Ellie Scotney Outpoints Cherneka Johnson To Claim The IBF Super-Bantamweight Title
There was always a sense of inevitability about Ellie Scotney one day becoming a world champion. Highly touted when she turned professional, and after only seven fights, that inevitability is now a reality.
Scotney outpointed the tough Australian Cherneka Johnson to relieve her of her IBF bauble. Most of the rounds were competitive, but Scotney was shading the vast majority of them. The Catford fighter was excellent and served up a thoroughly mature performance in a fight where the now ex-champion made her work extremely hard for her success. Scotney was critical of her performance post-fight, but I didn’t see too many reasons for her harsh self-critique. Sometimes, you have to give credit to the opponent.
The three scoring officials read the fight as 98-92, 98-92, and 97-93. The latter of those cards was how I saw the fight. Johnson came in as the underdog but didn’t give up her title easily.
An accident headbutt opened up a cut over Johnson’s right eye in the 6th, and Scotney saw blood. It was the challengers best round of the fight, and there were fleeting thoughts that she might even force the stoppage. But Johnson bravely stuck to her task even though she must have realised a long way out that she would leave the ring an ex-champion.
The new champion can now look forward to a golden future. And she will only get better. At 25, Scotney is nowhere near her peak. Since joining the flourishing Shane McGuigan stable, the improvements have been noticeable, and they will keep on coming.
After a frustrating start to her professional career, Scotney is now well placed to deliver on all that hype and promise. A first world title might have been won on Saturday night at the Wembley Arena. Many more are now likely to follow.
Photo Credit: Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing
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