Maisey Rose Courtney says fighting on the Jai Opetaia vs Jordan Thompson undercard means more to her than anything and vows to continue her winning streak.
Courtney is no stranger to the big stage, having made her professional debut on the Katie Taylor vs Karen Elizabeth Carabajal card. But, that isn’t the only high profile 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 before facing Gemma Ruegg on the Anthony Joshua vs Robert Helenius undercard last month.
However, Courtney says fighting Martina Bernile on a huge night of World Championship boxing at the OVO Arena Wembley on Saturday September 30 means more to her.
She said watching her stablemate Jordan Thompson face Jai Opetaia for IBF and Ring Magazine cruiserweight world titles means the world to her. The 22-year-old said seeing her ‘mate’ achieve his dreams would make her happy – especially after everything he’s been through.
Maisey Rose Courtney says fighting on the Jai Opetaia vs Jordan Thompson undercard means more to her than anything and vows to continue her winning streak
Courtney (second from the left) will return to the ring on September 30 to face Martina Bernile
Speaking exclusively to Mail Sport about fighting on the September 30 undercard, Courtney said: ‘It means a lot more to me than other cards I have been on.
‘Obviously I’ve been on big Katie Taylor cards and they meant huge amounts to me because of the female boxing aspect. The Anthony Joshua card was important to me because it was at the O2 and I am from Greenwich.
‘But, this one means a lot to me because it’s Jordan Thompson and he is my stablemate. I have seen him go through it all. He said he’s had an emotional few months and he has. He’s still here and nothing has broken him.
‘He lives far away from the gym as well. I think he lives in Hackney. He’s pushed it. He’s getting PB’s, he’s sparring unbelievably well and to see someone who I consider a really good mate, win a world title would be mad. To see his dreams come true is huge.’
Courtney will be looking to extend her professional record to 5-0 when she takes on Bernile in her fifth professional fight on the undercard of Jordan’s bout at the end of the month.
Courtney – who beat Ruegg in her last outing – says Bernile will be a ‘big step up’ but insists she is ready to face the 37-year-old despite the quick turnaround.
The flyweight star said: ‘It’s a step up. Female boxing moves quickly but I am ready for this step up. I wanted this step up and I have fought good girls early on in my career already.
‘I have fought girls who have had winning records and beaten them. If they want to have a go against me they can but I want a world title and I am going after it. I want a world title by 30 and then I am done. I am out of here.’
Courtney is no stranger to the big stage, having made her professional debut on the Katie Taylor vs Karen Elizabeth Carabajal card and featured on Taylor vs Chantelle Cameron
Courtney is hoping her stablemate Jordan Thompson beat Jai Opetaia on the same night
Courtney reflected on her previous performance against Ruegg and said her cool, calm and collected display has added another string to her bow.
Speaking about her performance against Ruegg, Courtney said: ‘I thought it was good. I showed a different side to me. I showed the side that I wanted to show for quite a long time.
‘I showed how slick I can be, how elusive I can be and my counter punching. I didn’t go out there swinging and trying to knock anyone’s head off. It’s in me. I wanted to you know, but I didn’t.
‘I stuck to the game plan. People thought it was closer than it was but I won every round, hands down. Tony said I got fight of the night so I will take that.’
Having been ringside for Courtney’s fight against Ruegg, I picked up on the immense amount of the support the 22-year-old received. The most prominent voice in the crowd was Courtney’s mum.
Her No.1 supporter cheered her on every step of the way and ran over to congratulate her daughter after her stunning display.
When asked whether she could hear her supporters from the ring, Courtney said: ‘I can hear certain people. I can hear my mum. I can hear Tony and Kev. But, when I boxed on my debut. In front of god knows how many people, I couldn’t hear anything.
‘But, yeah you hear certain people and my family play a big role in the crowd for me. My mum gives it the biggun. She definitely gives it the biggun but it works.’
It’s a quick turn around for Courtney. She returned to training immediately after the Anthony Joshua vs Robert Helenius card and began preparations for her fifth professional bout
It’s a quick turn around for Courtney. She returned to training immediately after the AJ card and began preparations for her fifth professional bout. When asked about how she has physically and mentally dealt with the consecutive camps, Courtney said: ‘It’s been tough.
‘I’ve had three camps back-to-back. It’s been really tough but it’s nothing I can’t handle. It’s nothing I’m not made for and it nothing I can’t do. As soon as you get over the mental side of it, physically you are more than capable of doing it.
‘It’s brutal. It’s absolutely brutal. I think people forget I am this tiny little girl with these massive big men. But, it’s a blue print. Some things don’t need to be changed it they’re working.
‘Waking up at 5am to do triangles, stairs and whatever else. If it works, it works. You don’t need to alter it because it’s too hard. So just because it’s brutal doesn’t mean I would want it any other way.’