Jasmina Zapotoczna: Europe & Beyond
After coming off the two biggest wins of her career, Jasmina Zapotoczna would have expected the phone to ring with plenty of offers. Residing in a deep weight division full of potential opponents on her doorstep, her expectations would have appeared to be seemingly endless. But Zapotoczna has been kept waiting since March, but finally, and belatedly, the European flyweight champion has a fight date.
Zapotoczna will defend that European bauble against Justine Lallemand on her opponent’s own turf in France on the 15th November. It is a fight that Zapotoczna hopes will catapult her to the next stage of her career, specifically, to be right in the world title picture.
After removing class acts Maiseyrose Courtney and Chloe Watson from the ranks of the unbeaten, Zapotoczna has proven her own ability in good company. In March, she took away the European flyweight title from Watson at the Royal Albert Hall in a display that offered plenty of hope that even bigger things await her. In ten professional fights, only Shannon Ryan has beaten her. Zapotoczna took on Ryan last year at relatively short-notice, and at super-flyweight, and only lost a close decision. It is a result that has aged incredibly well.
The flyweight division on the world stage is dominated by the unbeaten and undisputed champion Gabriela Fundora. It is the level that Zapotoczna believes she is capable of reaching, but she will need to navigate the first defence of her European title before thoughts turn to bigger things.
Justine Lallemand (13-3-1) will get another opportunity at winning a European title after losing two previous attempts, including one to Chloe Watson two years ago, when she made the Birkenhead-fighter work extremely hard for her victory. Zapotoczna, especially on away soil, will know that she can take nothing for granted.
But Zapotoczna, despite the inactivity of late, is in the form of her life, and she should have too much for her opponent later this month. Zapotoczna will then hope the really big fights materialise next year. In truth, her talents deserve it.
Published by FightPost: MMA & Boxing News
Published
2nd Nov 2025