Mayelli Flores Rosquero has dismissed the prospect of Ellie Scotney emerging from their fight on Sunday evening with a growing Mexican fanbase.
On the undercard of Caroline Dubois-Terri Harper at London’s Olympia they contest the undisputed junior-featherweight title in what represents their most significant fight to date.
England’s Scotney, who holds the IBF, WBC and WBO titles, defeated Yamileth Mercado in July in her most recent fight, which also represented her first fight in the US.
She spoke earlier in fight week about her belief that her performance that night secured her first supporters in the US, but Rosquero – at 33, five years Scotney’s senior – insists that her compatriots won’t be as easily won over.
Scotney’s abilities and aggression have contributed to her becoming recognised as one of the world’s finest fighters, and potentially the nature of fighter who would be appreciated in Rosquero’s home country, but the Mexican told BoxingScene: “Definitely no. In Mexico we love war. We love war; we love a lot of punches; we love [fighters to be] strong.
“[But] fights between England and Mexico have always been great fights.
“Ellie Scotney’s a great fighter. That’s the reason she has a lot of belts, so we worked a lot for this fight.
“She’s a great fighter. But I’ve fought different world champions, so I’m not scared about her. She’s one of the best [I’ll have fought].
“Her height; her reach; her speed [are her strengths. But] she’s never fought a fighter like me.”
Rosquero, who holds the WBA title, considers the great Julio Cesar Chavez and Ana Maria Torres to be the two fighters who have most inspired her.
“I’m a champion, so this is a great fight and I want to make history,” she also said. “I want to be the number one.”
