The short version
- Ellie Scotney will challenge Tiara Brown for the WBC featherweight championship on November 8 in Arlington, Texas.
- Scotney vacated her undisputed super-bantamweight titles in April to pursue a second weight class division.
- The event features four world title fights, including Elif Nur Turhan defending her IBF lightweight belt.
Ellie Scotney is set to make her first start at featherweight when she faces WBC champion Tiara Brown on November 8. The bout will take place in Arlington, Texas, serving as the co-main event for a card promoted by Most Valuable Promotions. This match marks a significant transition for the 28-year-old Briton, who has moved up from super-bantamweight to test her skills against a new opponent and in a higher weight class.
Scotney entered this phase of her career after vacating her status as the undisputed super-bantamweight champion in April. She had secured that historic position earlier that month by defeating Mayelli Flores via unanimous decision at the Olympia in London. That victory made her Britain's youngest undisputed champion in the era where four major sanctioning bodies recognize world titles. By stepping aside from those belts, she has cleared the path to focus entirely on becoming a two-weight world champion.
Her opponent, Tiara Brown, brings experience and age to the ring at 38 years old. The American holds the WBC featherweight title and will look to defend it against Scotney's ascent. The contrast in their careers is notable; Scotney arrives with a perfect professional record of 12 victories, all achieved by decision. She has not suffered a loss or a draw since turning professional, maintaining an unblemished ledger that underscores her dominance in the lower weight division.
Scotney expressed enthusiasm about the move to 126 pounds, stating she believes this is where the world will see her best performance. Her goal is explicit: to make history by capturing world titles in two different divisions. The decision to step up was part of a strategic shift after joining Most Valuable Promotions in April 2025. This promotion has facilitated her transition from defending multiple belts at super-bantamweight to pursuing new challenges at featherweight.
The November card is substantial, featuring four world title fights in total. The main event will see Elif Nur Turhan defend her IBF lightweight belt against Alycia Baumgardner. Turhan is undefeated and making the third defense of her title. The fight is scheduled for ten three-minute rounds, a standard duration for non-title eliminator or lower-tier championship bouts, though here it serves as the headline attraction.
Baumgardner presents another story of ambition on the card. She currently holds the WBA, WBO, and IBF super-featherweight titles and is also looking to become a two-division champion by moving up to lightweight. Her professional record stands at 18 wins out of 20 bouts, with one loss and one no-contest. Her challenge against Turhan adds another layer of complexity to the event, as both fighters are seeking to expand their legacy beyond a single weight class.
Also on the bill is a contest for the vacant WBO and IBF super-bantamweight titles between Ramla Ali and Mikiah Kreps. Ali, a Somali-British boxer, has a record of 11 wins and two defeats. She previously made history in 2022 by participating in the first professional women's bout held in Saudi Arabia. Her opponent, Kreps, is an American fighter looking to claim these vacant belts. The fight represents a chance for both boxers to establish themselves as world champions in a division that has seen recent turnover.
The final world title bout on the program features Australia's Skye Nicolson defending her WBC super-bantamweight belt against Japan's Miyo Yoshida. This contest rounds out a card heavy with championship action and historical significance. The event highlights a period of transition in women's boxing, with several established champions looking to move up in weight while others vie for vacant titles. The outcome of these fights will reshape the landscape of the sport across multiple divisions.
As November approaches, attention will focus on whether Scotney can replicate her success at super-bantamweight in the featherweight division. Her perfect record suggests a high level of skill and consistency, but facing an experienced champion like Brown presents a new test. The broader card offers a snapshot of the current state of women's professional boxing, with multiple fighters aiming to cement their legacies through multi-divisional success.
Sources behind this briefing
Go to the original reporting
- BBC Sport↗Scotney to face WBC featherweight champion Brown
