Svensson meets Morelli in a repeat of their entertaining interim WBC Female World Light Welterweight title fight in November 2014, and the ‘Swedish Princess’ hopes that a second victory over the tough Italian will lead to a domestic showdown with Lauren, who defends her WBC Female World Super Welterweight title against Ivana Habazin on the same night.
‘’There are a lot of big fights out there for me if I beat Morelli,’’ says Svensson. ‘’I would love to fight Mikaela Lauren. That would be a huge fight for Swedish boxing and a fight I would be very confident of winning.
‘’We’re two weigh classes apart, so we would have to meet in the middle, but I’m happy to move up a weight class, so if she wants it, she will have to move down one. She talks a lot but lets see if she is ready to back it up in the ring!
‘’I’d also like a rematch with Erica Farias. Despite the result, I have taken a lot of positives from that fight. I feel stronger and more experienced now. I’m sure that is a fight a lot of people would like to see again.’’
In order for these fights to become a reality, Svensson knows she must remain focused on the task at hand. ‘’Morelli is a dangerous opponent so I can’t take anything for granted,’’ she said. ‘’Our first fight was intense but I expect her to come with a different game plan this time so I have to be prepared for that.
‘’I’ve been training hard and I feel like I’ve been steeping up my game and developing with all the work I’ve been doing in the gym so hopefully I will get an even better victory this time.’’
Svensson will also be keeping a keen eye on Lauren’s fight with Habazin. ‘’I’ve sparred Ivana and I know she is a good fighter,’’ said Svensson. ‘’She’s young, she’s hungry and she will be coming to win. It will be interesting to see how Mikaela handles her.’’
Svensson returns to the ring for the first-time since her World title challenge in May 2015 and is looking forward to her first fight on Swedish soil.
‘’This is the longest I’ve been out of the ring,’’ she said. ‘’Although I haven’t been fighting, I haven’t been away from boxing. I’ve been training 80-90 percent of the time. I was supposed to fight in September but I got sick and then took some time out. I moved back to Malmo to be closer to family and friends, and I made some changes to my physical training. That was an important decision for me. I think we will see the benefits on April 23.
‘’This will be my first fight in Sweden and I’m sure it’s going to be a special atmosphere. To be a Swedish fighter fighting in Sweden means a lot. I think I will be surprised by how much energy and encouragement I get from Swedish fans. I can’t wait to get back into the ring and back to what I do best!’’
Svensson’s rematch with Morelli is part of a blockbuster bill in the Swedish capital. In a co-featured main event, IBF Intercontinental Champion Erik Skoglund faces the tough South African Ryno Liebenberg and WBC Female World Super Welterweight Champion Mikaela Lauren defends her title against former World Champion Ivana Habazin.
On the undercard, London 2012 Olympian Anthony Yigit takes on British-boxer Chris Goodwin, while the ‘Golden Boy’ Oscar Ahlin faces Patrick ‘Tiger’ Mendy and Sundsvall heavyweight Otto Wallin is back in action.
Tickets for the Nordic Fight Night on April 23 at the Hovet in Stockholm are available online via www.globearenas.se and www.AXS.com, by calling (+46) 0771-31 00 00 and from the Stockholm Globe Arenas Box Office.
