Gemma Richardson: “At the end of this year, I definitely want to be in title fights. I want to be as active as possible and then push on for some titles.”       

Gemma Richardson: “At the end of this year, I definitely want to be in title fights. I want to be as active as possible and then push on for some titles.”       

It was her night to shine. A chance to fight on the big stage. Jake Paul brought his Most Valuable Promotions to the UK for the very first time last month. The Olympia in London played host to a main card that showcased everything that is good about the female side of the sport.

Richardson impressed in one of the early preliminary fights. Johana Rajmont was comprehensively outpointed over six rounds. Richardson won every round and won with some degree of comfort. And class.

The 24-year-old is her harshest critic, but she was pleased with her performance against Rajmont. “When I get out of the ring, my memory goes blank,” Richardson told FightPost over Zoom. “So when everyone says you did this or you did that, I can’t remember because of all the adrenaline. In the fight, I was happy. She has given some fighters a lot of problems. She is a tough girl. But I didn’t really have any problems with her. But no matter what I hit her with, she was still there. I think everyone around me was happy with my performance. My coaches would tell me if they weren’t happy. They can be quite brutal. I have had some good feedback. I can’t be mad at performance, but the athlete in you always believes you can do better. You are your own biggest critic. I will always think I can do better.”

After two wins on the small hall circuit, it was her first taste of a much larger production. Richardson enjoyed the whole experience. “The whole week was unbelievable,” Richardson said. “The way we were treated. Everyone treated me amazingly. Everyone at MVP was so good to me. I loved every minute of it. I just soaked it all in.”

Richardson stayed for the whole night watching the main card. It was a night where we saw one of the greatest female fights of the modern era. Ellie Scotney went toe-to-toe in a brutal war with Mayelli Flores. Scotney prevailed after ten brutal rounds to go undisputed at super-bantamweight. Richardson was impressed by her friend.

“I have known Ellie for years, and she stole the show,” Richardson told me. “It was such a class fight to watch. I was just in awe. Ellie is my favourite fighter. She is next level. I think she is levels above everyone else. When I watch Ellie, that is who I aspire to be like.”

With MVP heading back to UK soil in the coming months, Richardson is hopeful of being given a place on that card. “MVP were very happy with my performance, and there is talk of me being back on their show when they come back to the UK later this year. I am hoping it will be for a title because that is what we are pushing for.”

There were certain frustrations in 2025; Richardson had just two fights for a variety of reasons. But the unbeaten former amateur star is hoping for more this year. There is also the possibility of a big domestic fight with a fellow unbeaten British prospect.

“This year is a catch-up year,” Richardson relayed to me. “I want as many fights as possible. I have got one already scheduled for June. I have another one in July. Lilyella Craw Seaman, who has just won the Commonwealth International title, has been shouting my name out in interviews, wanting to fight me. We are going to ask for that fight. I would like to get that fight. I will fight anyone, and she is shouting my name out. So I can’t see why that can’t happen this year. We have a VIP show in July, and I would fight her on that show. It’s a good fight, and I am here to win titles.”

Richardson has been campaigning at super-lightweight, but a future drop down to lightweight isn’t being ruled out somewhere down the line. Having options in two weight divisions when major titles become imminent is no bad thing.

Gemma Richardson is only three fights into her professional career. Two more will swiftly follow. Activity is key for this year, and the move towards titles is fast approaching. “At the end of this year, I definitely want to be in title fights. I want to be as active as possible and then push on for some titles.”