ALDER HEY paediatric nurse Carly Skelly has landed a dream world title shot in Phoenix, Arizona - in only her sixth professional outing.
The unbeaten 35-year-old from Litherland will challenge for Jamie Mitchell's WBA bantamweight title on February 5, live on streaming platform DAZN.
Jamie ‘The Miracle’ Mitchell ripped the WBA belt away from Watford’s Shannon Courtenay in a huge upset at Liverpool's M&S Bank Arena in October last year.
But now Carly (4-0-1) has the opportunity to cause an even greater shockwave by dethroning the heavy-handed American (7-0-2).
"When you’re the underdog or the away fighter that gives me that little bit more fuel or fire in my belly, to be honest," said Skelly.
“I know it will be tough, but I think it’s a fight I can win. I don’t underestimate her by any means, I know she’s a good fighter and she wants it, she’s fighting for her family, you know, she’s a mum like myself, so she’ll come for war, but as a fighter I think I’ll be getting the win.”
Carly revealed how she received the news. “I was sitting in the living room just watching the telly with the kids and Paul (her husband) when I got the message.
"As soon as I’ve seen it I just said 'yes' before I could even process it. It was at the weekend and we were all having a few days off from the gym, but I always train and keep fit so I’m always ready.”
The Matchroom Boxing event will be headlined by Carlos Cuadras versus Srisaket Sor Rungvisai for the vacant WBC World super-flyweight title, and broadcast worldwide.
Skelly's rise to prominence has been meteoric.
The mother of two took up boxing at 29 after agreeing to take part in a charity boxing contest.
Within 18-months she'd reached an ABA final (and was robbed of a decision), boxed for England in the GB Championships and won a silver medal at the Eindhoven International Box Cup.
She then turned pro, making her debut at Greenbank Sports Academy in May 2019.
Four fights and 17-months later she was walking out at Wembley Arena on the undercard of a Derek Chisora-Oleksandr Usyk bill.
Now she will fight Jamie Mitchell, 36, for the world title - at her more natural weight of bantam after campaigning earlier in her career in the bigger division in order to get contests.
Mitchell will be familiar to Mersey fight fans, deservingly outpointing Watford’s Shannon Courtenay in October last year.
Trained by Siedu (Sid) Siadankay at North Mersey ABC and managed by Everton Red Triangle's Paul Stevenson, many ringside observers believed Carly should have been crowned Commonwealth champion when she fought Amy Timlin in 2020 - but the judges went for a split decision draw.
Now she gets another chance at silverware, but this time it’s 5,000 miles away from home.
“Since I got that draw with Amy, I’ve had more fuel in me to go further because there was no way I was stopping until I got a title," added Carly.
“I was meant to box for the Commonwealth title in October but it ended up being for the WBC International, so once I won that, it was great, but I wanted to get to back to bantamweight because I only stepped up to super-bantam to box Amy. I always wanted to win titles at my weight.”
The winner of Mitchell vs Skelly will most likely be mandated to face the former titleholder Shannon Courtenay next, which is a fight Skelly confirmed as “on the cards”, but first she has to secure victory in the Valley of the Sun.
She added, “I just like to thank my sponsors for their support – Parnell’s Sports Bar; SLJ Civils Ltd; Williamson’s Family Butchers; My Body Therapy; Liverpool K9 Fertility; Autocare Repair Centre; Cryo Clinic; Sports Involved Ltd; SEP Construction Services; Tribe Clothing UK; Power Preps; The Inner Guru.”
