Scotney vs Lefebvre Predictions: Ellie eyes up a second world title

IBF super bantamweight champion Ellie Scotney will have the chance to unify her title on Saturday, April 13 when she takes on WBO counterpart Segolene Lefebvre at Manchester Arena. DAZN will broadcast the unification clash. Here are my Scotney vs Lefebvre predictions ahead of an elite level title contest.

Fighters like Scotney don’t come around very often. The Lewisham featherweight won the ABAs in 2017 and competed at the 2018 World Amateur Championships before turning over in 2020. After a false start, when her debut fight was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Scotney has never looked back.

Eschewing the usual trappings of a 22-year-old, Scotney dedicated herself to her training and her faith. Splitting her time between the gym during the week and church on Sundays, Scotney was soon impressing with her work inside the squared circle. 

In just four years, Scotney has ascended to the top of her sport. Wins over former world champions Jorgelina Guelini and Maria Roman in just her fourth and fifth fights marked her out as one to watch.

Scotney would make good on her promise as the titles started rolling in. European champion Mary Romero was beaten in the Londoner’s sixth outing. Finally, the inevitable world title dream was realised when Scotney outpointed Cherneka Johnson to lift the IBF super bantamweight title last June. After a successful title defence against Laura Griffa, Scotney has now moved into contention for a title unification bout.

Standing across the ring will be Segolene Lefebvre, the WBO super bantamweight champion. ‘Majestic’ is making the fourth defence of the title she won in 2021, when she defeated ​​Paulette Valenzuela. A worthy champion, Lefebvre is stepping into the unknown in this fight. This will be the first time the French star has boxed outside of her native country. While Scotney is not from Manchester, there is no doubt she will have the majority of the crowd on her side.

How Lefebvre deals with the first hostile crowd of her career could be telling. Beyond even just fighting in France, her last 10 fights have all taken place in her home city of Douai. Moving from your own doorstep to a building that has roared the likes of Ricky Hatton and Anthony Crolla onto victory is quite the adjustment. 

This is what world champions do and, if Lefebvre wants to retain that billing, she will have to prove she can do it on the road. Even if she does adjust to the unfamiliar setting, Scotney is her biggest concern. This will be a tough fight and a long one at that.

The reasoning there is that these boxers lack punch power. Scotney has gone the distance eight times in eight fights. Lefebvre has just one knockout from her 18 victories. Not only is this a meeting between two unbeaten fighters, but it is one in which the victor will likely have to be at her best for the entire 10 rounds to emerge with the belts.

Of the pair, I feel Scotney is most likely to show her best form. With the exception of the Guanini fight, where a cut and a points deduction rendered it close, no other boxer has even approached defeating her. Lefebvre is a talented champion but Scotney’s ceiling is far higher. I’m picking Scotney to win a career-defining decision, priced at 2/9. With two belts on her mantle, the future will look mighty bright for the Londoner. Further unification clashes with WBA queen Erika Cruz and WBC champion Yamileth Mercado beckon.

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