Britain’s Shannon Ryan is anticipating a reinvented opponent in Chloe Watson on Friday evening.
Ryan and Watson fight at super flyweight at London’s York Hall on the undercard of the British and Commonwealth middleweight title fight between Kieron Conway and George Liddard, and do so with a shot at the IBF title held by Mexico’s Irma Garcia in their sights.
Ryan, 28, is continuing to rebuild following her defeat by Emma Dolan in June 2024, and recognising that the 25-year-old Watson lost for the first time in her past fight – to Jasmina Zapotoczna in March – and responded to doing so by recruiting a new trainer, Ryan is wary of the potential difficulty involved in preparing for Friday’s test.
“That loss [to Emma Dolan, in June 2024] was the making of me,” she said. “I realised after that night that it’s such fine margins and it is the one per cents that count and make such a difference. When I look back at it, yes it is sad because nobody wants to lose, but I’m in such a better place now than I was back then. I believe if I fought her again it would be a unanimous decision my way.
“It is her first fight with a new trainer [Watson previously worked with Ricky Hatton; she is training under Paul Stevenson at Everton Reds Triangle] so you have to assume that there will be something different. She’s also coming from a loss, so if my loss changed me, then I’m expecting the best version of Chloe too.
“I have seen her fight before and I think she’s game. She is good at what she does and I think it will be a really great fight. We’ve boxed three of the same girls. She’s always on the front foot, very aggressive and very active. But there is a lot I can take away from that.”
Ryan followed her split-decision defeat by Dolan with successive victories over Kate Radomska and Fara El Bousairi before being matched with Watson.
“I’m feeling great,” she said. “Mentally, physically, I’m there. I know every fighter says that it’s been their best camp, they’re in the best shape they’re in… but for me, it really is. My journey with boxing has been a bit of a rollercoaster and I feel like how I am as an athlete now is cemented – hopefully the world will see that this Friday.
“I am unpredictable. I do bring chaos. And every round I bring something completely different. I’m looking forward to it. York Hall is a special venue.”
