Amy Timlin vs Carly Skelly Matchroom

The talented females fought to an exhilarating draw on last year’s Sky Sports Box Office event, which saw headlining heavyweight Oleksandr Usyk defeat Dereck Chisora on Halloween night.

Unbeaten in nine fights between them, the ambitious prospects opened the PPV event in style as the pair went back and forth in an entertaining see-saw 10-round championship battle.

Having only fought on small shows in her home city of Liverpool, Skelly was handed the opportunity of a lifetime in the away corner against the young unbeaten Matchroom Boxing prospect, who had already won British, European and World titles in kickboxing, which preceded her glittering amateur boxing career.

Underdog Skelly, who turned 34 four days after the event, took her chance with both hands and dominated the exciting contest, but the scores were read out as 96-95 to Timlin, 97-96 to Skelly, and 95-95 to result in a split decision draw, meaning both hands were raised at the end but they each went home empty handed.

21-year-old Amy Timlin was the clear favourite going into the contest, but Skelly stamped her authority and dominance right from the opening bell, much to the surprise of spectators.

Post-fight, Timlin believed the draw was a fair result, whereas Skelly, 13 years her senior, was greatly aggrieved at being denied the win, which Carl Froch acknowledged at ringside there’s always one fighter who is satisfied with the result and the real winner who isn’t pleased at all, also believing Skelly had done enough to win.

Managed by Paul Stevenson and trained by Sid Saidankey at North Mersey ABC, Skelly is confident ahead of the return fixture, stating, “I have fought a few people twice, but I always treat them as a new fighter. They work on what they need to, and I deal with the person in front of me on the night.

“I’ll prepare in the same way – fitness, strength, tech work etc. But I am always learning as I class myself as someone who is still fresh in the sport and always getting better, and there’s still more to come!”

Skelly is a full-time pediatric nurse at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool and mother of two boys. She only begun boxing aged 29 after agreeing to take part in a charity boxing event, and went on to win 15 from 20 amateur bouts, representing England and winning international medals.