I want to be crowned the world champ in Leicester – Hopkins
COALVILLE FIGHTER DREAMING BIG
ELLIS Hopkins wants to emulate the new star of women’s boxing by being crowned world champion in in Leicester.
The 20-year-old, from Coalville, is targeting a third straight win at the Morningside Arena on Sunday, December 12.
Hopkins went to the city venue as a fan to watch a televised show that featured Chantelle Cameron claiming the vacant IBO lightweight title.
Four years on, Cameron is ranked sixth in the women’s pound-for-pound rankings by The Ring magazine after claiming the WBC and IBF super-lightweight belts.
Hopkins said: “I remember going to watch Chantelle win the world title at the Morningside Arena and thinking to myself: ‘One day that will be me in there.’
“I was still an amateur at the time and being there that night gave me extra motivation.”
Hopkins, the first female boxer from the travelling community to turn pro, is in a rush to get to the top.
In only her second fight, she stepped up to six rounds and dominated Klaudia Vigh in Leeds.
The first punch of the fight was a pinpoint Hopkins jab that knocked the Hungarian onto her heels and she stayed in charge until the final bell.
Hopkins scored a knockdown in the third with a body attack and the bell rescued Vigh in the next. “I’m looking to push on as quickly as I can,” said Hopkins. “Next year I will be looking to fight for titles.”
But Hopkins will take a break from boxing after her wedding next February.
She marries Charlie Elton and says they met when both were boxing as amateurs for Braunstone Golden Gloves. “Charlie had too many injuries and stopped boxing,” said Hopkins.
The Morningside Arena show also features Midlands superwelterweight champion Kyle Haywood, Callum Blockley, Benn Norman, Stan Stannard and Kenan Wingfield-Brown.
LEICESTER City academy graduate Luke Thomas has spoken about representing the team that he supported growing up, writes Amie Wilson.
The 20-year-old left-back has established himself as a member of Brendan Rodgers’ first-team squad, making a total of 37 appearances since his debut in 2020.
One of those appearances came in last season’s FA Cup final against Chelsea, when City won 1-0 to lift the trophy for the first time in their history.
It was an occasion that Thomas describes as the “best day of my life”.
His form for City has also led to call-ups for the England U21 squad this season.
“I feel like the way my career has developed so far at such a young age it’s been a really positive start to my career,” he said in a press conference ahead of the game against Georgia.
“Obviously the FA Cup final was the best day of my life easily.
“So if I can continue this season and get the chances I’ve had with the U21s and show the quality that I have to the coaches.
“The gaffer is great and hopefully I can keep getting the opportunities.” He added: “To lift that trophy [the FA
Cup] there is no better feeling, then to win it for a team that you’ve supported all of your life, it’s even better.”
The full-back has been with City since the age of seven, making his way up through the academy.
He explained what it means as a local lad to represent his club and admitted that he was more nervous about his debut for City than he was for the England U21s.
“I’m a Leicester lad, I grew up as a Leicester lad,” he said.
“I used to go to the games when I was younger and watch all of the players and learn from them.
“The whole of my family are Leicester fans as well, so it’s great now I’m in the first team, they get to come and watch, they support Leicester so they want us to win as well.”
“The club debut for me was more nerve-wracking with me supporting them, I didn’t want to let the team that I supported down. I’m a boyhood Leicester fan.”
Thomas also opened up on the impact that manager Brendan Rodgers has had on his career.
“He’s had a massive influence on my career so far, the first game I ever played he literally told me the day before ‘I’m going to play you tomorrow’ so it was a bit of a shock to me, but it just showed that he believed in me.
“Ever since then, he’s given me the opportunity and so far so good.”