Nicola Hopewell (born 5 September 1991) is an English professional boxer. She has held the IBO and Commonwealth female flyweight titles.
Professional boxing career Hopewell made her professional debut on 26 August 2022 with a sixth-round stoppage of Klaudia Ferenczi at Bramall Lane in Sheffield.
Points wins over Spain's Buchra El Quaissi and Ivanka Ivanova from Bulgaria followed before, in just her fourth fight, she unsuccessfully challenged Emma Dolan for the Commonwealth female super-flyweight title, losing by unanimous decision at Park Community Arena in Sheffield on 6 October 2023.
Hopewell returned to the ring on 3 February 2024, securing a points win against Kata Pap before moving down a weight division for a second attempt to claim a Commonwealth title this time at flyweight. The switch proved a good move as Hopewell took the vacant championship thanks to a unanimous decision victory over Gemma Ruegg at the Magna Centre in Rotherham on 20 April 2024.
She made a successful first defense of her title with a unanimous decision win over Nigerian boxer Mary Aina Abbey at Skate Central in Sheffield on 19 October 2024. All three ringside judges scored the fight 99–89.
At the same venue on 1 March 2025, Hopewell defeated Kate Radomska in a non-title bout via technical decision. Acting on the advice of the ringside doctor, the referee halted the fight in the sixth round due to a cut near Radomska's right eye caused by an accidental clash of heads. The contest was decided by the referee's scorecard up to that point with Hopewell winning 58–57.
Fighting at Skate Central in Sheffield for the third successive time, Hopewell challenged IBO female flyweight champion Marie Connan on 19 July 2025. She won the contest via split decision with two judges scoring it 96–93 and 95–94 respectively in her favour, while the third had it 96–93 for her opponent.
In her next outing, Hopewell went back up a weight division to face IBF Intercontinental female super-flyweight champion Shannon Ryan at University of Wolverhampton at The Halls in Wolverhampton on 2 May 2026, with the vacant Commonwealth female super-flyweight title also on the line. She lost the fight by stoppage in the second round when he corner threw in the towel after Ryan had knocked her to the canvas.
Other media Hopewell took part in an episode of obstacle-course based gameshow Ninja Warrior UK which aired on ITV in April 2024.
Professional boxing record
ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes10Loss8–2Shannon RyanTKO2 (10), 2 May 20269Win8–1Marie ConnanSD1019 July 20258Win7–1Kate RadomskaTD6 (10)1 March 20257Win6–1Mary Aina AbbeyUD1019 October 20246Win5–1Gemma RueggUD1020 April 20245Win4–1Kata PapPTS63 February 20244Loss3–1Emma DolanUD106 October 20233Win3–0Ivanka IvanovaPTS610 February 20232Win2–0Buchra El QuaissiPTS628 October 20221Win1–0Klaudia FerencziTKO6 (6), 26 August 2022
References