Being under the spotlight in front of a home-town crowd can add to the pressure even the most experienced of competitors feel. Ellie Harber admits having friends in the audience will be on her mind when she enters the ring in Watford, but she is determined to use their presence to help spur her on to world title glory.

The Muay Thai fighter is no stranger to winning accolades at a global level. The 17-year-old won her tenth title on the world stage in March and is now preparing to face Sweden’s Zahra Al-Mougrabi for the vacant female WBC world Under-18 super featherweight crown at ROAR 27 at Pryzm nightclub on Saturday.

Describing the prospect of fighting on her doorstep as “pretty cool”, Harber said: “I’ve got friends coming that have always wanted to see me fight, but with the travel and everything it was just too complicated, but to be able to fight here means so many people that I want to be able to see me at least once can come. And for such a big fight. It’s the WBC Under-18’s world title, it doesn’t get bigger than this at this age. Knowing that I’ve got people here to watch me is going to push me a bit more.”

Watford Observer: Ellie Harber has been training in Thailand ahead of the fight.Ellie Harber has been training in Thailand ahead of the fight. (Image: Contributed)

Saturday’s show will feature some of the best European and UK fighters in the combat sport as the ROAR Fighting Championship, which started out at Watford Colosseum in 2016, returns to the town.

Harber, who fights out of Knowsley Academy in Edgware, took time out from training to speak to the Watford Observer at her Croxley Green home this week to look ahead to look ahead to the fight and discuss her journey and long-term ambitions.

The criminal and forensic psychology student at West Herts College has been delighted with how her preparations have gone, boosted by being able to train in the martial art’s country of origin, Thailand, last week.

She explained: “It was kind of a last-minute thing because I’m still in college but I’ve done my exams now so I can focus on fighting. I decided to go out and it was a week where I could just purely focus on training and the fight which was amazing. I’ve felt so good this fight camp, it’s probably better than I’ve ever felt.

“I’m going back (to Thailand) in the summer for a month anyway to fight and train and it’s one of the top gyms. Because I’d had commitments, I thought I could fit a week in and it would be good to go by myself for a week and understand how it would be the summer, so I thought about it and asked my parents and they made it possible.

“I didn’t have the stresses of college or anything here. I could just eat, sleep, train, that’s all I wanted.”

It was tiring listening to Harber outline what a typical week’s training involves – a combination of running, sparring, pad and bag work, and strength and conditioning with only Friday as a rest day – but it’s that dedication and discipline that has allowed her to already achieve so much at such a young age.

That training schedule has gradually slowed down this week as the fight moves ever closer. “It’s just ticking over,” she said, “making sure I’m at the right weight for Friday and just going over everything we’ve worked on in fight camp. I’m really fit, I’ve trained so hard for this fight so it’s keeping everything ready.”

Turning to her opponent, Harber said: “She’s a strong girl. She’s a good, technical fighter. She’s not as experienced as me but I’ve seen quite a few of her fights and she’s good. It’s going to be a tough fight. We’re quite similar in style as well so it will be quite an interesting fight to watch.”

The former Rickmansworth School student sees her strength as more of a counter-fighter. “I’m not so aggressive,” she said, “I’m more laid back. I like to be last, I like them to come forward and me to hit back and score that way, but if I see the opportunity to go forward I’m not going to hesitate. I’m going to go forward and be aggressive. I can do a bit of both but I like to be more laid back and score.”

Watford Observer: Ellie Harber is fighting at Pryzm on Saturday.Ellie Harber is fighting at Pryzm on Saturday. (Image: Contributed)

The teenager’s involvement with martial arts started as a six-year-old when she admits she was “a really angry child”.

“Outside I was absolutely fine, but at home I couldn’t get my emotions across, I couldn’t express myself,” Harber said. “I’m quite a shy person, I’m getting better now, but I was shy and I didn’t really know how to talk about how I was feeling and I ended up kicking a hole in my Nan’s wall! I think Mum and Dad were like ‘well, we need to find her somewhere.’

“I’ve grown up in a sporty family anyway, both my parents, my grandparents are all sporty, so they took me to do martial arts. I started off doing weapons and things like that, and honestly I loved it, it was the best thing I’ve done. And then when they started doing Kickboxing and Muay Thai I thought ‘this is what I want to do’.

Finding a focus and positive outlet for her anger has progressed to see Harber develop into a multiple title winner. But what motivates her?

“Loads of things,” she responded. “My parents being able to support me and helping me as well, that motivates me knowing I’ve got supportive parents. Mental health as well. Lockdown was a bit of a hit for me, I didn’t have the best mental health and because I wasn’t fighting as well. And I love being in the gym. I love the people, I love the whole vibe, it just keeps me going.”

Becoming WBC Under-18 super featherweight world champion is Harber’s immediate focus but her desire to live and fight with the very best are reflected by her ambitions.

“There’s the ONE championship which is more viewed than the UFC in Asia. I’d like to fight on there. It’s massive. It’s basically the top of Muay Thai. I’d love to be fighting on there. I’d love to probably live in Thailand, to train and fight out there. I want to be with those elite level fighters.”