Nicola Hopewell Wins The Commonwealth Flyweight Title

Nicola Hopewell Wins The Commonwealth Flyweight Title

On Saturday night, at the second of asking Nicola Hopewell became a Commonwealth champion. A new weight brought the rewards at the Magna Centre in Rotherham on the latest GBM Sports show in a fight that left both title challengers with blood on their features at the end of a hard-fought title fight. Old wounds reopened. New scars to join them. Headbutts were followed by despair, joy, relief and emotional victory words.

Hopewell won the vacant Commonwealth flyweight bauble courtesy of a unanimous points decision over the always-tough Gemma Ruegg. The three judges gave Hopewell a thoroughly deserved decision with scores of a too-close 96-94, 99-92, and a more reflective 97-94.

The Worksop fighter boxed well to orders using her speed and superior skills to outbox Ruegg, who never stopped coming forward in the vain hope the trajectory of the fight would change in her direction.

Hopewell edged a tight opening round before settling down and quickly finding her rhythm to establish an early lead that never looked like being closed down. The new champion had the quicker hands and feet, and Ruegg couldn’t pin her down long enough and often enough to edge the rounds in her favour.

A couple of really good right-hands in the 7th from Hopewell were eye-catching shots that sealed an excellent round for her. It was her best round of the fight. Ruegg was as brave and as tough as ever, but her night always looked likely to end in defeat once the pattern of the fight had been set in the early stages. Hopewell was just too sharp for her. And ultimately, too good for her.

Hopewell (5-1) deserves to enjoy her moment. But the big fights are now hers for the taking. Former amateur victim Maisey-Rose Courtney will want her revenge, and the European champion Chloe Watson may well fancy a double-title fight with Hopewell in the very near future. Hopewell will now become a wanted fighter. Not that she will complain. Nicola Hopewell turned professional a few years ago for exactly fights like that.

Photo Credit: GBM Sports