Speaking after the fight, Scotney credited Motu’s toughness but said her boxing ability won her the fight.
“If I [were] to stand there and have a fight with her; she was very vocal and her character matched how she boxed. I just had to use my boxing ability, and that’s what I did,” Scotney said.
“I’m not too happy with my performance, but I think that’s probably the case with me all the time.
“I feel like I hurt her at times, but then I just looked for too many singles. She was a tough girl. I’ve got so much respect for her. She was 20-0. I’ve never fought anyone easy and it will continue [to be] that way. Hopefully I’ll get some credit now, because no one really puts respect on my name.”
For Motu, it ends her title reign following just under two years and two successful defences, after she won the vacant bout in Auckland in April 2023.
Scotney started the fight the better of the two, finding her range early and moving in and out of range well. She was cut open by a head clash late in the round, and Motu looked to exploit that when they second round began.
Scotney never let the cut slow her down, and continued to bank points while avoiding many of the powerful shots Motu threw.
The Kiwi had her best round in the fourth, in which she landed well with her right hand, seeming to have a sense of Scotney’s timing and landing over the top of some of her counterpart’s punches.
But as the bout went on, Scotney’s elusiveness proved to stymie Motu, with the Brit often ducking or leaning back out of the way of Motu’s punches while moving in and out of range for her own attacks well.
By the eighth round, it was clear Motu was going to need to knock Scotney out, but ultimately it was Scotney who had her hand raised.
