Queensberry boxer who changed mind of Frank Warren sets sights on world title
Changing the mind of Frank Warren is no mean feat.
The world renowned boxing promoter is notorious for being as forceful with his opinions as he is with his fight negotiations. And his current Queensberry stable, headlined by world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, is packed with names that are either tipped for greatness - or have already touched upon it.
However, among his 64 contracted fighters, one exception stands out. Not because of any dearth in boxing ability though, rather her gender.
Raven Chapman is the only female currently assigned to Warren and co. And given the 71-year-old has never been shy to express his reservations about women’s boxing, one can only assume that Chapman boasts an abundance of desire and ability to have changed his mind.
“Im a very action-packed fighter so I’m not going to tap and run which is something you still see with a lot of women’s boxers,” Chapman exclusively told Mirror Sport . “I want to get stuck in to opponents, I’m happy to have a fight but I can box as well and show my skills.
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“I know with Frank, he’s admitted in interviews that, although he’s not always been one for women’s boxing, he really likes me. That in itself is a massive compliment. It’s about changing the minds of old school boxing people who think women shouldn’t be fighting. It will get to the point they appreciate us.”
Dubbed ‘The Omen,’ Chapman is certainly beginning to get noticed, if not yet fully appreciated. Having made the difficult decision to give up her Olympic ambitions in favour of turning professional, last month’s victory over experienced Brazilian Lila dos Santos Furtado took her record to 7-0, and has left her targeting a bigger stage.
Chapman beat Lila dos Santos Furtado last month (Getty Images)With her WBC International Featherweight belt on the line, Chapman she duly floored Furtado in the second round, but to her credit she recovered to make it to the final bell. The champion inevitably took a unanimous decision, and was left grateful for having to go the distance.
“It was a good fight, it was just what we were wanting and looking for - a tough opponent,” she said. “I suffered my first cut as well from a headbutt. And then on top of that the heat in the venue (York Hall) was something else, definitely the hottest I’ve ever felt in a ring. So coming through all of that was exactly the test I needed and now we are looking at tougher opponents and building up to world titles.”
The latter goal however, may have hit a slight stumbling block. Chapman’s camp had been in talks with WBO Interim Featherweight champion Brenda Karen Carabajal, proving the Brazilian got through her latest fight on the same night Chapman took on Furtado. She didn’t.
Frank Warren has signed Raven Chapman to Queensbury Promotions (Getty Images)Now, it’s Argentinian fighter Danila Ramos in her sights for negotiations. “Hopefully we can still make the fight for the interim happen,” she said. “That would put me in a very good spot. Have that fight and come through it - then that makes me interim champion and mandatory for the WBO.”
Chapman, 29, is full of praise for the team around her. Relations with manager Stephanie Ball and trainer Stuart Scott are proving productive, as is the platform provided by Warren and her deal with TNT Sports.
“It’s a huge platform,” lauded Chapman. “They (TNT) love me and my team and we’ve got on really well being with Queensberry and Frank. They’ve come and filmed me doing bits in the gym and it is definitely a huge boost being able to showcase what I can do.”
But does her status as Queensbury’s only female fighter come with pressures? Or provide a sense of achievement?
“It’s definitely a boost knowing that they’ve seen something in me they haven’t in others. They wanted to take the chance on me to fly the flag as a female on Queensbury. When they do start signing more girls to the table - well that’s what I want, to say I’ve opened the doors and given an opportunity for others coming through. Younger female fighters now know TNT is an option.”
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But what about the opportunity Chapman herself didn’t pursue? She was in the Team GB set-up and targeting a place at the delayed 2020 Tokyo Olympics when the pro ranks came calling.
“The decision was definitely justified,” she said. “As soon as I had my debut pro fight, even in the camp leading up to it, I knew it was what I needed. It was a hard decision to make because when you’re in GB boxing, in the running to go to the Olympics, that carrot is constantly being dangled.
Chapman (right) was previously in the Team GB Olympic set-up (Getty Images)“When it doesn’t happen it can be really deflating. But if anything it didn’t really bring the best out in me. I felt like when I was there I was a shadow of who I was. I went into a shell and never showed my full potential. I definitely made the right decision”
Given her undoubted ability, the potential for that decision to eventually yield her a world title can’t be ruled out. Women’s boxing still has ample growing to do, but Chapman knows the stage she’s inching towards is now a global one.
“A lot more women’s boxers are well known now but there is still a long way to go,” concluded Chapman. “You look online and the negative comments are still there.
“But exposure is helping us get to where we want to be. That’s why its great to be a part of it and be amongst the pioneers helping. Hopefully now, the younger generations won’t get the negativity and struggles that we have had.”
Regardless, a minority of detractors aren’t likely to derail the career path that Chapman now finds herself on. After all, any individual with the determination to change the mindset of Frank Warren, should probably be backed to achieve anything.
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