With the support of a world champion and one of the biggest global promoters in the sport, Shannon Ryan has heavyweight backing in her corner as she prepares for the next step on a sporting journey that she wants to take her to the very top.

It’s been a case of so far, so good for the Watford boxer in the early stages of her professional career with four wins from her first four fights after making her professional debut in March 2022.

The last of those victories, which have all been achieved by points, came in dominant fashion against Ivanka Ivanova at Alexandra Palace in November, a month after she triumphed on the historic all-female card headlined by Claressa Shields’ world middleweight title win over Savannah Marshall.

Watford Observer: Shannon is now part of Eddie Hearn's Matchroom Boxing stable.Shannon is now part of Eddie Hearn's Matchroom Boxing stable. (Image: Action Images)

The former Francis Combe School, now Future Academies Watford, pupil has been out of the ring for seven months and was in positive mood when she spoke to the Watford Observer ahead of facing Italian Martina Bernile at Wembley Arena on Saturday.

“This is the best I’ve felt physically and mentally,” the super flyweight said. “My last fight was last November, so we’ve had a lot of time to work on a lot of things and I’m happy and confident going back into the ring.”

Bernile has a 5-1-1 record from her seven fights, and won the vacant EBU European flyweight title last time out, but this will be the 37-year-old’s first professional contest outside of her home country.

Ryan, who used to be an assistant manager at her sponsors O2’s Watford store, believes the Italian will be “a good step up for me”.

As well as being able to improve her skills in the gym in the time since she last fought, the 26-year-old also joined top promoter Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom stable.

“I believe it’s the right move for my career,” she said. “It’s a global platform, female boxing right now is rising and what they do for women’s boxing and boxing overall is second to none.

“Eddie is very, very good at his job. I rate him highly. What a promoter. Just watching interviews and how he knows everything about his fighters, the stable, what’s coming up – phenomenal.”

Ryan is no stranger to working with the biggest names in the sport though, as her career is being guided by Watford’s two-time world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua’s management firm 258 Management.

She started boxing at Finchley ABC where Joshua’s road to the top also began and said: “He’s always at the end of the phone if you need him, any advice etc and what he’s done for boxing itself is phenomenal, but it’s 258 who guide my career and they’re doing wonders so far. I’m very happy.”

Ryan already boasts a very impressive sporting CV, having won world kickboxing titles and achieving a place on the Team GB Taekwon squad when she was younger, and is now a rising star in the boxing ring.

Her eyes are focused on reaching the very top – “in terms of what I’d like to achieve, definitely a world title and to become undisputed champion of the world” – but reflecting on her professional boxing journey so far, she said: “It’s been quick but it just goes to show the hard work, consistency and staying locked into the sport, and understanding the sport, does pay off.”