Hennessy vs Persio Predictions: ‘Billion Dollar Baby’ climbs the rankings

BOXXER’s dancing destroyer Francesca Hennessy goes up against former Italian flyweight titlist ​​Aurora De Persio with the Brit’s WBC silver bantamweight belt on the line. The bout will serve as the chief support when Adam Azim takes on Steve Claggett at Wembley Arena. BBC Two and iPlayer will air the bouts live.

Read further to find my Hennessy vs De Persio predictions ahead of this 10-rounder.

Hennessy vs De Persio Odds

De Persio is your underdog at 8/1. Hennessy is priced at 1/14 while the draw is available at 20/1.

Hennessy vs De Persio Fight Preview

Hennessy is making some serious noise, having risen through the ranks in her brief, eight-fight pro career. The daughter of veteran boxing manager Mick Hennessy, the 21-year-old has done a fine job of expelling nepotism accusations with her in-ring displays.

The first thing one notices with Hennessy is her charisma. Her precocious arena entrances are more than a little Prince Naseem Hamed-inspired. Her coach, former Wincobank boxer Bradley Skeete, ensures that ‘Billion Dollar Baby’ carries that influence into the ring with her.

Hennessy has shown a talent that has looked prodigious at times. Her breakout came at the Albert Hall last year, on BOXXER’s brilliant all-female International Women’s Day card. On that night, Hennessy beat the brakes off the tough Gemma Ruegg. 

Her next fight was a quantum leap, as Francesca out-fought and out-thought former world champion Fabiana Bytyqi in Derby. That victory saw Hennessy pick up the WBC international bantamweight gong, making a mark on the world rankings.

Hennessy put herself within a whisker of world honours last time out, scoring a points win over previously undefeated Ellie Boutell. The fight was hard, with Boutell pressuring Hennessy all night long. A true test of Francesca's back-foot counter-punching, the decision was disputed in some quarters. Plenty of fans felt Boutell had done enough. But Hennessy’s work won favour with the judges, who awarded the starlet a majority decision.

Such a tough scrap has perhaps necessitated a slight pull-back on Hennessy’s reins here. De Persio is a top fighter in her home country of Italy, where she reigned as champion at flyweight. But she has never fought beyond domestic level.

The visitor is 8-1, with her sole loss a points decision to Giacoma Cordio. De Persio became the first person to defeat Cordio by knocking her out in the rematch. 

Hennessy has been in with better fighters than this in her last two outings. But given her plum placing with the WBC, where she is ranked number-two in the world, it makes sense not to risk too much here. Hennessy’s mind is on a world title shot and this fight is designed to deliver safe passage to that goal.

British boxing needs talents like Francesca Hennessy. She has crossover appeal, youth and ability. Katie Taylor is nearing retirement. Natasha Jonas is weighing up her boxing future. Many of Britain’s top women largely compete in the States now for Jake Paul’s MVP outfit. The domestic game needs top female fighters to continue the momentum.

Francesca has the personality and performances to make some serious noise. Against De Persio, shell be hoping to turn up the volume.

Hennessy vs De Persio Full Card

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Hennessy vs De Persio Prediction

De Persio is compact and quick. She can punch, but two of her three knockouts have come against debutants. Hennessy showed a good chin against Boutell, so I don’t see her being unduly troubled.

I feel like Hennessy will use her speed and jab to keep her distance, racking up the points and making De Persio think twice about her offensive flurries. After a war last time out, I imagine Hennessy will be more calculated and look to win this by boxing from distance. To that end, I’m backing a points win for Fran at 1/5.

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