WBC women's boxing convention gave Kelly Morgan 'goosbumps'
Tuesday 16 February 2016 18:24, UK
Kelly Morgan admits she was blown away by meeting the best female fighters in the world at the recent WBC female boxing convention in Mexico.
Middleweight Morgan wrote an exclusive blog for Sky Sports during her time in Tijuana at the end of last month and joined Jane Dougall on Tuesday as a studio guest on the Sportswomen show.
The 35-year-old javelin thrower-turned boxer headlines a mixed show in her hometown of Swindon on March 12 where she is bidding to become WBC Silver champion in just her fifth professional contest.
"It's been a whirlwind since I've got back from Mexico getting back into training while trying to get over the jet lag," she told Sky Sports.
"It was a normal week up until the Friday, when I went down to London to spar with super-welterweight world champion Mikaela Lauren from Sweden who was over here with a sponsor.
"We trained together in Mexico and did plenty of running and sparring out there together. She's obviously at a great standard and she's not too far off my weight so that was really great.
"But like all of the boxers I met in Mexico they are absolutely brilliant sportswomen both in and out of their sport.
"We all have the same battles, the same passion and the same vision for where we want to go and where we want to take the sport. Just thinking back to it gives me goosebumps, it was absolutely amazing to meet them at long last.
"We were only together for a few days but it was so intense and it was such a great meeting of the minds.
"For example [current WBC super-middleweight champion] Nikki Adler, who is more than likely going to be an opponent for me at some stage, saw me when I sat down for breakfast one morning and I thought it might be a little bit awkward.
"I gave her a smile and she got me up out of the chair and gave me the biggest hug. I thought 'this is what it is all about'. I've found my people. We wear our hearts on our sleeves in the ring and out of it. It was phenomenal."
Should Morgan become silver champion she is in line to fight for the WBC world title later this year and will try and become the organisation's first female British champion.
Her opponent for next month's clash has now been confirmed as Gifty Amanua Ankrah, who is stepping down from super-middleweight, and Morgan says she has already spotted a chink in the Ghanaian fighter's armour.
"She is the No 1 fighter in Ghana and I've seen a little bit of footage of her," Morgan said.
"She is a heavy girl, so she's a natural super-middleweight but from what I have seen she looks a little slow. As she loses the weight to get down to middle she might quicken up a bit but I just don't know.
"Nikki Adler has fought her at super-middleweight and she said she is very tough. She will just take it and keep coming but that is what it has been like for me in the last two fights.
"We need to try and find some more footage but from what we've seen she's slower than my last opponent Silvia Szabados who was ranked No 2 in the world and not as busy.
"But in my mind I'm always training for a world championship fight no matter who I am up against. I will be ready."
