Sasha Booker: Against All Odds?

Sasha Booker: Against All Odds?

It can be a lonely place in the away corner. You are brought into lose. Even if you manage to win some rounds, the judges rarely see it that way. Sasha Booker will experience that this Sunday.

Booker has been drafted in to face the former WBA world bantamweight champion, Shannon Courtenay. A fighter on the comeback trail, hoping to reignite her somewhat faltering career. Booker isn’t expected to win. She is the supposed opponent. Picked for a reason. To give Courtenay some rounds but not threaten the fighter in the home corner. The odds are seemingly against Booker. Fighting an MVP fighter on an MVP show.

But the 34-year-old isn’t without hope. Courtenay has struggled in recent years. A comeback that has flattered to deceive at times. There is even a defeat on her record. Against another fighter who was brought in to lose. Booker will hope history repeats itself this coming Sunday at the Olympia in London.

Catherine Tacone Ramos beat Courtenay in 2024. Two wins since haven’t really convinced. I was ringside in 2022 when the former world champion struggled with Gemma Ruegg over eight uninspiring rounds. If that fight was over ten rounds, Ruegg would have won. In truth, Courtenay hasn’t looked good for around five years. In thirteen fights, Courtenay has lost three times. Her resume and recent form indicate that she is distinctly beatable.

Booker (3-1) turned professional in 2024 with a six-round points victory over Ivanka Ivanova, and after a win over Kira Carter, Booker lost her unbeaten record last year to the still unbeaten Aikaterina Koutsogeorgopoulou over eight rounds. But the Nottingham fighter rebounded, winning every one of the six rounds in December against Sydney Chambers. Booker knows a win on Sunday will completely change the course of her career. There is motivation and ambition to do exactly that.

Courtenay will start the fight as a heavy favourite, but Booker could be in the right place at the right time. If Courtenay can’t recapture her old form, Booker could land the biggest scalp of her fledgling boxing career. If Booker can deal with the expected fast start from Courtenay, then the upset becomes a lot more likely. The opening few rounds will tell us plenty. Sasha Booker knows everything will depend on those opening minutes.