Poland’s Jasmina Zapotoczna left behind her amateur boxing career when she came to the UK in 2018. With no plans to get the gloves on again she eventually found herself back in a gym. Six professional fights later and Zapotoczna finds herself braced to face Matchroom prospect Shannon Ryan for a super-flyweight international belt tonight in London. Yesterday (February 9) Boxing News caught up with Zapotoczna to learn a bit more about her.
Interview by Shaun Brown
BN: How did it go at the weigh-in?
JZ: Shannon didn’t make weight at the first attempt. She went back… God knows where to sort it out and her final weight was 114.9[lbs].
BN: Does it give you more confidence because she failed to make weight at the first attempt?
JZ: I wouldn’t say more confidence. It’s just a bit embarrassing. It’s a title fight and I respect her and I’m professional and I’m doing everything as a professional to make weight. It’s a little bit embarrassing.
BN: You were initially scheduled to fight Maisey Rose Courtney is that right?
JZ: Yes.
BN: And then you got the call to fight Shannon Ryan. Does that late change affect your preparations at all?
JZ: No, actually I was even more excited because they told us it’s a title fight. A big opportunity for me as well. As well I was thinking it’s not a massive difference in size. I said yes straight away and let’s do it.
BN: So, those that are going to watch you for the first time how would you describe your own fighting style?
JZ: I always get that question. It’s the most difficult question for me because it’s hard to explain my style properly. I don’t have one style that’s very recognisable, I think I adapt to each opponent with different styles and that’s how I would describe my style.
BN: What made you get into boxing in the first place?
JZ: When I was a little girl, I was that kind of girl that liked watching action films. When I was 15, I started kickboxing then Jiu-Jitsu when I was 16 so I was thinking about combat sports from the beginning. But also, as a teenager you do a lot of different things in life and I stopped doing any sport when I was 17. I went to university when I was 20 and met a girl who invited me to do some boxing training. I fell in love with boxing, and I knew from the first training session I wanted to get in the ring. I remember that feeling, it was something that I really wanted to do. A year later I had my first amateur fight.
BN: What did your family think?
JZ: My parents weren’t happy because I was a singer and a musician beforehand. They really wanted me to sing and get back to that. Eventually they started supporting me.
BN: You’ve had six fights so far how do you look back on it all?
JZ: Each fight taught me something. After each fight I noticed massive progress in my style, my training or sparring. Every fight I’m more mature as a boxer. I’m more aware in the ring.
BN: What are your memories of your professional debut in 2022?
JZ: That was the best day of my life. I was very excited; I was so happy I was going to step inside the ring. I was working so hard through that year to get the chance to step inside a professional ring. I was excited, I was happy, and I remember looking forward to it. I remember the moment before I left the changing room, I had a big smile; I was enjoying myself and that’s still how I feel during every minute in the ring.
BN: Did you have any amateur experience at all?
JZ: I fought as an amateur in Poland. Shortly before moving out to England I was in the Polish national team and had a good debut in an international fight. It was good but I couldn’t afford it. I started boxing when I was 20; I was living on my own and paying bills and everything else and it was just too hard for me. I was trying my best and sacrificed everything as well. If you’re living on your own and you want to sacrifice everything for boxing, it’s very difficult. I didn’t even plan to come back to boxing when I arrived in England in December 2018. I never liked amateur boxing; I was always dreaming about becoming a professional.
BN: What plans did you have for yourself when you travelled to England if it was not to resume your boxing career?
JZ: To be honest, I just wanted a fresh start and to start working and making money like normal people do.
BN: So, what was it that eventually brought you back to boxing?
JZ: I met a girl, she’s still my gym-mate now, called Sylvia and she invited me to a training session. And that’s how it started again. We were there for a year and changed gym again and that was four years ago. The first gym was a professional gym, and we knew that if we wanted to do anything in boxing it was going to be as a professional and I was over the moon. We started working hard but I didn’t feel ready for the pros and my coach at the time thought the same. We worked hard over that year before starting a pro career.
BN: Were there any short-term ambitions or goals when you turned professional?
JZ: I’m aware of my abilities and skills. My coach was as well. He saw in me a massive talent and also that I’m very dedicated. From the beginning I was thinking about titles and that was my goal. If I’m going to fight, I want to go to the top, which was my main goal from the beginning. I want a European title and world titles and to fight the best.
BN: How much are you looking forward to fighting on the big stage on Saturday night?
JZ: It’s a dream come true. I’m very excited and looking forward to it. I’m very happy that I’ll be a part of it, and I’ve got a massive opportunity. I want to do my best to win that belt and show the world my skills and who I am.
