Francesca Hennessy: From weight and dyslexia struggle to viral star

A two-time national amateur champion, winner of the Women’s Winter Box Cup and Sweden’s Golden Girls Box Cup, Francesca turned professional with Boxxer in August 2023.

Adopting the moniker ‘Billion Dollar Baby’ – a nod to multiple Oscar-winning film Million Dollar Baby, minus the tragedy – she entered the ranks as icons like Katie Taylor and Claressa Shields transformed the landscape of female boxing.

She was especially thrilled to join her hero, two-division champion and former undisputed super-middleweight champion Savannah Marshall, on the professional scene.

Marshall – managed by Francesca’s father Mick – would share tips with the teenager when she was hanging around the gym.

“Even now, I get a bit starstruck around Savannah – from a young age, I’ve always looked up to her,” Francesca says.

She has won fans outside the ring with her likeability, flair and choreographed ring walks, and backed it up inside the ropes with seven straight wins.

“I’m very confident in the way I’m feeling at the minute that no one’s beating me,” she says.

Francesca’s “ultimate dream in boxing is to become a multi-weight undisputed champion”, but must she first overcome Bouttell, a relatively unknown Briton who has spent most of her career fighting in China.

A fight against the tough and experienced Australian Johnson could then catapult Francesca on to the world stage and show that her viral fame is backed by serious boxing ability.

“I’m not where I want to be yet, but I’m proud of where I am,” she adds. “And yeah, I’m just going to keep making that young girl proud.”