Hopkins’ pro debut victory is ideal birthday gift for dad
COALVILLE FIGHTER, 20, IMPRESSES IN SKY TV SHOW
BOXING coach Elvis Hopkins got the perfect birthday present – a winning start to his daughter’s professional boxing career, writes Matt Bozeat.
Hopkins spent his 43rd birthday in the corner with Ellis in Manchester as she took on Borislava Goranova in front of the Sky Sports cameras on Saturday.
The Bulgarian has faced several world champions in her 80-fight career that has spanned two decades – and Hopkins surely gave her as many problems as any of them.
The 20-year-old from Coalville drew praise from Sky’s commentary team for her composure, jab and ring craft as she kept Goranvova guessing where the next punch was coming from.
Hopkins produced her best punch in the closing minute of the fourround fight.
She created the gap for a short left hook that left Goranova dazed and looking to grab.
Hopkins ran out of time to finish the job, but Elvis was pleased with his daughter’s night’s work.
He said: “Ellis got lots of good feedback. Everyone loved her.
“That was the Bulgarian’s 80th fight and she knows her way around the ring and knows how to survive.
“But she couldn’t spoil Ellis’s work.
“She wasn’t able to grab hold of her like she wanted to. Ellis maintained a gap between them.”
Hopkins, the first woman from the travelling community to turn professional, won all four rounds against Goranova and took a 40-36 points victory on the scorecards.
She said: “I felt like it was a comfortable win. I got some good rounds against an experienced opponent.
“Every time I got in close she was holding, and I think if I put it on her from the start I would have got the stoppage, but it’s all learning.
“It’s a big achievement to be the first travelling woman to turn professional.
“There are a few younger girls in the amateurs who I hope come through and do the same.
“I want to get as many fights in this year that I can, and then next year we can start looking at titles.
“I’m glad to get the first one out of the way and on such a big platform.
“It’s the perfect time to turn over, women’s boxing is going from strength to strength at the moment.”
Meanwhile, promoter Carl Greaves has announced plans for a professional boxing show at the Morningside Arena, usually the home of the Leicester Riders basketball team.
Greaves has Saturday, September 11 pencilled in for a show that should feature local talents Callum Blockley, Josh Quailey, Benn Norman and Stanley Stannard.
Stannard will be targeting a fourth straight win in Sheffield on Friday, June 11.
For the 24-year-old super-welterweight from Harby, near Melton Mowbray, it will be his first fight since he stopped Martin Jones in just 10 seconds in Nottingham last March.