March & The Relaunch of Women’s Boxing

March & The Relaunch of Women’s Boxing

Boxxer are labelling their latest all-female card as the relaunch of women’s boxing. A March 7th extravaganza that is much-needed to jump-start the female side of the sport after a period of stagnation in 2024. But March looks like being far more than one solitary card. It is by the far the strongest month for women’s boxing in quite some time. In terms of depth, it could be the best four-week period we have ever seen.

The fun starts on March 1st with the Commonwealth flyweight champion Nicola Hopewell fighting Kate Radomska in Sheffield. A non-title fight that could set up a big 2025 for Hopewell if she can get past Radomska. The unbeaten Georgia Klein also features on the same bill.

The following week, Boxxer goes all in with the big relaunch at the Royal Albert Hall. The card isn’t yet complete, but already, it is a show of real intrigue. The Olympic bronze medallist Cindy Ngamba makes her professional debut with a tough fight against the two-time European champion Kirstie Bavington. Ngamba could have taken a far easier route than Bavington. The WBC lightweight champion Caroline Dubois couldn’t tempt Terri Harper into a big domestic unification fight, but Bo Mi Re Shin will be next up for the ultra-talented Dubois.

The fight of the night could be the featherweight showdown between the returning Karriss Artingstall and the former world title challenger Raven Chapman. The show is headlined by the all-British world welterweight unification clash between Natasha Jonas and Lauren Price. A fight with a real edge about it. The card will get deeper still, and hopefully, in the coming days, a fight between Emma Dolan and Lauren Parker will get formally announced. Another possibility is a European flyweight title fight between Chloe Watson and Jasmina Zapotoczna. Both fights would be a good fit for that card. Hopefully, one or preferably, both fights make the cut.

The month also sees the professional debuts of former amateur stars Gemma Richardson and Jade Pearce. Richardson has her maiden ring walk in the paid ranks on March 8th, and Pearce does the same fourteen days later. Both could go far.

On March 12th, Linn Sandström starts her year off in Sydney with a fight against Yoselin Fernandez for the WBA Gold super-flyweight bauble. Sandström will hope a win pushes her closer to another shot at the world title proper. The former world bantamweight champion Shannon Courtenay continues her comeback in Liverpool on March 14th.

An already strong month closes out even stronger with a series of world title fights and a former world champion returning to action at a new weight.

Skye Nicolson defends her WBC world featherweight title against her long-time rival Tiara Brown on March 22nd in Sydney. On the same show, Nina Hughes gets her long-awaited rematch with Cherneka Johnson, with the British fighter hoping to regain her WBA world bantamweight title after controversially losing it to Johnson last year.

On the same night, the unbeaten American Jasmine Artiga gets her first opportunity at a world title when she takes on Regina Chavez with the WBA super-flyweight title on the line in California.

The following weekend, Rhiannon Dixon returns in Altrincham, hoping to make super-featherweight her new home after losing her WBO world lightweight title to Terri Harper last September. A new weight could be everything Dixon needs for her second coming.

But the following day could see the best fight of the month. On March 29th, Sandy Ryan gets an immediate rematch with Mikaela Mayer, hoping to get back her WBO world welterweight bauble. The first fight last September delivered in every way possible. The rematch will surely follow on from what we were served up in New York. Mayer and Ryan have unfinished business in Vegas. Another fight-of-the-year contender incoming.

The same day also brings us Mai Soliman and Sarah Watt doing battle for the Australiasia super-flyweight gold title.

After a difficult period, March could be a pivotal month for women’s boxing. The stars are out in force. A relaunch in many ways. Another all-female card is badly needed. An iconic setting for another special unique evening. A gentle reminder of what the female side of the sport can bring after all the momentum gained was seemingly lost in 2024. But there is plenty to look forward to outside of that Boxxer show. A month that starts in Sheffield and ends in Las Vegas with Mayer and Ryan running back their titanic first meeting. Hopefully, March will be followed by more of the same.