The State of Women’s Boxing In 2026 and More News and Notes Worldwide
By David A. Avila
Is this the greatest year ever in women’s boxing?
The emergence of Most Valuable Promotions, Salita Promotions and Matchroom Boxing as superpowers in the promotion of women’s boxing has propelled the female fight game to heights never seen before.
A few other smaller groups have emerged like Misfits Boxing, DMG bringing their brand of women pugilists and then there are a few major promoters like Golden Boy Promotions who still have a thread remaining in Gabriela Fundora, but that is a mighty big thread.
Meanwhile, Top Rank, which had two of the best female fighters pound-for-pound in the business with Mikaela Mayer and Seniesa Estrada, only has one remaining female fighter in Perla Bazuldua. Mayer switched camps and is now with MVP and rumor has it Estrada is returning from retirement.
So far MVP has managed to obtain a three-year deal with ESPN and Salita Promotions anchored by Claressa Shields has remained competitive with DAZN. These two companies have managed to successfully provide women’s boxing entertainment to the public.
Before 2016, this was not possible.
From 2008 to 2016 women’s boxing was not shown on a major network. A virtual iron curtain was dropped on the sport though there were plenty of outstanding female boxers still in action like Melinda Cooper, Kaliesha West and Layla McCarter.
The iron curtain on women’s boxing finally crumbled in August 2016 when Claressa Shields won a second Olympic gold medal in Brazil on the same day Heather Hardy and Shelly Vincent fought on Coney Island, NYC. Both female boxing events were televised on the same day.
Women’s boxing was back.
Massive 2026 So Far
On February 22, Salita Promotions brought the rematch between Shields and Franchon Crews-Dezurn to Detroit, Michigan. That fight card also featured Danielle Perkins and Shannel Butler and was streamed by DAZN.
Then came the rung of fights for Most Valuable Promotions which has more than 40 female fighters on its roster.
In this year alone MVP has staged four major events including an international event in London, England on April 5, called MVPW01 that featured Caroline DuBois, Ellie Scotney and Chantelle Cameron.
MVPW02 on April 17, in New York City featured Alycia Baumgardner, Lani Daniels and Krystal Rosado. In the Daniels fight she was the underdog against champion Shadasia Green and knocked out the champion.
On May 30, in El Paso, Texas, MVPW03 showcased the star of MVP Amanda Serrano along with Stephanie Han and Lourdes Juarez. It was another sterling card that featured very solid matchmaking. The fight card sold out the arena in El Paso and broke records for a boxing event.
MVPW04 took place on June 13 in Orlando, Florida, it featured Tiara Brown, Oshae Jones and LeAnna Cruz. It also produced two upsets with Nataly Delgado defeating champion Jasmine Artiga and Estefany Alegria beating champion Evelin Bermudez.
All four MVP cards were shown on ESPN and averaged nearly 1 million views.
Drug Testing for Women
So far, MVP does not have a standard drug testing policy for their events. Attempts by this publication to reach MVP have been unsuccessful.
Recently, Shadasia Green was knocked out by Lani Daniels during a world title fight on April 17 in New York City. Drug testing was performed for the event. Green suffered a “brain bleed” which is a serious injury that can be fatal.
A month earlier, in a ProBox.TV card held in San Bernardino, Calif. a female light flyweight bout between Jocelyn Camarillo and Isis Sio resulted in a serious injury that saw Sio rendered unconscious and rushed to the hospital. After several days she was released.
Drug testing for PEDs was performed for that female fight that took place in California. Not all states mandate drug testing. Usually, only title fights have drug testing because of the expense.
Not all drug testing is equal.
VADA testing is considered the most comprehensive form of examination and has proved superior to other forms of testing.
The WBC has mandated that all fighters participating in a title fight be tested. VADA testing is the preferred form of testing because of its stringent policies and wide-ranging examinations.
The late Victor Conte, an expert on PED testing for Vada, said that testing for women is even more crucial for women than men. The reason: women do not have the testosterone levels of men. So when they are administered something like HGH their testosterone levels jump off the chart compared to a women who is not administered HGH. Whereas with men, the significance is much smaller and less impactful.
It’s like putting a brick in a women’s boxing glove.
So far only one female pro boxer in North America has died from injuries in a boxing ring. Mexico’s Jeanette Zacharias Zapata died on Sept. 2, 2021 five days after losing by stoppage to Canada’s Marie Pier Houle.
Women do pack enough power to knock out an opponent. If you add PEDs to a fighter that can lead to deadly consequences. It is critical that all boxing promoters and sanctioning organizations mandate strict testing for PEDs.
More Fight News
Argentina
Jazmin Gala (8-4-2) beat Martina Doucet (2-1) by decision after six rounds on Saturday June 20. The light fly fight took place in Buenos Aires. Also, flyweight Natalina Serra (5-2) beat Maira Loyola (0-8-1) in six.
Deborah Anahi (23-3-1) won by unanimous decision after 10 rounds against Lucia De Los Angeles (5-10) on Friday June 19. The super flyweight fight took place in Junin.
Romina Nunez (4-10-1) defeated Florencia Compiano (2-2-1) by decision after six rounds on Friday June 19. The super fly fight took place in Buenos Aires.
On Friday June 26, lightweights Brisa Rosario (9-1-1) and Nicole Morales (3-11-2) meet eight rounds at Guaymallen. Also, flyweights Dana Mallen (1-0) and Tamara Medina (0-2) meet four.
Belgium
Melissa Antoine (1-0) defeated Tijana Draskovic (2-18) after four rounds on Saturday June 20. The super flyweight match was held in Herstal.
Amy Naert (13-7) won by decision after six rounds versus Evelin Camporeale (7-19-1) on Saturday June 20. The match was held in Brugge.
Canada
Marie Pier Houle (11-2-3) and Maria Moreno (10-4-1) fought to a split decision draw after eight rounds on Wednesday June 17. The welterweight fight took place in Montreal. Also, super feather Alessia Mansueto (2-0) beat Makarena Arcos (0-1-2) after four.
China
Xidi Wang (4-1-1) and Li Gz Li (1-0-1) fought to a draw after four rounds on Sunday June 21. The light fly fight was held in Shanghai.
Kyeong Ju Bae (5-2) knocked out Quiyan Lu (5-1) in the ninth round on Saturday June 20. The regional super bantam title fight was held in Shanghai.
France
Alice Moro (3-0) beat Eva Cantos (9-29-1) by decision after six rounds on Friday June 19. The lightweight match was held in Sospel.
Germany
Chanell Reinhardt (2-0-1) beat Cristina Mazzotta (1-3) after four rounds on Saturday June 20. The super middleweight fight took place in Baden Wurttemburg.
Japan
Yui Yamashita (3-0-1) knocked out Hina Kumaki (0-1-1) in the second round on Sunday June 21. The super fly match took place in Sapporo.
Mikua Tamaki (2-0-1) knocked out Nobuko Atoji (0-1-1) in the first round on Wednesday June 17. The bantam fight was held in Tokyo.
On Wednesday June 24, super lights Arisa Tsubata (3-0) and Duangiai Saejiam (2-1) six rounds in Tokyo.
Kenya
On Thursday June 25, super lights Juliet Wambui (0-0) and Nazruh Nyambura (0-0) meet four rounds at Nairobi.
Serbia
Sara Cirkovic (3-0) knocked out Letitia Amanua (6-1) in the fourth round on Friday June 19. The bantam fight took place in Belgrade.
South Africa
On Friday June 26, bantams Tarisai Mutsau (2-2) and Kabisile Tshabalala (12-8-1) meet eight rounds at Johannesburg.
Spain
Cintia Sanchez (4-0) won by unanimous decision after 10 rounds against Keyla Jimenez (4-2) on Friday June 19. The minimumweight regional title fight was held in Madrid.
Thailand
On Saturday June 27, minimumweights Nickole Holmers (2-0) and Aylin Gonzalez (2-0) meet four rounds at Perez Zeledon. Also, Nicole Bustos (0-0) and Noyling Ampie (0-1) meet four.
United Kingdom
Jade Pearce (5-0) defeated Kirsty Hill (7-4) by decision after 10 rounds on Saturday June 20. The super featherweight regional title fight took place in Middlesbrough. Also, super fly Sophia Maycroft (1-0) beat Sara Orsagi (3-16) in six.
Rianna Doforo (4-1) knocked out Orsolya Moldovan (2-8-1) in the second round on Saturday June 20. The lightweight match was held in Rotherham.
Bianca Johnson (5-0) beat Alisha Lewis (1-6) after six rounds on Saturday June 20. The featherweight fight took place in Sheffield. Also, super feather Amy Greatorex (2-12) beat Tracy Webber (0-2) in six; and bantam Florence Inett (1-0) beat Sydney Chambers (0-7). In four.
On Friday June 26, lightweights Ella Macdonald (0-0) and Katherine Quintana (0-44-1) meet four rounds at Belfast, Northern Ireland.
USA
Rosselyn Chavira (1-0) defeated Wendy Villegas (2-9) by decision after four rounds on Saturday June 20. The super bantam fight was held in Tucson.
Brooke Mullen (3-0) won by unanimous decision after four rounds versus Miranda Barber (3-7) on Saturday June 20. The super welterweight fight took place in Philadelphia, Pa. Also, lightweight Isabel Lopez (1-0) knocked out Gabrielle Roman (0-3) in the third.
Kayla Gomez (1-0) defeated Shaytain Creer (0-1) by unanimous decision after four rounds on Friday June 19. The super flyweight fight took place in Long Beach, Calif.
On Wednesday June 24, super lightweights Albina Moldazhanova (3-0) and Claudia Herrera (5-6-1) meet six rounds at Indio, Calif. Also, super flies Shavon Furrow (2-0) and Fayeda An (0-3-1) meet four; feathers Thalia Limon (4-2) and Haley Pasion (2-4) meet four; light flies Jadalie Medeiros (5-0) and Yadira Mendoza 1-0) meet four; and super feathers Silvia Fernandez (0-2) and Danielle Fishback (0-0) meet four.
