Katie Healy: “Never did I imagine after just over 12 months, I’d have a world title.”

Katie Healy: “Never did I imagine after just over 12 months, I’d have a world title.”

By Matt Farrington

The Katie Healy show is set to continue next year.

Walsall’s Katie Healy looks forward to a huge year, eyeing up showdowns with World Champion Ebanie Bridges and former Champion Shannon Courtenay.

After fighting five times in twelve months, WBF champion Katie Healy took a short break for her health. Now feeling rejuvenated she is ready to get the ball rolling again, she said; “Having this much time off wasn’t planned and I was hoping to get out at least one more time before the end of the year. However, after my last fight, I wasn’t feeling myself at all. I’m feeling a lot better now and I’m looking forward to starting a fight camp again. I’ve still been training and working on things in the background but it’s not the same as knowing you’ve got a fight on the horizon. I’m itching to get back into the ring, especially after watching some explosive fights recently!”

The lifelong fighter’s itchy knuckles will hopefully be put to good use soon, as Katie’s team has been working on a date for her return early next year. The exact who, when and where is yet to be decided.

We looked at some of her potential match-ups such as Ebanie Bridges and Shannon Courtenay and Katie said; “I love a challenge and I think Bridges would be a great one when the time is right. We’ve got very different styles which would make it an interesting and explosive fight. I don’t see her as an easy fight by any means and I think her recent performances show that but boxing is all about the challenge and I’m up for it.”

On Ebanie’s last fight against Shannon O’Connell, Katie continued to say; “I think Ebanie has improved massively within her last few fights and she’s enjoyable to watch. Her last performance was explosive from start to finish and she’s constantly proving her haters wrong. She’s got heart and an engine and it’s a fight I would love to take in the future if the opportunity arises!”

But remaining open to other options, Katie was open to fighting Shannon Courtenay too, someone who Katie’s long-time friend and training partner, Rachel Ball, has previously beaten.

“I think the Courtenay fight would also be a great fight but I’ve always respected and trusted my team’s decision,” Katie said. “Whatever fight they think is right for me at the time I’ll take. I’ve never said no to a fight and don’t think I ever will. I’m not afraid to lose but always go in there with full confidence and I will put in 110% for that win.”

According to Errol Johnson, head of BCB promotions and Katie’s promoter, the Ebanie Bridges fight is a fight they’d “love to push”, and because Katie can move up and down weight classes easily, she says she is ready to “jump at any opportunities her team feels are right.”

Having achieved so much in her first full year as a boxer, having previously been a kickboxing prodigy and world champion, Katie has had a great start to her career. Her ambition to step up to the highest levels as she did in kickboxing is clear. She reflected on it all, saying; “I came into boxing with a mindset of “let’s see where we can take this. Never did I imagine after just over 12 months, I’d have a world title. Watching my fights back I can already see such a big improvement. I’ve always been my biggest critic and pick up on the smallest things. I’m still a perfectionist and can still see many areas for improvement, but that’s what makes the sport so exciting, you’re always learning! I love the sport, and martial arts have been a big part of my life since I was 11. With the team I have around me, I’m confident that there will be some explosive fights on the horizon to build up my ranking.”

With next year just around the corner, Katie now unbeaten in five fights promised an even more exciting second year in boxing, one of her goals being to defend her world title again and head back to South Africa where she won it.