Nicola Hopewell: The Moment of Truth

Nicola Hopewell: The Moment of Truth

It is, in many ways, the moment of truth for Nicola Hopewell on Saturday night. The Commonwealth flyweight champion will look to add another belt to her collection when she challenges Marie Connan for her IBO ‘world’ flyweight title in Sheffield live on Fightzone.

Hopewell has recovered incredibly well from her only career reversal against Emma Dolan in 2023 when the Commonwealth super-flyweight title was on the line. That defeat to the talented Dolan looks much better now than it did at the time. Dolan has subsequently defeated Lauren Parker and Shannon Ryan since she removed Hopewell from the ranks of the unbeaten. The Worksop fighter was far from disgraced, but it was the night that convinced Hopewell that her future lay elsewhere.

The points defeat to Dolan prompted Hopewell to drop down to flyweight, and she has recorded four straight victories since losing her inaugural attempt at Commonwealth glory. A win over Gemma Ruegg last year earned Hopewell the Commonwealth flyweight title. A successful first defence against the tough Nigerian Mary Aina Abbey and a somewhat messy affair last time out in a non-title fight against the rugged Kate Radomska earlier this year has improved the resume of Hopewell to 7-1. The fight with Connan is an important next step for the 33-year-old.

Many will debate the validity of the IBO and that ‘world’ title tag in this so-called four-belt era, but either way, a win over Connan could open the door for much bigger fights down the line. In that regard, that IBO bauble very much has value.

Hopewell is at that stage of her career where the big fights need to happen in the not-too-distant future. If that IBO belt is in her possession come Sunday morning, in simple terms, it needs to be cashed in. Making low-key defences against lowly-ranked imports who nobody has ever heard of will do little for her profile. In some ways, it would make the IBO title somewhat pointless. It needs to be followed by progression and not regression. There are opponents a little closer to home that offer far more reward and recognition. The European champion, Jasmina Zapotoczna, is an obvious option. Hopewell and Zapotoczna are regular sparring partners. It’s an easy fight to make. Both have previously expressed an interest in making that fight. If Hopewell does win on Saturday night, it should be explored.

Maiseyrose Courtney lost to Hopewell in the amateurs, and Courtney recently told FightPost that she would fight the winner of Saturday night’s fight. There is previous history. Hopewell against Courtney is an easy sell. It is also a very good fight. The former European champion Chloe Watson is another enticing proposition. The unbeaten and undisputed world flyweight champion Gabriela Fundora could also come into play if the big-punching American doesn’t seek pastures new in the coming months. Hopewell knows the importance of her upcoming fight with Connan. Many doors could open for her if she records her eighth professional victory this weekend.

Connan (7-3) returns from injury to make the first defence of her title. The revenge points victory over Ayelen Micaela Alejandra Granadino last April earned Connan that IBO bauble, but her injury woes have prevented her from fighting since that career-best performance. Marie Connan will have her own ambitions and should not be overlooked. Boxrec has Granadino as their 7th-rated flyweight. Due to her injury-related inactivity, Connan doesn’t currently hold a ranking with Boxrec, but you sense that she would be ranked somewhere in the top five courtesy of that victory over Granadino. Hopewell is currently ranked by Boxrec, the 28th best flyweight in the world. A Nicola Hopewell victory is far from a formality. On paper, Marie Connan represents by far the toughest test to date for Hopewell. As it should be.

There’s a lot to like about this weekend’s fight. The winner could move on to some major fights down the road. Even if that IBO title wasn’t on the line, it’s still a fight of real importance, and one that the female side of the sport badly needs in the current climate. Title or not, it’s just a really good piece of matchmaking.

Photo Credit: Clive Wood