Tysie Gallagher vs. Ellie Hellewell: The Winner Takes It All

Tysie Gallagher vs. Ellie Hellewell: The Winner Takes It All

If women’s boxing in the UK is to drag itself out of the mini-slump it has found itself in over the past year or so, it desperately needs good, evenly matched domestic fights that spike interest and moves the winner up to another level. We have such a fight this weekend in Sheffield when Tysie Gallagher defends her British, Commonwealth, and WBO international super-bantamweight titles against the unbeaten Ellie Hellewell on the latest GBM card at the Park Community Arena live on DAZN.

Gallagher hasn’t fought since an impressive victory over Tori-Ellis Willets last September. Family tragedy and fights falling through at the eleventh hour have all played their part in the extended hiatus from her craft. But Gallagher will look to make up for lost time and pick up where she left after her win over Willets.

But Gallagher has an ambitious fighter in front of her on Saturday night. An unbeaten fighter who wants to take her career to the next stage. A win over the former world title challenger would propel Ellie Hellewell to the fringes of the world title picture, positioning herself quite nicely in a division that could have an undisputed champion before the year is out. Ellie Scotney and Mayelli Flores Rosquero fight for that undisputed status in November, and if Scotney wins, she has made no secret of her desire to move up to featherweight at some point in the very near future. So, the super-bantamweight ranks could very quickly have four world title baubles up for grabs in 2026. Hellewell will understand the importance of a victory over Tysie Gallagher.

Gallagher has only lost twice in eleven fights as a professional. A disputed loss to Nina Hughes in 2022 and a close decision defeat to Segolene Lefebvre when the WBO world title was on the line the year after. Gallagher can consider herself somewhat unlucky in both fights. Quite easily, she could be unbeaten, and at 27, Gallagher is heading into her peak years. She is the more proven fighter and at world level. But she is the fighter with everything to lose. Her opponent has everything to gain. It is a fight of much intrigue. And jeopardy.

Hellewell is stepping up a level in fighting a fighter who has competed in and, crucially, won in a much higher class. Gallagher has beaten the likes of Tori-Ellis Willetts and Lisa Whiteside; Hellewell is making a calculated gamble. But she isn’t without hope, and while Gallagher is understandably the betting favourite to retain her various titles, the odds are close enough to suggest the upset is at least a possibility.

Unbeaten in seven fights, Hellewell is coming off a win over Stevi Levy in her first ten-rounder. Hellewell won 97-94 on the cards, but I thought Levy deserved a little more credit for her efforts. A draw wouldn’t have been out of place. But that experience will surely bring Hellewell on. The betting underdog is brimming with confidence ahead of the biggest fight of her career.

Both fighters deserve immense credit for taking the fight. The type of showdown that women’s boxing in the UK needs in the current climate. A competitive match-up that has serious implications for the winner. A fight where the winner really does take it all.