Jasmina Zapotoczna: "I thought it would be tougher. I thought the fight would be more difficult."
The emotions took over the second Jasmina Zapotoczna was declared the winner on Saturday night. Tears of joy from the present, but masked by the pain of what came before.
The struggles of the past were remembered. Thoughts of leaving boxing behind not so long ago. Boxing takes away plenty. It rarely gives back.
Zapotoczna had one of those rare moments at the Copper Box Arena. For the second fight in a row, the Polish-born flyweight was in the away corner under the bright lights of a Matchroom production. But this time was different. The 3-1 underdog shocked the previously unbeaten and highly-touted Maisey Rose Courtney on points. A win that solidified her talents and potential. A performance that sent out a warning to the rest of her division. It wasn't just the fact that she won, it was the manner of the victory.
Less than 48 hours removed from that upset win, the beaming smile that greeted me over Zoom told its own story.
"I did everything that we planned to do, but honestly, I thought it would be tougher. I thought the fight would be more difficult." Zapotoczna told me of the fight that has dramatically changed the trajectory of her career.
"From the first round, I felt confident, and I thought it was going well. She didn't surprise me with anything. I had studied her previous fights, and I knew what to expect."
Zapotoczna defied those unflattering pre-fight odds quite brilliantly. She needed a good start. Zapotoczna got exactly what she needed. Boxing quite beautifully from the opening seconds, she found her range incredibly quickly. Most of the early rounds were hers. In truth, she was winning with some degree of comfort.
"I thought she would have been much more aggressive. I was quite surprised at how easy it was going for me," Zapotoczna said of those crucial early moments. "Don't get me wrong, it was ten rounds, and she was trying her best in the last two rounds. But I knew what to expect and I was prepared for it."
Courtney was in desperation mode as the final two rounds came into play. From ringside, I gave the Matchroom fighter the last two rounds. But that last desperate rally was nowhere near enough. But we have seen 'dodgy' decisions previously where the house fighter has been gifted rounds just because she was in the 'right' corner. But Zapotoczna says she wasn't concerned about being robbed of a rightful victory.
"I was confident because I thought I had won quite clearly. Obviously, the last judge who scored it 96-94, that was a bit of a joke, but I can't complain too much."
The future is bright now for Zapotoczna. A breakthrough victory that should bring her further big-time opportunities down the road. Zapotoczna is unsure if Courtney will want an immediate rematch but is more than up for a return meeting should the call come from Matchroom once again.
"I have no idea what will happen next. I am open to a rematch, I will fight her again if they want me to." But a possible fight with Chloe Watson for the European flyweight title in September could also be an option for the new WBA International flyweight champion.
"I would take a fight with Chloe," Zapotoczna told me. "I would love to fight her. I have sparred her so many times. It would be an enjoyable and exciting fight to watch."
A fighter who was once on the verge of walking away could now be heading for very big things indeed. A dream of winning a world title has long been there. The win over Courtney has only enhanced her ambitions.
"My hunger is even bigger now." The words of a fighter who can quite rightly now dream of much bigger things ahead. A fighter who lost her unbeaten record to Shannon Ryan in her previous fight. Make no mistake, she was brought back to lose again. But Jasmina Zapotoczna came with her own script. A victory that has now changed everything for Jasmina Zapotoczna. Don't be surprised if this is only the beginning of her story.
Photo Credit: Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing
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