Now the real work begins for Raven Chapman.
Having become mandatory challenger for Skye Nicolsonโs WBC Featherweight title Chapman is now within touching distance of realising her ambition. But first the 30-year-old must continue her recovery from injury before she returns to the ring this summer. In this interview Chapman speaks to Boxing News about her time out the ring, how she has coped with her restlessness, a potential media career after boxing and what she thinks of Skye Nicolson.
(Interview by Shaun Brown)
BN: How does it feel to be the mandatory challenger for the WBC Featherweight title?
RC: Good. Weโve known for a little while. As soon as whoever won out of Skye (Nicolson) and Sarah (Mafoud), we knew then that I was going to be mandatory. It was a case of waiting to see who the winner was. It was Skye which for me was great in terms of a business sense with everything going on between Queensberry and Matchroom. A really good outcome.
BN: Is there enthusiasm when you find out youโre a mandatory challenger or is it too early for that?
RC: I suppose because weโve known for a while itโs been a bit like Oh yeah, great letโs go and win it. The fightโs not happening yet. As soon as itโs ordered, and we have to do it then itโll probably be a little bit different.
BN: When I last spoke to you for Boxing News you were recovering from an injury. Whatโs the latest?
RC: Everythingโs looking good. Got the process of healing going on. I had a stress fracture as well and thatโs healed now. Iโve got a little bit of a tear so itโs the next steps to get that to heal. Weโve got plenty of time. Iโm not fighting until July. And then weโve got the potential Five vs. Five at Wembley (Stadium) in September. Timeline wise everythingโs working out. Itโs been easy to stay positive as much as I have been restless, but Iโve got plenty of time to get back fully fit.
BN: How and when did the injury happen?
RC: I got a stress fracture and tear in my shoulder. It was just after my last fight. I had some niggles in my shoulder beforehand for a few fight camps. After the last fight it pushed it that bit too far. Itโs a minor injury, I donโt need surgery or anything like that. Itโs a case of resting and letting the body heal and then coming back again. So, thatโs essentially what Iโve got to do with the right physio. The stress fracture is healed now but while that was healing, I couldnโt do a lot. I couldnโt put stress on the joint while the bone was healing. Itโs now healed really well. Thatโs done and now we focus on the next part. Itโs frustrating getting niggles after a fight. Not much you can do about it. You think theyโre going to heal in a couple of weeks and they just never did.
BN: Youโve had the WBC news to look forward to but how do you cope with the restlessness?
RC: It came at the right time. I was moving house, so weโve been focused on that. Getting more work in terms of doing media stuff, punditry work so things like that have been keeping me occupied. Trying to go to events, do more media stuff, the sort of stuff you donโt get to do especially when youโre in camp. Going over to Saudi I wouldnโt have been able to do had I been in fight camp. Thereโs been positives to take out. I look at everything as a good thing. Even having these few weeks of rest. Been in the gym a little bit doing little bits like leg stuff, working the lower body. I also realised I havenโt had that kind of rest in a long time. Itโs probably been good on my body to give it that respite. Must have been a good four, five years since Iโve had more than a couple of weeks rest in terms of a holiday. As much as my shoulder was sore, I didnโt know what it was. I thought it was a niggle from the fight. It wasnโt until I came back and I actually got a scan on it you could see what it was. Everyone was like, Youโve had this the whole time and youโve been doing what youโve been doing. Yeah, Iโm made of hard stuff (laughs) itโs alright. You donโt complain, you just get on with it. Itโs forced me to have that break which is something I naturally wouldnโt do. And I just had to embrace it as much as I can. Itโs been nice to relax and focus on life outside of boxing. Getting happy in my new home and everything like that.
BN: What was it like being in Saudi Arabia for the Joshua-Ngannou fight and doing media work?
RC: I was working with BBC 5 Live. It was a really good experience. Just a flying visit for me. I got there the day before. Friday very busy and then left Saturday morning. The people were all really friendly, the food was very good. It was great to be able to work alongside two legends in boxing media with Steve Bunce and Adam Smith. I learned a lot from both of them and I got a really good seat (laughs). I learned a lot. I got good feedback in terms of the work that I did as well as a lot of good tips moving forward. Itโs nights like that which are also very invaluable thinking about the end of my boxing career where Iโve already got experience doing that kind of work. I want to stay in that sort of game when Iโve finished boxing, and I can turn my skills to something else. Iโve got good contacts and good work behind me. Itโs been really good and getting to work with TNT as well doing some interviews and some commentating. Again, very invaluable experience. It gives me confidence doing that because when I first started out and you start speaking to the media itโs more nerve-wracking than fighting because itโs not what I naturally do. I feel like Iโm good at it now and would definitely be able to improve and get better and make more of a career after boxing.
BN: At a show in February, you had a face-off with Skye Nicolson. How did that happen?
RC: We were at the same boxing event, someone in her gym was fighting. I think it was Sam Noakes. We had a friendly hello as we walked past her, and my dad jokingly thought itโd be a great idea having a face-off. Thatโs how that happened. Thatโs the real story. The fake story is that she was on my turf (laughs).
BN: What do you think of her as a fighter? Do you rate her?
RC: As a fighter sheโs very good. Sheโs got that amateur pedigree – Olympian. Very good at what she does. Sheโs tricky and has a tricky style of fighting. It might not be the most pleasing to the audience, but it works and thatโs what she does. The one thing Iโll say is the fighters that sheโs been against, theyโre all fighters where that style works against them. No-oneโs been much of a mover. Theyโve all been very straight-lined, no head movement and just come forward. Against a fighter like Skye, you just canโt do that because youโll never get close.
BN: Youโre coming back in July but youโre also the WBC Featherweight title mandatory challenger. What kind of fight are you looking for given this will be the first fight since your injury.
RC: I think weโre having the same opponent as I was meant to fight in March (Yohana Sarabia). Look at try and get another title on the line, maybe the WBC interim if we can. You canโt look past an opponent; youโve got to get through this opponent first to make sure I cement that fight (against Nicolson) hopefully in September. The next opponent will be similar to Skye in the fact sheโs quite cagey and boxes on the back foot as well. It means Iโll get a lot of prep for when that fight does come.
BN: Itโs looking like a huge year for you then. Everything is coming together as you close in that world title shot. So, are you taking it all in your stride?
RC: Youโve got to. You canโt get ahead of yourself. You canโt get over-excited. Thatโs not who I am anyway. Iโm happy to be on my path and do what I do. Everything is coming together when it should, and I feel like this year is my year. Iโm just itching to get back in there having all this information. I can get back to some proper training again which is amazing. Get my fitness back up, get my strength back up, get that sharpness. Iโve got plenty of time and thatโs what I need to remind myself. I can start training through this injury properly. I can be back in the gym. Itโs all coming together when it should.