Emma Dolan: The Road to the World Title

Emma Dolan: The Road to the World Title

It’s extremely difficult to grab the headlines in a social media clickbait world that demands a certain type of content. In the modern era, sometimes talent is enough. Emma Dolan probably suffers more than most in this regard. Hard work, a resume that should say plenty, Dolan does it in the old-fashioned way. She fights. She wins. Eventually, the plaudits will surely come her way. A proper trade fighter if ever there was one.

Dolan has grown immensely in her last three fights. The unbeaten British and Commonwealth super-flyweight champion has removed Nicola Hopewell and Shannon Ryan from the ranks of the unbeaten. Last time out, the former European champion Lauren Parker found out that Dolan is a difficult problem to solve. Three good fighters on her resume. She should be far better known to the masses.

But there is hope on the horizon. A much-deserved world title opportunity is drawing ever nearer. Dolan is the mandatory challenger for the IBF world super-flyweight title currently held by the Mexican Irma Garcia. A fight date, most likely on a Most Valuable Promotions card, should be confirmed in the coming weeks. Dolan would be strongly favoured to become a world champion at the first time of asking.

At 27, Dolan is nearing her peak, while the 44-year-old IBF champion is almost certainly on the other side of hers. Garcia hasn’t defended her title since winning a one-sided decision over Gloria Gallardo in late 2024. Garcia has only fought once since, a 6th-round stoppage victory over her fellow Mexican Maria Martinez Sandoval in June.

You sense Dolan will relish the opportunity to come out of the shadows. A victory over the veteran champion could push Dolan towards unification showdowns down the line. The WBO bauble holder and unbeaten Japanese fighter Mizuki Hiruta would be an interesting proposition. Hiruta doesn’t get the recognition she deserves. Both Dolan and Hiruta would jump at the chance to share a ring with multiple world titles on the line. But Dolan will know she has a job to do first before any real talk of unification fights.

A lot of the credit for the rise of Emma Dolan must go to Carl Greaves. Since Greaves joined the Dolan inner circle, there has been a notable and significant difference in the performances of the 27-year-old. A somewhat scrappy win over the Tanzanian fighter Halima Vunjabei in 2023 earned Dolan the vacant Commonwealth bauble. That win was followed by those excellent wins over Hopewell, Ryan, and Parker. Greaves is bringing his fighter on quite nicely. In truth, it is a little more than that. A veteran of all aspects of the fight game, Greaves also has the exciting, undefeated prospect Jade Pearce in his extensive stable. After seeing what Greaves has done for Dolan in just a few short years, Pearce will be encouraged by what he could potentially do for her career.

Dolan is still waiting for a time and a place for her moment of truth against Garcia. It might be an away trip for Dolan, a fight overseas for that maiden world title chance. But Dolan is in the form of her life, and crucially, she will only get better. That reign as the IBF world super-flyweight champion looks increasingly fragile for Garcia.