Ellie Scotney claimed her second world super-bantamweight title as she overpowered Segolene Lefebvre on a great night for British women’s boxing at Manchester Arena.
Scotney added the WBO belt to her IBF title as she dominated her French opponent over 10 rounds, winning on the judges’ scorecards 99-91, 97-93, 96-94.
The London-born fighter has now won all nine of her professional bouts, with Lefebvre suffering her first loss in 19 fights.
Earlier, Rhiannon Dixon completed her journey from pharmacist to world champion as she beat Karen Elizabeth Carabajal to claim the WBO lightweight belt.
Scotney, despite being significantly shorter than her opponent, weighed in three pounds heavier and made that count with punches more powerful than those of Lefebvre.
She also had greater stamina, the French fighter tiring from round three onwards – although she stuck to her task and made the fight closer on the scorecards than it appeared in the ring.
Scotney started to land heavier blows as the contest wore on – a huge body shot in the fifth and a stunning right in the sixth. Lefebvre attempted to find a haymaker, knowing she was behind, but for every shot landed was being hit by three. She also earned a warning in round eight for a naughty jab at Scotney after the referee had called a pause.
Nothing could stop the rapid-fire Scotney however, with the 26-year-old once again proving why she is one of the toughest contenders in women’s boxing.
She has still not yet won a professional bout by knockout, with her world-title-winning fight against Cherneka Johnson and the first defence against Laura Soledad Griffa both going the distance – and the marathon woman was victorious over the distance again to become unified champion.
Warrington-born Dixon also went 10 rounds for her title, winning on the judges’ scorecards 98-91 97-92 96-93.
The Briton had dropped Carabajal to the canvas with a juddering left hook in round three, although the Argentine found her feet on the count of eight and recovered to take the fight into the latter stages.
Dixon was the more energetic fighter throughout, while Carabajal counter-punched as she showed the same steel that took her the distance against against Katie Taylor.
But victory ensures Dixon continues her perfect professional record, winning all 10 of her bouts.
