Francesca Hennessy continued her rise through the super-bantamweight ranks on Friday night, successfully defending her WBA Intercontinental title and moving her unbeaten record to 6-0 with another impressive performance at London’s iconic Royal Albert Hall.

The 20-year-old rising star lit up the famous venue with a dazzling ring entrance – and followed it up with an equally polished display in the ring.

A late change of opponent saw Hennessy face the always-game Gemma Ruegg, but the adjustment did little to disrupt the rhythm of the young champion. Staying composed throughout, Hennessy once again showed the growing layers to her skillset, combining sharp footwork with clean, accurate punching from both orthodox and southpaw stances.

Last time out in October 2024, Hennessy impressed with her defensive instincts against the dangerous Ana De Moraes. This time, she added further dimensions to her game – using smart angles, varied attacks, and a sharp counter-punching display to control the action.

Her ability to switch-hit seamlessly left Ruegg struggling to close the distance, as Hennessy repeatedly walked her opponent onto crisp counters from either stance.

It was another statement performance from one of the sport’s brightest prospects, as her rapid development continues to gather momentum toward world honours.

“The aim is still to become the youngest Undisputed World Champion,” said Hennessy afterwards. “I feel the improvements every time I step out there, and I’m confident I can grab all four belts.”