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Claressa Shields reeled off another world championship victory, her 13th in the paid ranks and made more history to finish a busy weekend of boxing Stateside with a UD10 win over previously unbeaten challenger Danielle Perkins. Yet there was no jeopardy – not for the first time – leading to many critics floating a fantasy matchup between her and former Olympic teammate Mikaela Mayer.
Continue reading “After another one-sided world title win, Mannix and Mora call for Shields-Mayer”
Claressa Shields made more history this past weekend, scoring three knockdowns en route to a R2 TKO win over Canada’s Vanessa Lepage-Joanisse in becoming a four-weight world champion. While the 29-year-old insisted she’d be open to staying at 175lbs going forward, she’s also open to floating between weight divisions as multiple names – including Natasha Jonas – call her name. Continue reading “How do you like that? Shields stops Lepage-Joanisse in R2, open to all comers”
Claressa Shields is a three-weight boxing world champion, two-time Olympic gold medallist and juggling two combat sports as she hopes to conquer MMA as she has done boxing over the past decade. Yet the 29-year-old knows lapping the field isn’t an exciting prospect for fans to watch, so new and unknown challenges like Canada’s Vanessa Lepage-Joanisse are her next port of call. Continue reading “Claressa Shields accepts she must find new challenges, with fresh heavyweight move”
Although a Katie Taylor rematch is possible, unified featherweight world champion Amanda Serrano now has new business at 126lbs after Australia’s Skye Nicolson cruised to seize a vacant title overnight. This proved a largely challenging night for Matchroom – Diego Pacheco and Richardson Hitchins fortunate to escape with their unbeaten records still intact in Las Vegas.
Continue reading “Nicolson easily outboxes Mahfoud to win WBC featherweight gold before Hitchins and Pacheco endure challenging contests”
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I spoke to world champion boxing coach Manny Robles last week after he was announced as the new coach of LA Elite in the Team Combat League about a variety of topics: ranging from why he decided to explore a new venture in an ever-changing sport, his corner work for Rafael Espinoza’s stunning world title win over Robeisy Ramirez to an overview of 2024 and much more besides. Continue reading “Exclusive: Manny Robles interview – 2024 plans, predictions after coaching Rafael Espinoza’s world featherweight title win”
Katie Taylor took the mic and spoke defiantly after a career-best win in her Chantelle Cameron rematch, after which she described it as her real homecoming six months after a first defeat in-front of a raucous Dublin crowd: “Whoever doubted obviously doesn’t know me. The last fight was the worst of me, this was the real me and when I box this way, no-one can beat me.” Continue reading “Taylor edges past Cameron, two-weight undisputed champion as Dublin rejoices”
Savannah Marshall did exactly what she said she would, overcoming a gruelling 20-minute battle over ten rounds against Franchon Crews-Dezurn – snatching the American’s undisputed super-middleweight world titles – as former foe Claressa Shields watched ringside. On the basis of this showing though, it’s difficult to see anything besides a repeat result in a prospective rematch. Continue reading “Marshall outduels Crews-Dezurn to become undisputed world champion, but Shields rematch? The same result”
As a pro rematch vs. undisputed middleweight world champion Claressa Shields potentially awaits the winner, current 168lb queen Franchon Crews-Dezurn ventures to enemy soil tonight looking to avenge a painful amateur defeat twelve years later against former titlist Savannah Marshall. Sound familiar?
Continue reading “Franchon Crews-Dezurn vs. Savannah Marshall: Must-win territory for both in Manchester headliner”
Short-notice challenger Maricela Cornejo gamely absorbed punishment aplenty over a bruising 20 minutes, but was firmly second best against Claressa Shields as the undisputed middleweight queen retained her titles at Detroit’s Little Caesars Arena overnight. The 28-year-old expressed interest in an intriguing world title fight at 168lbs between two former opponents, taking place July 1. Continue reading “Shields retains undisputed titles with shutout UD hometown win over Cornejo”
Maricela Cornejo stepped into the breach after news of original title challenger Hanna Gabriels’ positive drugs test broke last Thursday. The 36-year-old (16-5, 6 KOs) may have three world title defeats to her name, but despite the situation is ‘excited for the world to see Mari 2.0’ tonight. How will she fare this time?
Continue reading “Claressa Shields insists she won’t take short-notice foe Maricela Cornejo lightly”
The worst-kept secret in women’s boxing was announced on Saturday night, as undisputed light-welterweight champion Chantelle Cameron prepares to make the first defence of her belts against undisputed lightweight titlist Katie Taylor in nine weeks’ time on enemy territory. The 31-year-old described it as a surreal feeling, and now has a chance to avenge an amateur defeat 12 years later. Continue reading “Opportunity calls as Chantelle Cameron gets her legacy-building wish on May 20 against Katie Taylor”
Now-former WBO middleweight champion Savannah Marshall remains adamant she’ll avenge her loss to undisputed titlist Claressa Shields with different tactics a second time around, but the 31-year-old expressed a readiness to challenge Franchon Crews Dezurn for the undisputed belts at 168lbs as the Hartlepool native’s stock has risen despite a first pro defeat last October. Continue reading “Marshall discusses tactical gamble backfiring vs. Shields, open to Crews Dezurn matchup at 168lbs”
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