Scragg leaves for the promised land

Lyndsey Scragg has warned the Womens WBC World Superfeatherweight Champion ahead of their title fight in Canada: "The pressure is all on you."

Wolverhampton's first female professional boxer leaves England today to face champion and Canadian Jelena Mrdjenovich, in her back yard of Edmonton next Friday night.

Scragg will arrive at her training camp with trainer Errol Johnson in tow, with all focus on acclimatising to the surroundings and getting into the right frame of mind for the biggest night of her career.

The prospect of becoming the first female World title holder from Wolverhampton is some legacy to leave, but the challenger is not feeling the pressure.

She said: "I am going there to win the title, with a positive attitude. I have worked so hard for so long, so it is my time now. The pressure is all off me. She is the champion in her own back yard and has the crowd to please.

"I don't have that problem. I will just go there to do a job and that is the only goal. I am not worried. The only thing that worries me is the long flight!"

Scragg has been champing at the bit to get going, ever since word broke that the English hope had received a shot at the big time.

When she heard the news, she was on holiday in Spain.

She said: "After I won my last bout at the Civic, I went to holiday to La Manga for a week. Halfway through the week, Errol called me and told me I had a title shot.

"So for the rest of the holiday, I stopped drinking and got my head around it. By the end of the week, I couldn't wait to get back and start preparing for the fight."

Should Scragg be the victor in Edmonton, it would be a fast rise to prominence, coming just 20 months after her professional debut.

Throughout her pro career, Scragg has sparred with the likes of Martin Gethin and Dean Harrison. She believes her experience of them will see her more than able to handle anything Mrdjenovich can throw at her.

Scragg said: "They come at me with blunt force, so if I can handle them I can handle anything."