How did you get into boxing?
"It's a family tradition. My father, who is my main coach, my uncles, my brothers – everyone boxed. I was the youngest and I took over when I was 12 because I was always surrounded by boxing.
"At first, my father wasn't too keen, but in the end, I got hooked and he realised he didn't really have a choice (laughs)."
You have Italian roots, is that why your manager is Italian?
"My family is Sardinian and Sicilian. Salvatore Cherchi has the same origins as us, so we got in touch, and since we're all bilingual in Italian, that helped too."
You have brothers and you're the youngest: were you a bit of a fighter?
"I think there's always a bit of a strong character, and that comes into play when you have brothers. I was never a shy little girl, I was a bit of a tomboy.
"Above all, I spent a lot of time at the gym, so I was always surrounded by boys. Even at school, I sought that out. It influenced my desire to box. But later on, I stayed very feminine, which isn't incompatible with being competitive."
There's a persistent cliché in Mediterranean families that girls are assigned a certain role. Yet, we often see that it's in these families that people most strongly support girls taking up sports labelled as masculine. Was that your experience?
"When I started competing at 12, there were already quite a few girls at the gym. My family has always been open-minded and I never really heard comments like "boxing is just for boys". And if there were any remarks, it was simple: my father or someone close would say, "get in the ring, we'll see". But overall, people were fine with me."
Back to the present. Was your IBO title against Jelena Janicijevic your ticket to this exceptional fight?
"Yes, it played a part because a world belt opens doors. That said, it was absolutely not planned for me to fight Katie Taylor.
"Initially, I was supposed to fight for an IBF belt. But we didn't hear much about it. Then, at the start of May, my manager was contacted by Katie Taylor's team, saying she was interested.
"It was a unique opportunity, so of course we agreed. No competitor could say no to that! I didn't hear anything for almost a month, until a few days ago when I was told to get to Ireland quickly to sign the contracts!
"I really wasn't expecting it, because we didn't know what Taylor's plans were – there were rumours of a trilogy with Chantelle Cameron. I don't think it's really sunk in yet (laughs)."
And all the tickets are already sold!
"Incredible! But the problem is, my supporters wanted to come from France but we can't get tickets. We've asked my manager for 100 seats. Out of 82,000, I think that's doable, otherwise it would be a shame."
Is it overwhelming to think you'll be taking on Katie Taylor in front of 82,000 people, in a stadium that, for its last fight in 1976, hosted Muhammad Ali?
"I'm not the type to put that kind of pressure on myself. On the contrary, I see the positive side. I'm proud, and I want to make history in such a grand setting. It's ten times more motivating.
"On the day itself, it will be different, but for now, I'm focusing on my preparation so I'm ready when the time comes."
You've got absolutely nothing to lose...
"And everything to gain. I want to put on a great performance. I know how boxing works, Katie Taylor is at home, it's her last fight.
"If I don't get a KO, it will be very hard to win, but I'm not fixated on that. I want to show that I'm really there, that I deserve it. This fight will open a lot of doors for the rest of my career."
How do you usually train, and will you change anything, especially for sparring?
"We'll have to change things, of course, because we'll need to step up the intensity. We're planning training camps, bringing girls to my place, going to Paris, and maybe to Italy or Spain.
"We don't have a choice. In July, I can stay at home, but from August, we'll add some tough sparring, with boxers who have a similar style to Katie Taylor."
The fight will be broadcast by DAZN, with huge promotion in the UK and Ireland, and probably by Ring Magazine. Could this be a turning point for French women's boxing, since the champions are there but don't get enough media coverage?
"We're not recognised for our true worth in France. We all train hard, many have had big fights, but it doesn't get much attention.
"We struggle a bit, but gradually, things will change (smiles). It's a shame, because it's a wonderful sport, we make sacrifices, especially financially.
"I put my job on hold, I have a daughter who's about to turn five, and a family life. It's a lot. I hope that with a big fight, people will talk about us and it will help the next generation."
Between your fight and Christian Mbilli's, it will also show promoters that they can trust French men and women to put on great, spectacular cards.
"I hope our work will be rewarded in that way too, and that there will be more and more of us on the main and undercards."
Your last fight was on 5 December: will you have a fight before September to keep your rhythm?
"It's strictly forbidden in the contract. I'm absolutely not allowed to box before the fight. I was supposed to fight around April-May but potential opponents didn't want to."
What about work – how will you manage? Can you take leave?
"I wear four hats: I'm a civil servant, HR assistant at the Saint-Avold urban community since 2016. Since 2021, I'm also a departmental councillor for the Saint-Avold canton, with an elected mandate.
"And I'm a boxer and a mum. That's a lot to juggle (smiles). I'm on secondment, I've taken a leave of absence. That's one of the reasons I chose this career path, because I knew I had this option, so I could prepare for two to three months."
You'll have time to prepare, which is a luxury as that's not always the case in boxing.
"I've got two and a half months, which is great. Above all, I never let up, I train every day, so that's not a problem. I've never really struggled with weight.
"Competitive sport is a bit like a drug, so if I don't train for a day or two, my body demands it and I can't cheat myself.
"From time to time, I treat myself at a restaurant but I don't crave fast food. Luckily I'm not like my father, who has a sweet tooth, otherwise I'd have to change weight class (laughs)."