On Friday 27th September at the Canon Medical Arena in Sheffield, British and Commonwealth Super Bantamweight Champion Tysie Gallagher is set to defend her titles against former Team GB boxer Tori-Ellis Willetts.
The First British Champion of Her Division
26-year-old Gallagher became the first ever female British Champion at super bantamweight during her last outing in May against European Silver Champion Stevi Levy.
“It’s surreal because you wait so long for the moment, the moment happens, and then it’s like, right, what’s next?
“I was satisfied for a moment—for a short moment—but then the next day you wake up, life goes on, and now, I’ve got a target on my back. So, I’m getting called out, and it’s right back to work.”
Gallagher’s fight with Levy generated a lot of buzz online after they both made digs at each other in interviews and on social media in the lead up to their fight. This all sparked from Gallagher questioning, ‘Where you at Stevi?’ during one GBM Sports press conference which Levy was absent from due to childcare.
“I didn’t know that comment was going to cause that because it was very out of context. When it blew up, I left everyone to do their thing on Instagram. I didn’t even bat an eyelid at it, I didn’t even look at the comments and stuff. I was just focused.
“Not once was I rattled, it was all cool. I like Stevi, she’s a funny character, and I just had to say a couple of things, never disrespectful, but just a couple of things that I knew she would bite to, and it was fun.
“It got a lot of attention but was very light-hearted, just building a fight up, and afterwards we shook hands.”
Gallagher and Levy have since been supporting each other in preparation for their separate fights, but Gallagher has seen benefit beyond obtaining another belt and sparring partner.
“I started in the leisure centres, I was having to sell the tickets, I’ve paid to fight. I’ve done all of that, so now it’s like finally eyes on me.”
“I’ve had a lot more following, and I’ve had a lot more support from people I don’t even know. It’s nice to get that kind of recognition.
“I knew it would take for me to box on a card on TV or something, let me show everyone I can box, and the rest will be history. I’ve done it the hard way, I really have, and I wouldn’t have chosen any other way.
“I started in the leisure centres, I was having to sell the tickets, I’ve paid to fight. I’ve done all of that, so now it’s like finally eyes on me.”
Tysie Gallagher vs Tori-Ellis Willetts
Once Gallagher had got home from her fight with Levy, she briefly checked her Instagram messages. Amongst the flood of support, one message from Willetts calling her out caught Gallagher’s eye.
Still high on adrenaline having fought only 2 hours earlier, Gallagher forwarded the message straight to her manager and said, “Get her next!”
“This is the first time that that’s really happened. It’s usually me going, I want a rematch! I want to fight this person! So, it’s been switched, but I’m enjoying it. As soon as that happened, I was like, Yes, someone wants to fight me!”
The clash of an experienced and accomplished professional fighter in Gallagher against a stand-out amateur challenging for her first professional title in Willetts teases an exciting night of action in the Steel City.
“I know [Tori]’s coming to fight. She’s coming to take my belts off me. So, I’m going to be 100% ready. I fully back myself with this one. I just believe that where I’m at, I’m supposed to be here right now, and I’ve earnt it. I’m just going to keep going up and up and up.
“I wouldn’t say she’s my hardest competitor. I know Tori’s there saying I haven’t boxed nobody in the pros and it’s wrong.
“I’ve boxed Nina Hughes, and she went on to win a world title. I’ve boxed Lisa Whiteside, a very good amateur who definitely wasn’t ‘past her sell-by date’. I boxed Ségolène Lefebvre, World Champion for years and beat her, technically beat her, and then I boxed Stevi Levy.
“I’ve had that experience with the title fights, and I’ve definitely been tested, Tori hasn’t.”
If Gallagher can successfully get past Willetts in just under 2 weeks’ time, she hopes to make 2 more defences to become the first female super bantamweight to win the British belt outright.
“There was a time in my career where it was like, Just get the world title! Girls were winning world titles not even having 10 fights, which is great, but I’ve had a realisation after winning the British title that actually I don’t have to rush.
“I’m 26. I’d rather have loads of very good fights even if it’s domestic and the world title will be there. At the end of my career, I want to have boxed everyone who’s at a very high level.
“But all I want to do is focus on Tori’s fight and focus on beating her, nothing else happens until I do that.”
Photo credit: GBM Sports