Chloe Watson: “I’d fight for a world title tomorrow if I could.”

Chloe Watson: “I’d fight for a world title tomorrow if I could.”

It’s been two years since I last spoke to the undefeated Birkenhead flyweight prospect Chloe Watson. She was just a few weeks away from making her professional debut. But even back then, when she was just 21, there was something in the way that she delivered her words that made you a believer. ‘Sometimes you get a feeling. Sometimes, you just know.’ My opening words of that interview. Two years on, Watson is even more believable.

Watson is now six fights in. The fleet-footed blue-chip prospect has danced her way impressively to six victories and can look ahead to a prosperous 2024.

“I’m really pleased with my progress so far,” Watson told me over Zoom. “I am boxing for the European title in my next fight, so I can’t really ask for much more at this point in my career. If you had asked me in March after my first fight of the year, in the back of my mind, I wanted to start working towards some sort of title towards the end of this year or early next year. And now it is all kind of falling into place. I’d fight for a world title tomorrow if I could. But I let my team make those kinds of decisions for me because I would happily fight for a world title right now.”

That European title opportunity is imminent. A vacant title awaits in Bolton on Friday against the former European title challenger Justine Lallemand. The excitement is obvious.

“I’m so excited,” Watson relayed to me. “We found out just before my last fight. So, my goal was to put on a good performance in that fight. I went on holiday after my last fight, but I was so eager to get back into the gym. With the fight in the back of my mind, I just wanted to be in the gym. It’s just given me loads of time to start working on things. But I just love the gym to be fair, and I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else. I am really early in my career, and that’s the way it should be. You should be living in the gym, training every day and improving. I definitely think I am improving, and I think that is why this fight excites me so much. I feel as though as I have been progressing with every fight, I definitely think I am ready for it. She is my toughest fight so far, but that’s the way it should be fighting for your first major title.”

A win over Lallemand sets Watson up quite nicely for what lies ahead. The Merseyside fighter has incredibly ambitious plans, a victory over her French opponent puts her one step closer to her dreams. Watson knows the importance of her fight in Bolton.

“A victory puts me in good stead for next year. When I last spoke to you, I said it’s not about just becoming a world champion. It’s about being the best flyweight, and I still hold myself to that. That is my own personal goal, I do want to be the best. But there are so many opportunities now with so many more fighters turning over, there are some exciting fights to be had. There are some really good domestic fights as well. But all my focus is on the next fight, and if we win that, we’ll see what opportunities are out there.”

There is one domestic fight that would tick every single box. The undefeated Matchroom prospect Maisey-Rose Courtney is currently impressing everyone with her performances to date, and Watson would be open to a fight with her fellow prospect.

“I would definitely be interested in fighting Maisey,” Watson told FightPost. “I think it would be a great fight to watch. I know Maisey quite well, and I’ve said it before I think we would make for great dancing partners at some point in the future.”

The career of Chloe Watson is seemingly in safe hands. Trained by Ricky Hatton and the recent hook-up with STN Sports and Paul Ready has elevated her profile even further. Ready already has Sandy Ryan as a world champion in his flourishing stable, but the likes of Skye Nicholson and Rhiannon Dixon look set to bring further world titles to the ranks of STN Sports. Watson could very easily add further world title gold to the stable in the next twelve months. The partnership between Watson and Ready appears to be one of mutual benefit.

“When I got speaking to Paul, I could see he loves to do what he does, and I love doing what I do. You’ve seen the work he has done with Skye and Rhiannon, and we just kind of clicked, and things just went from there.”

Watson is on the brink of very big things in the sport. A win early next month will edge her a little bit nearer to achieving her lofty ambitions. Those big plans are not just set on becoming a world champion, Watson wants more, and she firmly believes her talent will get her there.

“I am only 23, and because I am so young, I know I have time to really develop to be the best and become the undisputed champion. My goal is to become a world champion, but why not take it a step further. I have got the time. I know I have got the dedication. I know I have got the heart. I know I am willing to make all the sacrifices necessary.”