Jasmina Zapotoczna: “I truly believe the big fights will come, and everything happens for a reason. That’s what keeps me going.”

Jasmina Zapotoczna: “I truly believe the big fights will come, and everything happens for a reason. That’s what keeps me going.”

Jasmina Zapotoczna was a more than interested spectator earlier this month in Barnsley. Callum Simpson, her friend and stablemate, survived two early knockdowns to stop Ivan Zucco at his beloved Oakwell Stadium to win the European super-middleweight title.

Zapotoczna won her European title in March at the Boxxer all-female card at the iconic Royal Albert Hall. A show that was billed as a grand relaunch of women’s boxing. But in two subsequent Boxxer cards, not one female fighter has featured on those two cards. When that Simpson card was first announced, it seemed a no-brainer to put Zapotoczna on that card also. But the European flyweight champion had to settle for the role of cheerleader.

“Nobody can understand why I wasn’t on the card to be fair,’ a clearly frustrated Zapotoczna told me over Zoom. “I honestly don’t know why I wasn’t on the card. There were some conversations, but as you can see, there was no fight. But it wasn’t down to me, and there is nothing I can do about it. It would have been nice because it was local. A lot of my family and friends would have come.”

Zapotoczna is part of a beyond-talented British-based crop of flyweight contenders. Zapotoczna has beaten the likes of Chloe Watson and Maiseyrose Courtney, both have shown interest in a rematch with Zapotoczna. Nicola Hopewell, Laura Pain and Megan Redstall are further additions to potential fights that could lie ahead for the current European champion. But despite a plethora of options, Zapotoczna has no fight date anywhere in sight.

“My mandatory challenger is Justine Lallemand, who boxed Chloe Watson in 2023, so that fight could take place,” Zapotoczna told FightPost. “But hopefully, I will find out something more in the next few weeks. But it is a frustrating time for me because I would like to stay active. I can’t live without fights. How long can I be in the gym just ticking over without any fights being lined up? But what can I do? I just have to stay patient.

“I’m still training, but it’s a completely different mindset. I am so determined and much more motivated. I am so hungry to fight. But for me, it is a little bit hard having no scheduled fight, and I am already over three months out of the ring, and that frustration is building up. The only thing I can do is stay patient, do my work, and improve some elements within my boxing, my technique, my fitness, or my strength. There are a lot of things to work on, but it is so frustrating.

“I went through so much in 2023. Everything that is happening now is nothing. It’s just part of the game, and every fighter has to overcome all that frustration with a lack of fights. I am trying to focus on the positive things. I am healthy, I have a good team around me, and nobody is rushing me. I just appreciate the positive things I have in my life. Eventually, the fight date will come. I truly believe the big fights will come, and everything happens for a reason. That’s what keeps me going.”

“Honestly, it’s ridiculous,” Zapotoczna added. “What is going on with women’s boxing this year? There was a massive show at the Royal Albert Hall in March, but it’s now the end of June. Where are some good fights? Chloe has no fight. Maisey has no fight. It’s not only frustrating for me, but a lot of the other girls are sitting in the same position. They are all in the same boat, thinking what the hell is going on.”

One of the aforementioned flyweight hopefuls does have that rare luxury of a scheduled fight date. The Commonwealth champion Nicola Hopewell challenges Marie Connan for her IBO flyweight bauble, and if Hopewell leaves Sheffield the new IBO flyweight champion, the much-talked-about fight between Hopewell and Zapotoczna could finally come to fruition. “It’s a good opportunity for Nicola, and I will be cheering for her,” Zapotoczna relayed to me. “We both know that we are in the same weight division, and we can see that one day we might see each other in the ring. I am just leaving it to my team, and whatever happens will happen. I am just ready for anything and anyone. There are so many good fights to make.”

The unbeaten Gabriela Fundora is the undisputed flyweight champion of the world, and if the big-punching Fundora decides to seek pastures new, it could leave Zapotoczna with enough vacant world titles available to land that ‘big’ fight she craves. But she isn’t ruling out a fight with the unbeaten Fundora if the opportunity presents itself. “I am ranked number three by The Ring Magazine. Fundora would be a massive challenge for me, but as I say in every interview, I am up for any challenge. I don’t know if I am ready for Gabriela Fundora, but why would I not try? I would try my best. Nobody is unbeatable.” 

Jasmina Zapotoczna talks about being patient. But why should she? Zapotoczna is coming off two really big wins over Courtney and Watson. Victories that should have propelled her onto even greater things. If women’s boxing was working the way it should, that’s what should have happened. But it hasn’t. And women’s boxing isn’t working the way it should be. Zapotoczna is one of the fighters who is suffering from that lack of interest in the female side of the sport. Sadly, she isn’t alone. But there is time for things to change. Zapotoczna and many others will hope that time comes. And soon.