Maisey Rose Courtney thanked Anthony Joshua for keeping her fight alive before joking she was more nervous about fighting in her hometown than featuring on his undercard.
Courtney will be looking to extend her professional record to 4-0 when she takes on Gemma Ruegg in her fourth professional fight on the undercard of Joshua’s bout at the O2 tomorrow evening.
Joshua was set to face Dillian Whyte in a rematch – with the Body Snatcher looking to get revenge after AJ beat him via TKO in 2015 during their first professional bout against each other.
However, Courtney’s fight with Ruegg was thrown into doubt after Whyte returned ‘adverse analytical findings’ in a pre-fight drugs test carried out by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA).
Courtney said she was worried AJ would cancel the entire card after she heard Whyte had been pulled from the fight. However, Joshua was adamant he wanted to continue and Matchroom scrambled for another opponent.
Maisey Rose Courtney (left) thanked Anthony Joshua for keeping her fight on Saturday alive
Courtney’s fight with Gemma Ruegg was thrown into doubt after Dillian Whyte returned ‘adverse analytical findings’ in a pre-fight drugs test carried out before his rematch with AJ
Joshua was adamant he wanted to fight and agreed to face Robert Helenius instead
It was later announced that AJ would face Finish boxer Robert Helenius – who Eddie Hearn has described as ‘a very dangerous big puncher.’
Courtney told Mail Sport what it was like waiting to hear whether her bout would be going ahead or not. She said: I was in bits on the Saturday when I found out [about Whyte’s adverse finding].
‘I thought I had to go back to work. You know, this is my livelihood. I don’t get big paydays. People starting off don’t get those big paydays so it’s important to us. If I miss a fight, I’m gonna have to make that money up somewhere else.’
Courtney went on to praise AJ for going ahead with the card despite the late change. She said: ‘I take my hat off to him. It’s easy when you’re at the top level to forget where you have come from. Anthony Joshua hasn’t done that.
‘He’s always stayed true to where he has come from and I like that about him. He’s boxing for millions of pounds. I am years off boxing for millions of pounds. He doesn’t have to worry about his money so it’s really nice to know that he’s still got an eye on the grass route fighters.’
Courtney – who previously told Mail Sport she loved boxing on high profile cards and that she is well suited to the professional game – joked she was more nervous about fighting in her hometown than featuring on AJ’s undercard.
Courtney is no stranger to the big stage, having made her pro debut on the Katie Taylor vs Karen Elizabeth Carabajal card. But, that isn’t the only Taylor card she has featured on.
The 22-year-old star also beat Kate Radomska in her third professional fight on the undercard of Taylor vs Chantelle Cameron.
Speaking about fighting on the AJ undercard and her experience boxing under Taylor, Courtney said: ‘It’s amazing. I am more nervous that I am fighting out of my hometown. I am from Greenwich and the O2 is in Greenwich. I live seven minutes in a car away from the O2.
‘I’ve done the Katie Taylor cards and they are amazing. As a female boxer, it is so good to be a part of something like that. Now I am part of an AJ undercard. I am absolutely loving it.’
Courtney is confident she can extend her unbeaten record and says she’s not phased by Ruegg’s experience in the pro ranks.
Courtney is no stranger to the big stage, having fought on two Katie Taylor undercards
She made her pro debut on the Katie Taylor vs Karen Elizabeth Carabajal card and fought Kate Radomska in her third professional fight on the undercard of Taylor vs Chantelle Cameron
She told Mail Sport: ‘I might not be experienced in the pro game but I am experienced in boxing. I have been boxing forever. I’ve been boxing since I was seven years old. I’m 22 now so that’s a long time and it’s given me a lot of experience.
‘Ruegg’s been in there with a lot of women and she’s set the benchmark. I am excited to go in there and see how I match up against her. So yeah, I’ll know how I can do against the others.’
Courtney went on to say Saturday night’s fight at the O2 should be a good viewing for the fans.
‘On paper it sounds wicked’, Courtney said. ‘She’s boxed everyone. She’s boxed people who have won world titles. She’s a tough woman but as I said in the presser, I am even tougher. It’s a good fight. I am there to win. She is there to win. But, I will come out victorious.’