Under The Radar: Karriss Artingstall

Under The Radar: Karriss Artingstall

There are many fighters who don’t get the recognition or the promotion that they deserve. In simple terms, fighters who deserve a bigger push. They could be an up-and-coming undefeated prospect. A fighter who has suffered a few early career defeats, but their resume hides a fighter who deserves a little more attention. It could even be a champion who, despite being a national or even a world champion, is still going under the radar somewhat. Karriss Artingstall is one such fighter.

The Olympic bronze medallist turned professional in 2022 with Boxxer and Sky Sports, and Artingstall looked set for a rapid rise to the top of her sport. A natural built-in rival with Skye Nicolson, who Artingstall beat in the Tokyo Olympics, everything was seemingly set for her. But over three years later, despite remaining unbeaten in seven fights, it hasn’t quite happened for her.

After a steady apprenticeship, Artingstall looked set to move up the levels, but 2024 only brought her one fight. A hard-earned victory over Lila Furtado in Liverpool was followed by a year of inactivity. But her return in March was a demonstration of why there were such high expectations for Karriss Artingstall at the start of her professional career.

At the Royal Albert Hall in March, Artingstall emphatically outpointed Raven Chapman over ten rounds to claim the inaugural British featherweight title in some style. Chapman was dropped in the 2nd round, and while she bravely didn’t stop trying to turn her night around, she found Artingstall just a little too much for her. Chapman was always competitive. But Artingstall was a wide winner on the scorecards.

It should have been the coming out party for Artingstall, but yet again, another period out of the ring has followed. Like many on the female side of the sport, Artingstall has found fight dates hard to come by. A situation complicated further by her promoter losing that lucrative TV contract with Sky and the state of limbo that followed while Ben Shalom secured another deal for his Boxxer stable.

There is still an element of uncertainty around many of the fighters on that Boxxer roster, even with that new BBC deal Shalom has secured. But if Artingstall remains, she could be a big benefactor of that new Boxxer/BBC hook-up. As ever, and it applies to any fighter, activity is key. Artingstall has been starved of that of late. A talented fighter who could be a real sleeper of the featherweight ranks.

Artingstall looks more than capable of winning a world title. ‘I’m ready when they are,’ is a telling quote on her X account. A fighter who just wants to be let off the leash.

The WBC champion Tiara Brown, the unbeaten American who ended the world title reign of Skye Nicolson earlier this year, could be a potential route. This observer would favour Artingstall to beat Brown. Winning that WBC could also tempt Nicolson back to the featherweight division. An Artingstall Nicolson match-up is still a highly intriguing prospect.

Artingstall, who also won medals at European and World Championships in her amateur days, has waited long enough in the shadows. At 30, Artingstall has served her professional apprenticeship. The manner of that victory over Chapman in March showed that she is ready for the elite of her division. Hopefully, her opportunity on the world stage arrives sooner rather than later.

Photo Credit: Boxxer