Karriss Artingstall is adamant that her clash with Raven Chapman should be for a new British women’s featherweight championship.
Olympic bronze medallist Artingstall fights world title challenger Chapman on the Natasha Jonas vs Lauren Price undercard on March 7 at the Royal Albert Hall, live on Sky Sports.
The British Boxing Board of Control only introduced their women’s championships for the first time in 2023 when Lauren Price beat Kirstie Bavington for the inaugural title at welterweight.
Artingstall believes her March 7 fight with Chapman is worthy of a British title. “How can it not be?” she told Sky Sports.
“These are fights that need to be happening. No 1 and no 2 in Britain.”
Artingstall’s promoter Ben Shalom can request to have that fight sanctioned for the British title and he told Sky Sports that he expected to get that belt on the line for the Artingstall-Chapman bout.
“I believe so,” Shalom said.
“[It’s] probably near enough a world level fight,” he added. “Raven coming off the fight with [WBC champion] Skye Nicolson, Karriss obviously has a win over Skye in the amateurs at the Olympics.
“For her to come back and say yes to this fight on this notice, wanting to go straight in, she deserves a huge amount of credit. It’s a great fight.
“I think it gives Karriss the opportunity to sort of leapfrog everyone in the division into that world scene.
“Karriss can show why she’s the one to watch in the division and put on an explosive performance. I expect her to. She’s got the bit between her teeth and it’s a great, great fight for the card.”
Artingstall, who also boxed and beat Chapman as an amateur, wants to make her mark on the pros with this contest.
“It’s just good to get back in the mix. I asked for this fight. It’s been delivered. I’m just happy to be here now. It’s a fight and a name that I need to get me back in the mix with the top girls and potentially knocking on the door for world titles. So I’m just chuffed to be here,” she said.
“It’s come sooner than what everyone expected, I suppose, which is a good thing.
“What other fight would make sense on such an incredible card?”
Artingstall added: “We’ve got a bit of history there. We’ve boxed each other. We were on Team GB together, we’ve shared rounds. We know each other pretty well. It’s a good fight and it’s one people have asked for.
“I’ll put the work in in the gym and I’ll be ready to go. Obviously I believe I win the fight. Like I said I’ve got my sights set on being the best in the weight division and that’s where I plan to be.
“She’s just come off the back of a loss, straight into a decent fight. There’s no point messing around. We’re not getting any younger, we both want to be at the top of our game and at the pinnacle of the sport. So this is the fight that needed to happen.”
Daniel Dubois v Joseph Parker and the Artur Beterbiev v Dmitry Bivol rematch will be live on Saturday February 22 on Sky Sports Box Office. Book now!