Gemma Richardson Wins Her Professional Title
Gemma Richardson made it six on the bounce on Saturday night at the Vertu Motors Arena in Newcastle. It was an important night in the development of the unbeaten 25-year-old super-lightweight prospect. It was her first ten-rounder, and one that brought Richardson her first professional title.
Richardson (6-0) won every round against the Canadian Carolyn Redmond (9-3) on all the judges’ scorecards to claim the vacant WBO International super-lightweight title. All three scoring officials saw it to Richardson by a comprehensive 100-90. Another little statement from a fighter who looks destined to reach the very top of her sport.
Redmond went into the fight ranked as the tenth-ranked super-lightweight in the world according to the WBO. As a result of her wide and unanimous victory over the Canadian, Richardson will surely now find herself ranked inside the top ten in the next WBO world rankings.
Fellow British fighter Hannah Robinson is ranked sixth by the WBO, and that will be a good domestic fight to make further down the line. It probably doesn’t make sense right now, but if either Robinson or Richardson can pick up a world title, it most certainly would.
After the way her amateur career ended, specifically the way her Olympic dreams were so cruelly taken away from her, it took an extended period of time for Richardson to get her love back for her craft. But the former amateur star is now really starting to find her feet in the pro ranks. A fighter who is improving with every fight. Richardson won every round against the two-time European champion Kirstie Bavington in August, and her latest victory over Redmond again shows her potential. Within the next twelve months, Gemma Richardson could be fighting for and winning world titles.
