with little time to prepare for the rough and ready style, Hopewell can take much solace from her night’s work. It wasn’t easy, but Hopewell now has a little more insight into what is needed to reach the very pinnacle of her sport.