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By Mark Baldwin
IT WAS just before Christmas in 2021. A Dennis Hobson fight night in Sheffield. An evening at the Ponds Forge. Nicola Hopewell was on the hunt for pastures new. Hopewell was looking for her way in now that her old boxing world had finally been left behind. A belated and much-needed switch to a more accepted side of the sport. At the time, Hopewell didn’t have a manager. She didn’t have a promoter. Hopewell was actively looking for both.
The country was still in and out of Covid restrictions. Face masks were supposed to be worn indoors at public events. The instruction to cover the mouth and the nose again had been issued once again by the government of the time. In truth, not many bothered that night. We would later find out that those who were making all the never-ending and always-changing rules didn’t bother that much either.
Hobson had been battling many things that week. Fights had fallen through. A card savaged by endless late cancellations. But somehow, the show was saved. From memory, it was a four-fight card. The local flyweight Tommy Frank won a decision over one Charles Tondo. Frank, a die-hard Sheffield United fan, has some story, by the way.
Hobson was high on Frank at the time. Before Covid, he was on a roll. When boxing returned, he was one of the early victims. Two surprise defeats stopped his momentum. In the fight before Tondo, Frank had won the British title. Hobson kept the faith and backed his man. He has a habit of doing exactly that.
Hopewell was there at that show. She was looking for guidance as her professional career proper was about to begin. The Worksop fighter met with Hobson after the show had finished. Terms were offered. Hobson wanted to sign Hopewell. He liked what he saw and thought he could do something with her.
But Hopewell went elsewhere. Although, somewhat ironically, that professional debut eight months later was on a Hobson show at Bramall Lane. Like Tommy Frank, Hopewell spends time supporting the red and white of the city. She called it a dream debut. In many ways, it was. Hopewell won by a final-round stoppage. The reluctant opposition barely landed a punch. Hopewell landed virtually everything she threw. She was now up and running.
Hopewell is now six fights in. In 2023, she lost her unbeaten record in a Commonwealth title challenge to Emma Dolan at super-flyweight. A fight where many lessons were very much learned. A move down to flyweight gave Hopewell a second opportunity at Commonwealth gold earlier this year.
A tough but deserved victory over Gemma Ruegg in April gave Hopewell her first professional title. But like many, Hopewell has been inactive of late. She hasn’t fought since her win over Ruegg. A possible double-title showdown with the European Champion Chloe Watson was lost when it seemed the obvious fight to make. A missed opportunity that should be revisited.
Nicola Hopewell needed something, or someone, to move her on to the next stage. Flitting around various promotions is fighting without a plan. Without direction. Hopewell needed both. She needed to be treated as a priority.
Hobson never lost interest in Hopewell. Virtually every time I saw him at a show, Hopewell was mentioned in conversation. You sensed at some point they would end up working together. And they have.
Hopewell returns this Saturday at the Skate Central in Sheffield live on Fightzone. A first defence of her Commonwealth title against the heavy-handed Nigerian Mary Aina Abbey. A fight that will finally see Hopewell and Hobson on the same page. The veteran promoter is delighted with his new signing.
“Nicola should have signed with me from the start, but it is what it is,” Hobson told Boxing News. “I’ve got to the stage where I don’t have to work with anyone I don’t want to. I think she is a lovely girl, and I have thought that from the start. There is so much more we can do with her.
“Nicola can move up and down a few of these weight divisions, depending on what opportunities are out there for her. Without blowing my own trumpet, I am as good as anyone at manoeuvring people. Nicola has got such a good attitude. She’ll fight anyone. But you have to protect them from themselves sometimes. It’s about making the right fights at the right time.
“But it’s nice that she has got this positive attitude. She isn’t a diva. Nicola has got such a lovely personality, and I want to help her succeed, and I want her to succeed. I want to collect some titles with her.”
Hopewell is also excited about what lies ahead. At 33, she is entering the most important phase of her career. A fighter clearly relieved to have some much-needed structure in her career.
“I’m really happy to be signing with Dennis and having the opportunity to be active in the next few months,” Hopewell says of signing with Hobson. “I’ve met up with Dennis and we have discussed possibilities which makes me excited.”
Abbey will be no easy first defence for Hopewell. She holds a win over Laura Pain and has only one defeat in thirteen recognised fights. “It’s a test but if she wants to get on the world stage, Nicola needs to be beating girls like her,” Hobson says of the Nigerian import who will give the promoter an instant idea of just how far he could potentially take his new signing.
A three-fight deal will see the two in mutual harmony with hopes of it ending with more titles. Hopewell has always believed that she is capable of winning a world title. Hobson believes he can deliver her one. “In the next two years, I want us to have a pop at a world title with her.”
Both will now hope that is how their story will end. A short-term deal that could be much longer if things work out for all parties. It started on that Friday night at the Ponds Forge nearly three years ago. It took time, probably longer than it should have, but they got there in the end.
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