THE death of Georgia O’Connor sent shockwaves across the boxing landscape, offering a tragic reminder of how swiftly a person’s life can come to pass.
Given her magnetic energy on both sides of the ropes, too, it was not long before a plethora of tributes arrived, keeping the 25-year-old at the forefront of everyone’s minds.
Among those expressing their love for O’Connor towards the end of last month was, of course, unified world super-bantamweight champion Ellie Scotney.
The two warriors had, after all, shared a deeply profound 10-year friendship, strong enough for O’Connor to represent the focal point of Scotney’s next assignment.
It is at Madison Square Garden, New York, where the 27-year-old will take on WBC champion Yamileth Mercado, wishing to solidify her supremacy at 122lbs.
Up to this point, Scotney, 10-0, has barely even dropped a round, seamlessly going about her business with an almost palpable degree of confidence.
For this training camp, however, her mentality has been firmly put to the test, compelling the Catford technician to overcome each layer of adversity in the gym.
“It’s been very hard, but at the same time, it’s made it easier knowing that this fight is not just about me,” Scotney told Boxing News.
“It’s been a testing camp, and I feel like, in every camp, you get something more out of yourself. But this camp has probably opened my eyes more so to the mental side of things.
“There’s more meaning to this fight now. [O’Connor’s passing has] shown me that life’s too short. She’d been a very close friend of mine, and was someone who’d only just turned 25 years of age.
“There will be so much more than just me in that ring on July 11.”
Featuring on the undercard of Katie Taylor vs Amanda Serrano 3, Scotney is gearing up to make her eagerly-anticipated MVP Promotions debut after signing with the Jake Paul co-founded outfit.
Previously, the IBF and WBO champion had encountered a crossroads in her career, unsure as to where the legacy-defining nights would come from.
But now, it is fair to say that Scotney has gained a fresh perspective on her sport, bidding to dethrone a fighter she has long been gunning for.
“If I look back at the person I was around eight months ago, it’s night and day [compared to how she is now],” Scotney admitted.
“It was a trialling time for me, but I’m just thankful for the timing of MVP coming in. I’ve seen the dark, and now we’re heading to the light, but I’ve really got to deliver on July 11.
“We’re chasing legacy, and [Mercado] is just part of the puzzle. She’s got the WBC [title], and it’s a fight I’ve been chasing since I was two fights in [as a pro].
“The plan is undisputed, and I’m only two fights away from that. I made a promise to my nan, before she passed away, that I would become an undisputed champion.”
Along with taking herself one step closer towards claiming all the super-bantamweight jewellery, Scotney can hardly contain her excitement to fight at MSG and, in doing so, realise a childhood ambition.
“I say it all the time, but I remember sitting on my cousin’s floor with a packet of Skittles, watching a dodgy stream of fights at Madison Square Garden,” she recalled.
“To be ticking that off is just massive. My mum’s dreading the eight-hour flight, but to be flying my family over – and to know it’s my hands that have got us there – this is everything.”
