Gemma Richardson: “It’s such a big platform to be on, and MVP is the place to be now for female boxers, and that is where I want to be.”

Gemma Richardson: “It’s such a big platform to be on, and MVP is the place to be now for female boxers, and that is where I want to be.”

“I am very excited.” The opening words of Gemma Richardson. Her excitement is understandable. After just two fights in the world of professional boxing, Richardson has landed on the big show.

For the very first time, Jake Paul will bring his Most Valuable Promotions to the UK. MVP will bring their brand of boxing entertainment to the Olympia in London on April 5th. An Easter Sunday extravaganza headlined by Caroline Dubois and Terri Harper, finally getting to settle their feud with two world lightweight titles on the line. Ellie Scotney finally gets her chance at undisputed glory, Chantelle Cameron has the opportunity to crown herself a two-weight world champion, and Emma Dolan lands her first crack at a world title.

The unbeaten Gemma Richardson will be part of that card. Richardson is aligned with Steve Wood and his VIP Promotions, and it is a result of that relationship that has led to Richardson being given the opportunity live on Sky Sports in April.

“Sky is obviously involved with the show, and MVP wanted to use a UK promoter, and Sky recommended Steve,” Richardson told me. “He was in a lot of meetings with them and asked if he could have one boxer on the show. Steve has got quite a few female fighters now, but he put me forward and got me on the show, which I am very grateful for.”

The importance of the opportunity isn’t lost on Richardson. “It could change my career massively,” she says. “It’s such a big platform to be on, and MVP is the place to be now for female boxers, and that is where I want to be. I just have to go out there and perform, and hopefully, they notice me and like what they see. I hope to get more attention and get signed by MVP; that is the end goal. There are so many great fighters on the card, and I do believe I belong up there with them.”

Like several fighters on the card, Richardson views it as an audition process to try to get signed to that elite MVP stable. “You are not going to sign someone before you see them. With me being on the show, they have got a free look at me now. They have a chance to see how we perform and what we are like.”

“A bit of both,” Richardson adds when I ask her if the thought of getting signed to MVP adds pressure or motivation. “As the saying goes, pressure is a privilege. That type of pressure is good pressure. It makes you have that excitement inside. It gets you up for training. It’s motivation. This is a big step up now. After only having two fights, to be on such a big show. But if that is where you think you belong, you have to grasp the opportunity and take it. It’s how you handle the pressure.”

What a difference a year makes. Twelve months ago, Richardson was getting ready to turn professional after a highly successful amateur career. But the backdrop of how her amateur career ended still lingered. The long-standing Olympic dream was cruelly taken away from her courtesy of the highly controversial Amy Broadhurst saga. A situation that left no winners, only a bitter taste. From the depths of despair that led to thoughts of walking away from boxing, Richardson has found her love for the sport again.

“This time last year, I was going through the process of the medicals for my debut in March. I feel like I am a completely different boxer now. I have a completely different mindset. It was hard to get over the Olympics. I had such a big dream for so long, and I was trying to fall in love with something else too fast. But now I am settled into life as a professional boxer. I have adapted my style, and I am a lot happier now.”

Richardson, who can compete at either lightweight or super-lightweight, wants activity and to be in the title picture by the end of 2026. “I want as many fights as possible,” Richardson told me. “In a perfect world, I want to be out again not long after my fight in April. I think VIP have got quite a few shows this year. I just want to be active. I want to start looking at titles this year.”