Stevie Morgan: “I want to fight Stephanie Han.”

Stevie Morgan: “I want to fight Stephanie Han.”

It was another day of training for the American lightweight contender Stevie Morgan. Even the supposed day of rest didn’t apply to her. I caught up with Morgan on Sunday. Another session completed. More will follow. “I’ve got to keep moving, the 37-year-old told me over Zoom. “When I sit still too long, I don’t like it.”

Morgan is the mandatory challenger to Stephanie Han and her WBA world lightweight title. It has been just over a week since Han controversially retained her title with a majority decision over Holly Holm. Many deemed it extremely unfair on Holm, who lost for the second time against the unbeaten champion.

But Morgan believes it wasn’t the blatant robbery many are claiming it to be, even though she thought Holm had done enough to win. “It was a close fight,” Morgan told me. “Seeing it in person rather than watching it on TV can make it look a little different. It was definitely close, but I thought Holly Holm pulled it off. Maybe it was because she looked better than she did the first time. It was still a very close fight.”

“I think she had a lot of trouble with Holm’s boxing,” Morgan added. “I think there is a lot of pressure fighting at home. That could have got to her a little bit. It’s a different type of pressure. That might have affected her performance.”

Morgan is ranked number one by the WBA and stood aside to allow the rematch between Han and Holm to take place. But Morgan now wants to fight Han, and believes that she has the style and the power to inflict the first defeat on the resume of her fellow American. “I want to fight Stephanie Han. I think what she does, she does well. But I don’t think she likes to mix it up. If she gets into a firefight with me, I don’t think it goes too well for her.”

If rankings and previous agreements mean anything at all, then Stevie Morgan should be next. But there is every chance that she won’t be. Caroline Dubois, the unified WBC and WBO world lightweight champion, was ringside in Texas when Han repeated her previous victory over Holly Holm. Dubois wants to fight Han in a big unification showdown, and with both fighters being part of the Most Valuable Promotions family, it would be an easy fight to make.

“I guess we are just waiting,” Morgan says. “We have an agreement on paper with MVP that Stephanie Han has to defend her world title against me. But if she wants to unify with Caroline Dubois, I am not sure what happens then. All I know is that I am the mandatory, and MVP have 150 days to figure out what they are going to do.”

As Morgan says herself, all she can do is wait. And hope. But there are alternative plans being made. “If we don’t hear from them, we will fight in August. We will also start chasing another belt. The WBO has just moved me to number one, and their champion is Caroline Dubois.”

There is obvious frustration. Morgan stood aside to let Han and Holm run it back. But the politics of her sport look like they are conspiring against her. But Morgan is trying to stay positive. “I was frustrated at first, but my coach said that my job is just to keep winning and my shot will come,” Morgan relayed to me. “It could be bigger than just Stephanie Han. Maybe I get my shot when Dubois has three belts. We could force it and miss out on an even bigger opportunity. I don’t know what’s in store for me. All I know is I just have to be patient and keep winning.”

The former amateur star Amelia Moore has expressed interest in fighting Morgan, but the unbeaten Moore looks like having to wait. At least for now.

“Amelia has a long way to go,” Morgan says. “She has to prove herself. Even though she has that amateur background and she is a great fighter, she has to prove herself in pro boxing. Amelia is only 4-0, and as Alycia Baumgardner would say, she is a small pup compared to Stephanie Han. For me to fight her right now, it would make no sense. I am number one for two world titles. Why would I fight her? Let me go and win a belt, and then I will defend it against her for sure. I would love that fight.”

In many ways, Stevie Morgan is considering her options. Both the WBA and WBO have Morgan ranked at number one. Sooner, rather than later, her chance at lightweight should come. But there are thoughts of moving up to 140 in the future if she is denied her chance at 135.

“My coach said we are going to keep doing what we are supposed to do, and if we don’t get the opportunity at lightweight, we will move up and chase world titles in another weight class. We have worked hard to get into this position, and we just have to hope our name gets called. But if that doesn’t happen, then we will just move up. All the world titles will soon be vacant there once Katie Taylor retires.”  

Stevie Morgan is currently in limbo. For her, the wait goes on. If Han and Dubois do fight later this year, that wait will be extended further. Her chance might not materialise until 2027. If boxing, rankings, and agreements work the way they should, Morgan should be next. But boxing never seems to work in straight lines. Morgan hopes the call does come. It should.