ELLIE Scotney is still the IBF and WBO super-bantamweight champion after defeating Mea Motu on points in the Nottingham Arena. Scotney even picked up Motu’s IBO crown for good measure, cruising home for the most part.
All three judges, Carl Zappia (Australia), Marta Lesznar (Poland) and Phil Edwards (England) scored it 99-91. The MC announced, “And the new”, which caused Scotney the greatest concern all night.
Scotney exited round one with a slashed left eye that was dripping blood, requiring some medical assistance from cut veteran Ian Johnson and some verbal reassurance from Shane McGuigan. A head clash caused the damage as explained by referee John Latham.
Following a pedestrian first three rounds, Motu came out firing in the fourth, looking to act out Isaac Peach’s instructions of closing the distance and letting her right hand go.
Scotney’s own classy right hand was landing at the end of the sixth. The Catford woman’s higher quality was showing and it was up to Motu to change that. DAZN scorer Tony Bellew had only given the New Zealand challenger one round after the sixth.
Mea Motu’s big chance had all but slipped away by the time round 10 came into view. She needed something huge to swing it. Scotney, 10-0, just needed to use her jab and movement to snatch another session to leave with both titles around her waist. Motu, 20-1 (8 KOs), never stopped pitching but was always second best.
“She was very vocal and her character matched how she boxed,” said Scotney, responding to Motu’s pre-fight chatter before looking to the future.
“People have got to be willing to take the fights and people have got to be willing to pay if we want to make the unifications.”
If the unification bouts cannot be made, then Scotney showed her willingness to move up to fight Skye Nicolson at featherweight.
