Jasmina Zapotoczna: Beyond The Ropes

Jasmina Zapotoczna: Beyond The Ropes

Jasmina Zapotoczna went over to France in November to defend her European flyweight title against Justine Lallemand. Zapotoczna successfully defended her belt. A hard-earned victory over ten good rounds saw the 32-year-old again demonstrate the quality she undoubtedly has.

But Zapotoczna is still waiting for the phone to ring. Over six months later, there is no fight on the horizon for the highly-ranked flyweight. Nothing.

2025 was a bittersweet year for Zapotoczna. The biggest win of her career came in March. But another period of inactivity followed before that overseas trip to France in November. Zapotoczna needs activity to build momentum. So far, it hasn’t arrived.

Zapotoczna turned professional in 2022, but has only had eleven fights to date. There is only one defeat on her resume. A late call to fight Shannon Ryan up at super-flyweight in 2024 ended in defeat. But it was close. A draw certainly wouldn’t have flattened her. But the loss of her unbeaten record didn’t deter her. An excellent win over Maiseyrose Courtney followed the defeat to Ryan. An even bigger win on a massive stage came next.

Live on Sky Sports at the iconic Royal Albert Hall, Zapotoczna took on the then-unbeaten Chloe Watson for her European flyweight bauble. In a high-quality match-up, Zapotoczna edged past Watson to become the flyweight champion of Europe.

I saw Zapotoczna the following afternoon at King’s Cross. Waiting for her train home, her precious European belt in a brown holdall. The smile was beaming. It should have been her coming-out party. But it hasn’t quite happened for her. At least, not yet.

Zapotoczna should be in the discussion to fight Gabriela Fundora. The big-punching undefeated American carries undisputed status at flyweight. Zapotoczna would be a natural contender. A different style for Fundora to navigate. But there is no sign of that deserved opportunity materialising. Zapotoczna will hope that Fundora goes elsewhere, and the WBC, WBA, IBF, and WBO world titles become vacant. Zapotoczna would surely be in the mix if the world titles eventually splinter. But make no mistake, if the call came to fight Fundora, she would answer.

“I would love to challenge myself against Gabriela Fundora,” Zapotoczna told me a few days that win in France last year. “Obviously, she is a top fighter and undisputed. It would be a massive challenge for me, but I would love to check my skills against hers.”

But there might be an attractive offer a little closer to home if nothing happens for her on the world stage. Megan Redstall and Maiseyrose Courtney clash in July on a Top Tier promotion. Redstall and Courtney will fight for the WBO International flyweight title. The winner could very well target Zapotoczna.

If Courtney defeats Redstall, it could give her the opportunity for revenge over Zapotoczna. But Redstall could see Zapotoczna as a logical next step for her career advancement. Both will see that European flyweight title as a sign of progression. Zapotoczna will see it as an opportunity for another big fight. In truth, any fight will do right now. The reigning European champion has told me that she would very much like to fight the winner of Redstall and Courtney.

You sense it is a pivotal year in the boxing career of Jasmina Zapotoczna. It’s been another slow start to a year for her. It really is a mystery why her talents haven’t yet come on the radar of Jake Paul and his Most Valuable Promotions. “I’d love to be a part of the MVP stable,” Zapotoczna told me earlier this year. With MVP coming back over to the UK later this year, maybe twice, that call might still arrive. It should.

Jasmina Zapotoczna has all the talent required to compete at the highest level. But she needs to find that much-needed momentum. And activity. In many ways, Zapotoczna deserves better from her sport.