Chloe Watson: “I am so excited to get in that ring. Fighting on this big card on a big platform. It’s all come together quite nicely.”

Chloe Watson: “I am so excited to get in that ring. Fighting on this big card on a big platform. It’s all come together quite nicely.”

The unbeaten European flyweight champion Chloe Watson had just the one fight in 2024. Like many, Watson found fights hard to come by last year. She had to settle for a six-rounder against Kate Radomska last June.

“It was very frustrating,” Watson says of last year. “But during all that time of frustration, if I get what I want at the end of it, it will be worth it. The thing that motivated me the most all the way through last year was thinking how big the following year could be. I just had to keep showing up and putting the work in. So, as frustrating as it was, I am still happy at where I am at. I think what also motivates me is what could come after this. But I have got to show up and perform on March 7th.

“I have been in a boxing gym since I was 8 when women’s boxing wasn’t where it is now. So we are built on resilience and just keeping the faith. I have leaned on that a bit over the last year. With all the frustration, I said to myself, “We have been here before. It will all work itself out.” It most certainly has.

This Friday, the extended absence will end. Watson has secured a precious place on the latest Boxxer all-female extravaganza headlined by the big all-British world welterweight unification clash between Natasha Jonas and Lauren Price. An iconic building that has a long history in boxing has been resurrected for the present day. The Royal Albert Hall will welcome back boxing into that hallowed arena. Watson in simple terms, just can’t wait to be a part of it all.

“I am so excited to get in that ring,” a beyond-happy Watson told me. “Fighting on this big card on a big platform. It’s all come together quite nicely. It’s made the last twelve months all worth it. All the hard work is done in the gym. I can’t wait to show everyone what I have been working on.

“I think people are overlooking how good the undercard fights are. They will all be competitive, and I think my fight is a really good addition to the card.”

Watson will defend her European bauble against her mandatory challenger Jasmina Zapotoczna. Her latest opponent is coming off a career-best win over Maisey Rose Courtney. Zapotoczna has sparred many rounds with Watson, and the Ricky Hatton-trained fight has the utmost respect for Zapotoczna. “I think Jasmina is a good fighter. We have done rounds with each other. She did well against Maisey. I think it will be a great fight.”

Watson has always expressed her desire to fight for and win multiple world titles. But Watson also wants to entertain.

“I want to be in exciting fights,” Watson told FightPost. “You have got people in and around my weight that could raise my profile. But when an opportunity comes to fight for a world title, I will happily take it. But I want to be in good exciting fights that people want to see. You’ve got the likes of Maisey, Nicola Hopewell, and Shannon Ryan.”

“Opportunities,” Watson simply says of what boxing gives her. “To be able to develop my skills in the ring and just grow as a person. I am doing what I love and making a living out of it. I want the people around me, the kids in the gym, to follow in my footsteps. I want them to think that if she can do it, I can do it. It gives me hope, and I want to give other people that.”