Who Should Nicola Hopewell Fight Next?

Who Should Nicola Hopewell Fight Next?

It was a night that Nicola Hopewell came of age. Against her toughest opponent to date at flyweight, Hopewell rose to the occasion on Saturday night in Sheffield. That hard-earned split decision victory over Marie Connan earned the Worksop fighter the IBO world flyweight title, and Hopewell can now look forward to some big nights with some of the bigger names in her weight division. But who should Nicola Hopewell fight next?

In regards to her next opponent, Hopewell told me, “No names exactly. I need to speak with my team, but I don’t want to take a step backwards now.”

Hopewell (8-1) is right. Having the IBO title in her possession should mean moving forward and not taking a drop in opposition. Hopewell will soon turn 34, and while there are not that many miles on her boxing clock, the next 12-18 months are where she will hope to make her mark in the biggest way possible.

Gabriela Fundora is the current undisputed world flyweight champion, courtesy of her holding all the more widely recognised world titles. But how much longer will Fundora remain at flyweight? If, as expected, the unbeaten American does move on from flyweight, the WBC, WBA, IBF, and WBO baubles will all become vacant. In time, Hopewell could be in a position to fight for one of those titles. But if Fundora does stay put, will that newly-won IBO title register some kind of interest to her? Fundora has virtually cleaned up her weight division, and Hopewell might now appear on her radar.

But much more likely, at least in the short term, Hopewell will have to be content with defending that IBO belt. With that not wanting to take a step backwards comment in mind, Hopewell, you would presume doesn’t want a series of defences against lowly-ranked random imports. Fights that do little for her profile or her career trajectory. In truth, she shouldn’t have to. There are a plethora of high-profile fights ready and waiting for her.

Jasmina Zapotoczna:

The reigning European flyweight champion is coming off two big wins, victories that put her at the forefront of potential opponents for Hopewell. Zapotoczna has removed both Maiseyrose Courtney and Chloe Watson from the ranks of the unbeaten. The victory over Watson on the Boxxer all-female card in March earned Zapotoczna the European title. Zapotoczna (9-1) comes with real credentials, a fighter on the rise, and she has earned the right to even bigger fights. The wins over Courtney and Watson were impressive. She should get the opportunity to build on them. Hopewell and Zapotoczna are friends and regular sparring partners. But both have long accepted that they could fight for real. If the politics allow, a fight between the pair with both the European and IBO titles on the line would garner much interest. Zapotoczna is a promotional free agent, and it should be an easy fight to make.

Maiseyrose Courtney:

Courtney (8-1) lost her unbeaten record to Zapotoczna last year, but she has returned with two wins. A hamstring injury has kept her out of action since January, but Courtney is due to return later this year. Hopewell and Courtney have previous history. The new IBO champion beat Courtney in the amateur ranks. Courtney disputes that win, and she has expressed her desire to fight Hopewell again many times. Unless there is enough money on the table to tempt Hopewell to fight her on a Matchroom card, Courtney might need a marquee win to force the fight to happen. But with a back story, Hopewell and Courtney definitely have something to sell.

Chloe Watson:

Chloe Watson hasn’t fought since Jasmina Zapotoczna relieved her of the European title in March. Watson (8-1) is a class act, and one defeat shouldn’t mean that she has reached her ceiling. The defeat to Zapotoczna was wafer-thin, a split-decision that was close enough for at least some debate. At 25, Watson will undoubtedly come again. The Birkenhead-fighter has changed her inner circle and will return in the coming months. Watson might be going in another direction to Hopewell in the short term. But if everything aligns, Hopewell might be on the Chloe Watson radar at some point in 2026.

Laura Pain:

Laura Pain (9-0) probably lacks the profile of the aforementioned names, but Pain could be the dark horse of her division. There has been talk of Hopewell and Pain fighting previously. Current circumstances might reignite that talk.

Megan Redstall:

Hopewell and Megan Redstall have been mooted to fight before. Redstall (5-0-1) was a potential opponent for Hopewell when she challenged for the vacant Commonwealth title in 2024. The unbeaten Redstall is chasing title fights, and a fight with Hopewell would tick many boxes for her.

Lauren Parker:

Lauren Parker (10-2-1) has campaigned at super-flyweight for much of her career and is coming off a losing effort at the British and Commonwealth super-flyweight titles against the talented Emma Dolan in April. Dolan also holds a win over Hopewell. The Worksop fighter moved down to flyweight after her defeat to Dolan in 2023, and Parker could do the same. Parker told me she could make flyweight and added, “If that fight came up, I’d be up for it.”

Hopewell and Parker have shared many rounds together in sparring, and out of all the potential fights available for Hopewell, this could be the most crowd-pleasing fight of the lot. There seems to be little in the way of making this fight.

Gemma Ruegg & Marie Connan

If nothing else materialises for Hopewell, a couple of rematches could potentially be in the offering. Gemma Ruegg lost to Hopewell in a vacant Commonwealth title fight in 2024. You suspect Ruegg would relish another opportunity at Hopewell, especially with the IBO title on the line. The former champion Marie Connan might also fancy an immediate rematch with Hopewell. While I had Hopewell winning on Saturday night, there was an alternative online narrative. But unless there are no viable alternatives for Hopewell, I don’t really see either Ruegg or Connan getting that second fight.

The options are seemingly plentiful for Nicola Hopewell. The IBO title will give her a certain amount of currency, and hopefully, she will be able to cash in. Hopewell has fought her last three fights at the Skate Central in Sheffield, and personally, a change of scenery would be welcomed. The logistics and finances would probably scupper a hometown gig for the Worksop-born fighter. But her heart has a second home.

Hopewell made her professional debut in the Executive Suite at Bramall Lane, the home of her beloved Sheffield United. Could the die-hard Blade be given an emotional first defence of her IBO title in the place where it all started in 2022 with that stoppage victory over Klaudia Ferenczi?

But wherever her next fight lands, hopefully, Hopewell can look forward to a fight that is worthy of that ‘world’ title tag. Personally, I wouldn’t be adverse to any of the potential fights listed above. But for me, and for different reasons, three fights stand out. Jasmina Zapotoczna is probably the obvious choice, but Maiseyrose Courtney and Lauren Parker bring plenty to the party. But whoever is up first, we should remember the words of Hopewell, “I don’t want to take a step backwards now.” In truth, there is absolutely no need to.

Photo Credit: Matchroom Boxing/Boxxer/Laura Rickers/LKR Photography