Super bantamweight Heather Hardy (6-0, 1 KO) will fight Jennifer Scott (3-4, 2 KOs) at the Resorts World Casino in Jamaica, Queens, next Monday night in a contest scheduled for six rounds. The 31-year-old will do so fresh after signing a promotional deal with Lou DiBella.
The Irish Voice caught up with Hardy to find out how preparations for her seventh outing as a professional have been faring.
“Everything is going really good. I am always training and there is never really a lull for me,” said Hardy on Monday. Signing with DiBella is a huge boost for her career, as she now has the infrastructure in place to fulfill her potential as a professional fighter.
"It's nice because I am the first female to get a long-term professional contract with him,” said Hardy. "All the hard work is paying off. However, with or without a contract, every time I go to fight, I put on a show for my fans."
DiBella, who also counts middleweights Andy Lee and Matthew Macklin among his clients, did not make the deal lightly.
"I have become a believer in women's boxing because of the hard work, dedication and excellence of boxing's female athletes,” said the promoter recently.
“I am proud to sign Heather Hardy to a long-term promotional agreement. She has the ability, the story and the intangibles to be a legitimate star in the biggest media market in the world.”
That back story, which includes losing her home to a fire and then being left homeless again after Hurricane Sandy, has left the mother of one even more determined to succeed in the squared circle. That story also inspired documentary maker Natasha Verma to make a film about the fighter called Hardy.
Hardy said that Verma is shooting end footage right now and postproduction is expected to begin in October.
After Hardy’s last win over Carrie Trost on July 24 at the Roseland Ballroom, Verma may have filmed some dramatic footage of the Irish American being called out by fellow super bantamweight Shelito Vincent. However, as Hardy explains, there seems to be more bark than potential bite to this prospective foe.
“That girl is from New England, and for whatever reason, she felt the need to come down and call me out,” Hardy said, before adding that no one in Vincent’s camp had reached out to her team to try and make a fight. “It’s just a bunch of noise.”
While she may have the promotional contract in her back pocket and a documentary about her life is in full swing, Hardy’s most important work has yet to be done in the ring, and she will have to deal with the challenge Hart brings early next week.
She has been working hard with trainer Devon Cormack for the fight in Gleason’s Gym in Brooklyn, and she has been sparring with her regular partners (Alicia Ashley, Amanda Serrano and Cindy Serrano), in preparation for the assignment.
Hardy said that she leaves the fighter research to her trainer. "I don't make a habit of doing that. My coach does that,” she said.
“Devon said that the girl is tough and she won't quit easy, but that doesn't mean that she won't quit.”
That said, Hardy is not taking the challenge lightly. "I am definitely stepping up with my opponents. She was already fighting before I ever even thought of lacing up,” she said.
Hardy is still learning as she fights, and she is shedding the remnants of her amateur boxing style as she gets accustomed to fighting in the paid ranks. She and Cormack have been working on her head movement and sharpening her defensive game.
"In my last few fights, we have tried to get my punches more precise and accurate," she said, before adding that they are making improvements with every outing.
Ticket for the “Big Apple Boxing” card, which is being promoted by 50 Cent's SMS Promotions and DiBella Entertainment, are available by calling 718-215-2828.
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