Could Nicola Hopewell Be Next For Megan Redstall?

Could Nicola Hopewell Be Next For Megan Redstall?

It was a statement-making performance from Megan Redstall on Sunday night against Maiseyrose Courtney. A supposed 50/50 fight on paper, in reality, it turned out to be anything but. The manner of the victory was touching on world class. In many ways, a breakthrough night for her.

Redstall dropped Courtney in the opening round and was largely dominant in outpointing her over ten rounds and claiming the vacant WBO International flyweight title in the process. In truth, Redstall couldn’t have been more impressive. A performance that indicated the unbeaten Redstall could go to a much higher level.

Thoughts will now turn to what’s next for the talented 25-year-old. Johnny Clark, the Top Tier promoter, said he would look at getting Redstall a British title fight next. Clark will hold his next show in London at the York Hall in October, and Redstall is almost certain to be on it. But who will be in the opposite corner?

If the British title is the target, realistically, that narrows the choice of opponents down to either Chloe Watson or Nicola Hopewell. Despite both fighters coming off defeats, those losses were outside of the flyweight division, and are more than acceptable opposition for the next stage in the career of Megan Redstall.

Redstall (8-0-1) looks capable of challenging for major honours. A European title doesn’t look out of reach. Outside of the undisputed world flyweight champion Gabriela Fundora, global honours could also be in her future. But a few more learning fights will serve Redstall well before any assault on the world title. Watson and Hopewell would fit that narrative. Both still retain their own ambitions and will know that a win over Redstall dramatically changes the trajectory of their careers.

Chloe Watson is a former European flyweight champion, but is coming off three defeats in her last four fights. The Birkenhead fighter has dabbled at the higher weights in recent times. Shannon Ryan won a technical decision over her after four completed rounds. An accidental head clash caused a premature ending to their super-flyweight contest last October. In April, Watson suffered a narrow eight-round points defeat to the unbeaten Teresa Makinen. From ringside, I had Watson edging it. Jasmina Zapotoczna took away her European flyweight title last March on a wafer-thin split decision. On paper, her recent record doesn’t look good, but bare statistics don’t always offer context. Watson is still a quality fighter and has been somewhat unlucky in all her three defeats. But is flyweight still her priority? Time will tell.

Nicola Hopewell has also lost to Shannon Ryan. But in far more definitive fashion. The Worksop fighter, after being starved of fights in 2026, took a gamble and moved up to super-flyweight in May. It couldn’t have gone any worse for her. Dropped heavily and stopped in two one-sided rounds, it was a sobering experience for the former Commonwealth and IBO champion. A realisation that weight divisions are there for a reason.

Ideally, Hopewell would have liked to get out again after her defeat by Ryan. A chance to get back in the win column, and wipe away any lingering demons from her stoppage defeat to Ryan a few months ago. But if an October bout with Redstall materialises, timing might be against Hopewell having a fight before she faces the new WBO International champion.

We don’t live in a perfect world, and after that Ryan setback, I’m not sure what else is out there for Hopewell, at least in the short-term. A fight with Redstall gives Hopewell the chance to reignite her career. The 34-year-old can’t really afford a gentle rebuild at this stage in her career. It could be now or never for her. Redstall presents a massive opportunity to get herself right back into position. I am of the understanding that Hopewell is very much interested in taking the fight if it presents itself.

I wouldn’t totally rule out Chloe Watson getting herself in the picture to face Redstall in October, but I think Hopewell is likely to be the preferred option. It’s a fight that suits all parties.