Shona Whitwell: A New Beginning
In many ways, it’s a new beginning for Shona Whitwell. The former elite amateur star is moving along quite nicely in the professional ranks. Four fights. Four wins. Those wins have brought three consecutive stoppage victories. Whitwell could easily be a future world champion. In truth, that could just be the start for her.
But Whitwell has made several significant decisions to take her blossoming pro career to another level. The 28-year-old will now be managed by Paul Ready, who has guided the likes of Skye Nicolson and Rhiannon Dixon to world titles in recent years.
“I felt like I needed to add more to my team, and Paul has great knowledge and experience with managing fighters,” Whitwell told FightPost. “He’s worked with females before and took them all the way to the top, which gives me confidence that together we can do the same. My goal this year is to get signed by a promoter, and with his help, I feel like that’s a very realistic goal.”
Ready is incredibly excited about his new signing, “Shona reached out when she turned pro. We had a really positive chat, but both of us decided to go in different directions. We kept in touch, and she reached out in August asking if I would be interested in managing her.
“I’ve been impressed with how aggressively Shona fights, and she can clearly punch. That’s down to her, of course, but John Ryder should get plenty of credit for the work he’s already done with her.”
That’s not the only change Whitwell has made in recent times. After an incredibly impressive display against Victoria Lomax in July, the unbeaten prospect has decided to drop down to featherweight in search of her first professional title.
On December 6th on a Top Tier show, Whitwell will fight Amy Andrew for the vacant WBO European featherweight title in her first scheduled ten-rounder.
“I’m very excited to have got the title over the line,” Whitwell says. “Especially with it being the WBO European, which will get me world-ranked in just my fifth professional fight. Not only that, but at a new weight class, which I feel I’ll be very strong at. I’m in the gym always ticking over; every camp I train as if it’s a title fight and train for 10 rounds, so this one is no different.”
Andrew is unbeaten in nine professional fights, and the 40-year-old is well-known to Whitwell. “Amy and I are very familiar with each other, having boxed in the Haringey Box Cup finals in the amateurs, and having shared the ring for many sparring rounds together as well. I have a lot of respect for her. However, I believe I’m levels above, and that will show on the night.”
“The Amy Andrew fight was presented at featherweight, and as a team it was a no-brainer,” Ready told me. “I’ve had some positive conversations with a huge promoter, and they are watching the next fight with keen interest. I’m very confident she finally secures a promotional deal in early 2027.”
“Shona can go all the way and unify at 126 and 130,” Ready added. “I fully believe that’s the minimum she should do.”
Shona Whitwell has made no secret of her desire to get signed by a major promoter, and she hopes another good performance in December will make that dream a reality. “Hopefully, a contract will be waiting for me after this fight,” Whitwell told me. “And 2027 will be an exciting year on a big platform.”
