I feared that the women would be overshadowed when they moved to October 15th, but they were the ray of hope in the boxing landscape that is even more divided than ever. With fighters forgoing large parts of their prime, waiting upon other fighters to fight, we saw four of the best fighters in women’s boxing face each other in a historic event. 

In the end, we saw what most of us, who are not in denial knew. Claressa Shields is the greatest women’s boxer of all time, more than likely, and she faced the only woman to defeat her, Savannah Marshall, in the United Kingdom, Marshall’s home country, only to take the fight to her, and create a modern masterpiece, which ended with her becoming an undisputed champion, yet again. 

I know some fans don’t like women’s boxing, but with Katie Taylor vs. Amanda Serrano and now Claressa Shields vs. Savannah Marshall, becoming instant classics, it might be worth your time to start watching women’s boxing – as the fights at the highest level are made. 

The takeaway wasn’t the fight itself, it was Shields corner, seeing those who care about Shields, day-in, and day out, wanting her to perform to her standards. The joy in their faces when Marshall, a tough and rugged fighter known to bully smaller fighters started to exchange, Shields met fire with fire. It was the “heck yeah” moment as fight fans yearn for. It was two modern greats in their own right, Claressa Shields and Savannah Marshall giving it all they had. 

Shields fought Marshall on Marshall’s terms and won, how about that…

What we got was something brutal enough to be a fight, and impactful enough on the sport to potentially be called a social movement. We saw two fighters enter the ring, but once they left – they were no longer that, they were legends, at least in my eyes. 

Shields is now undisputed. We no longer define her by the expectations set by other fighters, it now comes down to how far Shields can extend her greatness, as greatness is now her standard of being in the sport of boxing.

Congrats to Claressa and Savannah for making my afternoon much better, and for giving me a day I will never forget for the rest of my life.

Full transparency, watching the fight I thought it was about 96-94 for Shields or a draw. Marshall fought her way back into this bout in the second half, making it one of these great bouts.

undercard

We have a new queen at 130 lbs., as Alycia Baumgardner got a split decision victory over Mikaela Mayer to win the WBO, IBF, WBC, and a couple of other belts only hardcore fight fans regard.

The fight was tense, competitive and exciting, but the definition of a slew of swing rounds. Baumgardner clearly won the first three rounds, and Mayer won some mid-rounds, but beyond that it was simply what you perceive as more effective. With so much trash-talking and bad blood, the two at times waited on each other to land something effective, meaning that with such a small output, it came down to what you like to see in a fight or fighter. 

Judging fans and people I respect, and how they viewed the fight. It simply came down to the fighter they liked more entering the fight, with who they thought won the bout.

The judges edged it for Baumgardner with two scoring it for her, I had it a draw, Mikaela was pissed, and after the fight Baumgardner simply explained that no rematch will occur as she wants to face WBA 130 lbs champion Choi Hyun-Mi, who is promoted by Paco Damian of Woodland, Ca, by the way, as Baumgardner wants to become undisputed. 

For such a good fight, the result felt incomplete. It feels like now we have even more conflict between Baumgardner and Mayer. Knowing the way boxing is now – a political endeavor in which you exert your power over your opponent when you’re in an advantageous situation, it will seemingly be a long-time, if ever again, we see Baumgardner vs. Mayer II, and that’s a shame – as it was a really good fight, one suitable to headline a card on its own merit. 

Even more – it had a feeling of being a possible trilogy in the making organically. 

Stuff That Stood Out…

Lauren Price is really friggin good. Price will inevitably fight someone famous, and though her stoppage win, might have been a bit of a mercy stoppage – nothing fake or phony about her skillset. Price is the future of women’s boxing.

Caroline Dubois looked the part of a future U.K. main eventer, as her straight punches, and entertaining style stood out to many observers, super flyweight Ginny Fuchs got a six-round decision win, also Price’s partner Karriss Artingstall got a win – Artingstall seemingly has a different level of power for a women’s featherweight compared to her peers from the way her opponent reacted to the punches. 

Wilder Gets Quick KO Return

It took mere minutes for Deontay Wilder, the former WBC heavyweight world champion to get back in the win column as he stopped former sparring partner Robert Helenius in the first round of their pay-per-view fight. 

Wilder has unreal power, a showman, and if matched with the best fighters in the world – is one of the most entertaining fighters since his power is always a threat. Helenius coming off two big wins was deserving of this fight, maybe not on pay-per-view, but the end result is what tends to happen if you’re not a top-tier heavyweight facing Wilder. The guy below the world title level tends to fall to Wilder’s power. 

The next challenge for Wilder, one of the exciting top heavyweights – throw a name in a hat, and pick any. Usyk, Joshua, Joe Joyce, any of them make great fights with Wilder.

This was the perfect way for Wilder to return in that he made a ton of money, and got a highlight-reel KO.

Mission accomplished. 

PPV undercard

Caleb Plant with a new trainer knocked out former world champion Anthony Dirrell. The fight happened and is a WBC super middleweight eliminator, but in all honesty – we were waiting for an outcome to be determined to see where the winner goes. It was a fight – we like fights, but it wasn’t one we were calling for as Plant is one of the more interesting current super middleweight contenders in the division, but facing an aging Dirrell with some many suitable contenders gave off some strong “meh” vibes. 

The win creates an exciting assortment of new fights for Plant from David Benavidez to Jermall Charlo – hopefully, his next fight is a fun one. 

Heavyweight Frank Sanchez got a ninth-round technical knockout over Carlos Negron. Sanchez just needs to do more, to get into big fights. Sanchez is far too willing to fight the fight he wants to fight, which doesn’t leave a strong impression on the fans and viewers, which means it will take him that much longer until he gets a big fight. Though he got a KO, it felt like we watched two episodes of a sitcom to get there – even though we didn’t.

118 lbs contender Emmanuel Rodriguez got yet another defining win as he upset previously unbeaten Gary Antonio Russell in the opening bout. 

The bout was a rematch of a fight that ended in 16 seconds due to injury, the second one left no doubt, and also signaled an alarming trend. This is the second Russell brother to lose in 2022, as Gary Russell Jr., lost to Mark Magsayo, this coming in the same year, they lost their father. 

Rodriguez rocked Russell early on and finally dropped him in round eight. The win should put him in a position to fight for a world title, if Naoya Inoue vacates the division if he is able to beat Paul Butler later this year. Rodriguez is looking to become a two-time world champion, as he was previously the bantamweight IBF champion.

undercard

154 lber Vito Mielnicki Jr., is a decorated amateur but has what seemingly tends to be the misfortune of being very talented and turning professional very early in life. Mielnicki Jr., defeated Limberth Ponce in a ten-round fight, it was a fight in which Mielnicki Jr., gained experience and ring time, but despite fighting three times in ten-round bouts, Mielnicki Jr.’s year seemingly has come and went with little impact on the greater boxing collective. The reasoning for that, is being lower on the card – I am hoping Mielnicki Jr., is able to fight on some of the main cards in 2023, in which we can see if he is a viable contender. It is notable that Joey Spencer fought Ponce in the past, and Mielnicki is at the same weight class as Spencer currently.

Lightweight contender Michel Rivera defeated Jerry Perez and even dropped him, but the big issue is simple. Rivera is good – but he somehow never quite stands out. Frank Martin, a fellow lightweight contender, fought Perez and stopped him – Rivera, who is vying for a Gervonta “Tank” Davis fight, or a world title fight, has had trouble securing fight dates, and went to a decision with Perez. Rivera wants the big fights, but he needs the big performance, as it is clear the skill is there, but this is also an entertainment industry as well.

Heavyweight Gurgen Hovhannisyan of Armenia, outclassed Michael Coffie en route to stopping him in the sixth round. Coffie, now has lost three out of his last four fights, as the 36-year-old pro boxer now might explore other career paths. The big takeaway – boxing is a coldgame. Jonnie Rice beat Coffie twice, including once in the beginning of this year, on January 1st, and seemingly has gotten punished not rewarded for his b-side wins, a cruel reminder boxing is political in nature, first and foremost. 

Hovhannisyan looks like a fun heavyweight, but one who needs some more seasoning before getting to the next tier of opponent. At 4-0, and with a win over Coffie, Hovhannisyan will probably be targeting fringe contenders or full-on contenders in the near future. 

Stuff That Stood Out

Micahel Angeletti is now on my prospect of the year list as he stopped former amateur standout Jeremy Adorno, who was undefeated going into this fight. Angeletti dropped Adorno twice, as Adorno’s legs appeared funny – only for his corner to stop it in the corner between round five and six after he took some serious punishment to end the round. 

James Evans got off the deck in round two, to stop Geovany Bruzon in a mild upset deep on the undercard. 

The Devin Haney Show 

Devin Haney proved he could do it again, holding off a strong opening two rounds of George Kambosos Jnr., as he landed big right hands after big right hands – as his lead punch. Haney outclassed Kambosos Jnr., in his hometown. 

The fight had muted interest, but Haney exchanged with Kambosos Jnr., as he stayed in the pocket beating up Kambosos Jnr., outside the first two rounds, which were close. Once, Haney got his timing it was a display of Kambosos’ toughness.

The undertones of the fight are to look past as Kambosos Jnr., fired his former manager Peter Kahn, who guided him to the first undisputed fight along with Javiel Centeno, as it was a new crew in his corner. Something that is hard to look past knowing that Kahn, and Centeno, were with him for fights like Mickey Bey on a Top Rank prelim, as well as his fight with Lee Selby. 

Haney is one of the best fighters it is a shame this fight had to happen, as Haney defeated Kambosos Jnr. easily in the first fight, that Haney will not get the votes he should this year for being the 2022 fighter of the year, as he simply was too good in those two fights.

“I should definitely be in pound-for-pound rankings,” said Haney after the fight. “…I also beat the [Kambosos Jnr] in his hometown, twice.”

Haney welcomed a fight with Vasyl Lomachenko in his next outing. 

Undercard

Jason Moloney picked up a win over Nawaphon Kaikanha, winning the 12-round fight by a unanimous decision. 

Amari Jones got a win on the undercard, the Oakland, CA fighter signed to Devin Haney Promotions, continues to build up his record, and look impressive. 

Andrew Moloney defeated Norbelto Jimenez of the Dominican Republic in a 10-round junior bantamweight bout, with the judges seeing it 97-90, 98-88, 98-89. The bout puts Andrew Moloney in the running to land a world title fight, or big fight in the future. Moloney scored a slew of knockdowns in this fight. This is Moloney’s fourth straight win since losing the rubber match to Joshua Franco. 

Moloney called out Kazuto Ioka after the fight.

In a fight most will overlook, I urge you not. Cherneka Johnson was able to overcome a gruesome cut to defeat Susie Ramadan in an IBF women’s junior featherweight belt, which was way too much fun. The judges saw it 97-90, 96-92, 96-91.

Club Shows

Liam Paro outclassed Brock Jarvis, who looks good getting off the bus but is flawed in his technique. Paro caught him with a left hand in round one, and Jarvis couldn’t get up. 

Skye Nicolson, a featherweight who was a 2020 Olympian, won the commonwealth title, and now is a ten-round fighter. Nicolson will fight for a world title very soon – maybe in her next fight.

Undefeated Cesar Mateo Tapia upset fellow unbeaten fighter Abdoulaye Mayweather

Demsey McKean, a heavyweight got a tenth-round KO, McKean is hoping to get an Anthony Joshua fight.

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Heather Hardy won a six-round decision in New York on Thursday. 

Heather Hardy said a cautionary quote at the end of the night stating “This is what I do, I can’t stop until I do it anymore.”

That quote gives me a tiny chill, as Hardy is nearing the end of her career based upon her age, and though inspirational – Hardy is someone I don’t want to see hang on too long, as this quote felt to allude to me to staying in boxing until something tells her she has to quit.

The undercard saw a slew of knockouts as Andy Dominguez, a flyweight got a first-round KO, 140 lber Petros Ananyan got a sixth-round KO, and 154 lbs Ivan Golub got a fourth-round stoppage as well on the card. 

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A potential prospect of the year contender saw Anthony Olascuaga get an impressive knockout victory in New York.

Mikiah Kreps beat undefeated Carmarie Matos Vargas in a six-rounder at 118 lbs.

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Featherweight Peter McGrail, whom was a 2020 Olympian, and many have high hopes for stopped Alexander Espinoza in five rounds. McGrail is being moved fast, as in his fifth pro fight, he is already a ten-round fighter. Also on the card, Jazza Dickins won the IBO featherweight world title defeating Lerato Dlamini in a sneaky good chess-match, that hardcore fight fans should search out. 

MMA in 500 Words Or Less

Alexa Grasso got a five round decision over Viviane Araújo in the main event of a UFC card. Other notable results Jonathan Martinez knocked out Cub Swanson, and Alonzo Menifield knocked out Misha Cirkunov.