Emma Dolan: “I would like to unify and go that route. But I need to win this fight first.” 

Emma Dolan: “I would like to unify and go that route. But I need to win this fight first.” 

A Friday afternoon in London. Sky Sports re-enter the world after an extended break. Jake Paul and his Most Valuable Promotions enter the UFC market. An Easter Sunday extravaganza at the Olympia with an all-star cast of elite British female fighters.

The top table was assembled. Andy Scott from Sky Sports played host to launch the next chapter of the MVP revolution of women’s boxing. Caroline Dubois and Terri Harper ramped up their war of words ahead of their all-British world lightweight unification showdown. Ellie Scotney enjoying her moment, a natural in front of the camera. A chance to go undisputed at super-bantamweight finally locked in. Chantelle Cameron, a world title opportunity at 154 secured.

Emma Dolan was on the far side of that illustrious top table. The British and Commonwealth super-flyweight champion spoke well. Confident and enjoying her moment. A bigger moment awaits on that Easter weekend. A long-awaited and hard-earned world title fight with the IBF champion Irma Garcia will likely open the main card.

“It was alright,” Dolan told me over Zoom about that press conference and the full day of media obligations that preceded it. A setting that isn’t her natural environment. “I am not really a lover of them, to be honest. I am pleased it was this far out from the fight because they drain you. I felt knackered after it. But at least you can get it over and done with in those few days, and you can then focus on your training.”

Dolan has finally landed on a big show. A card that will bring many eyes to her talents. An undefeated fighter who has so far gone under the radar somewhat. “It’s really good,” Dolan says of the upcoming card. “Obviously, it’s their first UK show. It’s the first time boxing has been on Sky for a while, and they wanted to make a bit of a statement. And I think they have done. There are four world title fights on the main card, and then the prospects are on the undercard. It’s exciting.”

Emma Dolan isn’t signed to MVP. But if she beats the Mexican champion and impresses in doing so, the chances are that she will be offered a golden MVP contract. A grand audition process for all to see. But despite what potentially lies ahead, Dolan is just concentrating on beating Garcia. “For me, it’s all about winning the world title,” Dolan says. “If I do, then I believe more opportunities will come after that.”

Tysie Gallagher will feature on the undercard. Like Dolan, a British and Commonwealth champion. Gallagher also hasn’t had the flowers her talents deserve. Dolan and Gallagher share many things. Two fighters who have struggled to get fights in recent months.

“Tysie has probably had a similar journey to mine,” Dolan says. “I wanted to defend my British title in November. The mandatory got called in November, I haven’t fought since April, so I thought I’d defend my British title and then fight on this show in April for the world title. But it’s hard. You bring one fight to the board, but then they knock it back. You then find another opponent, and then they end up fighting at bantamweight. It’s very tricky. When you start fighting girls who are unbeaten, and you beat them, other people think twice about fighting you. But I am not too bothered. I do get frustrated, but I am very good at keeping a calm head. But I have got a really good opportunity now, and I am grateful for it.”

Irma Garcia has held the IBF world super-flyweight title since 2023, but her resume shows only two fights since beating Stephanie Silva to claim the vacant IBF bauble. But Dolan isn’t reading too much into her opponent’s inactivity. “People might say that about me. I haven’t fought in a year, but that’s not through choice. She might have wanted to fight, but if you don’t have the promotional backing, you can’t do what you want to do. It’s as big an opportunity for her as it is for me. So I am preparing for the best version of her.”

Dolan hasn’t fought since beating Lauren Parker last April, but there are no concerns of ring rust heading into the biggest fight of her life.

“I think ring rust is one of the biggest cop outs people can say,” Dolan relayed to me. “If I haven’t fought in a while, I will get somebody in and get some really competitive sparring. It will be just like having a fight. Throughout my career, I haven’t been as active as I would like to have been. But I think ring rust is a pretty poor excuse. I didn’t really have any sparring for the Shannon Ryan fight, and I didn’t feel rusty in the slightest. It’s all about the mindset.”

On April 5th, Emma Dolan somewhat belatedly gets an opportunity to win a world title. But even if the IBF belt comes her way, the 27-year-old isn’t settling for that. “The long-term goal is to go belt-to-belt,” Dolan says. “I would like to unify and go that route. But I need to win this fight first.”     

Photo Credit: Mark Robinson/MVP