Nicola Hopewell ended her successful Commonwealth title defence in Sheffield looking like she'd been in the wars.

But the truth is that her comprehensive points win and implacable display at Skate Central have moved her to the verge of contending for a world title.

Over ten rounds, she took the fight to Nigerian flyweight Mary Aina Abbey and simply wore her down.

Nicola Hopewell in bloody battle at Skate Central | Connor McMain

placeholder image — Nicola Hopewell in bloody battle at Skate Central | Connor McMain

Nicola, the 33-year-old fitness fanatic and Blades' fan from Worksop, is now being measured up for the elite stage by promoter Dennis Hobson. And she is certainly on board with that, promising: "We can win world titles."

The Riley's gym workaholic may have thought she was in for a difficult task in a relatively challenging first round, as southpaw Mary tried to establish herself.

But the home warrior drove through her defences, roughing her opponent up in the corner in the second and unloading some dangerous combinations in the third.

Blood spattered Nicola Hopewell | Connor McMain

Nicola looked much the better-conditioned athlete in the middle rounds, with Mary suddenly losing the enthusiasm she'd shown in the ringwalk.In round seven, Mary lost her gumshield, and ambled back to her corner looking as if she was running on empty.

She had a point taken off her for holding and was struggling to cope with Hopewell's low-crouching, lightning strikes.

Nicola suffered a nick under her right eye in the ninth, and another cut in the 10th, from a head clash, but neither interfered with her insatiable appetite to defend her belt.

If anything, they stirred her on.In the final round, with blood leaking down her face, she unleashed a stunning back hand to put Abbey briefly on the canvas to ensure an emphatic 99-89 victory.

Promoter Hobson said: "This could have been a banana skin, Mary was a tough southpaw, she is better than what I thought."

He said he was confident Fightzone could win major titles with Nicola adding: "Her attitude is fantastic."

Earlier on the bill, Mikey Harrison had an unwieldy, switching, Ukrainian bruiser to contend with, for his second pro fight, and the home fighter also suffered a cut above his left eye in the second round.

Mikey Harrison and team. | Connor McMain

Mikey, 20, didn't look like decisively turning the fight in his favour in the fourth and final rounder - Serhii Ksendzov raising his hands at the end - but did enough to shade the decision.

He said: "He was very tricky, I made it a lot harder for myself, smothering my work. He was a strong man."I was the one pushing the fight, boxing the fight."

John Fewkes, his Gleadless trainer, admitted Harrison didn't box as well as he is capable of but was pleased he had he showed heart.

Harrison's next bout is likely to be another Hobson show, in Grand Cayman.

Manor lightweight Georgia Klein, aged 23, dominated smaller, defensive rival Katherine Quintana in four rounds, securing a 40-36 points win.She said she'd worked on varying the angles of her approach against an experienced opponent who was hard to break down.

She was happy to have landed on both head and body.Owls' supporter Georgia said she'd be resting up until her third professional bout in the New Year.