Catford’s Ellie Scotney successfully defended her IBF super-bantamweight title with a points win against Laura Soledad Griffa last weekend.
Former Lynn amateur Scotney, 25, was making her first defence of the belt and came out on top against her 37-year-old Argentine opponent with judges scores of 100-91, 99-91 and 99-91 at Wembley Arena.
Scotney, whose record now stands at 8-0 in the professional ranks, said: “She was tough. She kept coming. I didn’t box too well but it’s one of those fights.”
Griffa had won her previous two fights but lost six in a row before that and Scotney was clearly in control from the start against the veteran.
Scotney landed a huge punch in the fifth round but was frustrated for much of the ten rounds as Griffa adopted spoiling tactics.
But Scotney was pleased with the experience of again going the distance.
“That’s my fourth ten-rounder now,” Scotney said. “It wasn’t my best performance but it was a fight that I won with ease.
“That was me within my comfort zone so I feel like I need better opposition to show you what I’m capable of.”
Scotney dedicated the win to her late grandmother Eileen, who passed away in August at the age of 99.
“She was a special sole, she was my number one fan and my biggest critic,” Scotney said. “I know she had the best seat in the house tonight and I hope at times I made her proud.
“Every fight is for my nan. I’ll make sure going forward I’ll make her proud and fulfil the promises we made.”
Mayerlin Rivas (WBA), Yamileth Mercado (WBC) and Debora Dionicius (WBO) hold the other belts in the division.
Scotney is promoted by Eddie Hearn and outlined her next target.
She said: “I want a unification at the end of the year. Eddie is talking about it, my team is talking about it, so it’s about making it happen now.
“I want to be number one in the division and I know Eddie can get me the fights to prove it.”