She was given two hours to lose the additional 2.5lbs
British fighter Shannon Courtenay has been stripped of her WBA bantamweight world title after she missed weight ahead of her first defence on at the weekend.
Courtenay is set to face America’s Jamie Mitchell on the Liam Smith-Anthony Fowler undercard in Liverpool, but the 7-1 fighter has revealed that she had been stripped of her belt after failing to make weight.
However, in a statement released today (October 8), she explained that the reason she failed to make weight was because she had unexpectedly started her menstrual cycle, which caused her to gain weight suddenly.
The Baby Face Assassin scaled 120.5lbs, which is 2.5lbs over the 118lbs bantamweight limit.
The 28-year-old was given two hours to lose the additional 2.5lbs, but she did not return to the scale and was stripped as a result.
If Mitchell is victorious over Courtenay, she will be declared as the new WBA champion, however, if the former wins, it will be declared vacant.
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Courtenay’s statement read: "Thank you to everyone that’s been messaging to check on me and send me love.
"We had no weight issues during camp and all week I’ve been in a really good place and ready.
"We was on weight and ready to go yesterday, and then last night unexpectedly my menstrual cycle started, which for obvious reasons makes women gain weight.
"To say I’m devastated is [an] understatement because this has never happened before.
"I’m always professional but this was physically out of my control.
"It’s happened and I can’t change it but what I can do is go out there tomorrow night, get the win and get my belt back straight after.
"And that’s exactly what I’m going to do."
Courtenay will therefore still compete on Saturday night at Liverpool's Echo Arena, but if she is to secure victory, it will not be for her belt.
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