Pure Gold at the Copper Box Arena in the UK, as Britain’s Francesca Hennessy was pushed to the limit in a far-from-comfortable night.

Opposite and opposed to  her was pebble in the shoe Ellie Bouttell,  who stubbornly refused to be a mere stepping stone. It was a classic clash of styles: constant pressure and short inside hooks against mobility, the jab, and outside work.

The fight turned gritty and rocky early on. In the second round, an accidental clash of heads left both fighters with bleeding cuts, heightening the tension of an already heated contest. The action remained intense and peppery, with high-octane exchanges, which  brought the crowd to edge of their seats and then on to their feet, sorely and keenly testing the composure of the young Kent prospect.

The judges’ scorecards read 95-95, 97-93, and 96-94, reflecting the razor-close and piquant  nature of the bout, awarding Hennessy a majority decision victory. While Bouttell landed the heavier shots in several stretches, Hennessy responded with superior volume, footwork, and resilience through the final rounds, leading to a grandstand conclusion.