Ellie Scotney says her nan will have the best seat in the house when she aims to unify the junior featherweight division against France’s undefeated titleholder Segolene Lefebvre at the AO Arena in Manchester this Saturday on DAZN.

Scotney, 26, of Catford, U.K., will fight in Manchester for the first time when she meets Lefebvre. Scotney (8-0, 0 KOs) won her version of the title against Australia's Cherneka Johnson on a memorable night at Wembley Arena last June and proudly raced to her super-fan nan Eileen.

Eileen passed away at the age of 99 at the end of August 2023, but she witnessed her granddaughter achieve her lifetime goal of becoming a world titleholder. Scotney says her nan will be at the front of her mind as she looks to add to her legacy by becoming a unified world champion on Saturday.

"I always had this thing where I’d go down to my nan’s the week before a fight, and I still did that for this one," Scotney said. "I still went down to my nan’s; I still went in the room, and I chatted rubbish to her like I usually do. She always used to tell me that she’d say a prayer for me. I know that she’s got the best seat in the house, as always. Nan always told me, ‘You’ve got to finish the collection,’ and we’re on to the second part of that collection – and I’ve got to deliver.”

Lefebvre (18-0, 1 KO) will be making the fourth defense of her belt after winning the vacant title against Mexico's Paulette Cuesta in November 2021 on her home soil. Lefebvre, 30, will be fighting outside of France for the first time in her career, and Scotney acknowledges that “Majestic” will be her toughest test to date.

"Even before the Cherneka Johnson fight, Lefebvre was someone that we targeted," Scotney said. "We tried to make the fight previously, but it just didn’t align. Now I’ve got more to offer on the table, and we’re both young, we’re both undefeated and we’re both world champions. I believe that’s going to make for a great fight.

"I promise you now, whatever I’ve got to go through I’ll go through on that night. I’ll be walking out as unified champion of the world. I just believe that these are the fights where you’ve got to show that you’re different. She’s 18-0 and I’m 8-0. You’d look at that and think that she’s got the more experience. I just think that it’s quantity versus quality in some respects.

"It’s my hardest fight without a doubt, but believe me, I’m more than ready to show that I’m there. I believe that this camp has showed me there’s more to me that I haven’t really even seen myself. I’m not just talking about in that boxing ring – I’m talking out of it. I feel like I’ve really grown as a person. Timing is everything, and on Saturday night it will be my time."