Ellie Scotney Snatches the EBU Title From Mary Romero!
In her second prizefight of the year, EBU European super bantamweight champion Mary Romero (8-3, 2 KO’s) took on Ellie Scotney (6-0, 0 KO). Romero entered the match in a great mental headspace as she was riding a seven-fight win streak since last being beaten by Tatyana Zrazhevskaya. That loss to Zrazhevskaya took place well back on September 10, 2016. Romero would later take possession of the vacant EBU European title when she nabbed a solid unanimous decision win over Ivanka Ivanova on January 18, 2020. Her duel with Scotney will mark her third defense of the secondary title.
Scotney does not have much skin in the professional game. The majority of her accolades originate within her amateur career. For example, the UK fighter won the 2017 Elite national amateur title as well as the English Youth title. Scotney, who is signed to Matchroom Boxing, does hold the WBA Inter-Continental super bantamweight title, however. She was able to secure the vacant strap by besting Jorgelina Guanimi earlier this year on February 12.
ONE SIZE FITS ALL
Once the two principals were in the ring, the match quickly took on a “wash-rinse-repeat” feel. This is due to Scotney pursuing the rather squirrely champion around the canvas. As for strategy, Romero did remarkably little outside of constantly circling to her left, throwing fairly wild shots and clinching when in close. In response, Scotney remained patient and lived behind her jab. As she opened Romero up with her jab, she consistently scored with sharp power shots with her right hand.
The champion began finding more regular success with a wide right just past the middle rounds. This positive was somewhat muted by her ceaseless back-pedaling and holding. Romero would be warned on several different occasions about her unruly grabbing as well as pushing off with the shoulder. Ultimately the bout ended like it started and that was with Scotney chasing a flummoxed Romero to-and-fro all the while belting her to the head and body evenly.
When the bout went to the scorecards, Scotney won a predictable unanimous decision to the tune of 97-93, 97-94 and 96-94. With the spoils of war, she usurped Romero’s EBU European super bantamweight title. In her post-fight interview, promoter Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Boxing felt that they would push for a fight with IBF super bantamweight champion Cherneka Johnson (15-1, 6 KO’s).
By: Bakari Simpson
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