Claressa Shields Fights on Nov. 17, on DAZN and other Female Fight News

Female Fight News Claressa Shields and World Title Fights

 

By David A. Avila

Claressa Shields will be fighting Scotland’s Hannah Rankin in defense of the IBF and WBA middleweight titles on Nov. 17, said Salita Promotions. It keeps the ball rolling for the undefeated super star.

Despite a cancellation of the mega fight with WBC middleweight titlist Christina Hammer due to medical problems with the German fighter, the Michigan native will be fighting another marquee fight to salvage the rest of 2018.

Shields, 23, recently took part in perhaps the Fight of the Year when she battled Costa Rica’s Hanna Gabriels last June in Detroit, Michigan. It showcased her grit and determination and convinced many of her status as a true superstar. Now she returns to fight another Hannah.

“I’m so excited to be able to give my fans another chance to see me defend my championship this year and to have the opportunity to win the WBC middleweight title on November 17,” said Shields. “I appreciate the efforts of Salita Promotions, my manager Mark Taffet, and Matchroom Boxing in putting this fight together so quickly. I will be in great shape and will provide a great performance.”

The middleweight clash will be streamed live on DAZN and takes place in Mulvane, Kansas.

Rankin, 28, recently lost a bid for the super middleweight world title last June to New York’s Alicia Napoleon. But now is returning to middleweight and looks to test Shields. It’s her biggest fight yet.

“I’m excited about the fight and proud to be representing Scotland on such a big stage,” stated Rankin. “In boxing, nothing is impossible and on November 17, it will be just us in there when the bell rings and I think it’s going to be one hell of a fight.”

Mark Taffet, who manages Shields, said the WBC middleweight title will also be at stake for the winner.

TV time and streaming

Heather Hardy won the rematch with Shelly Vincent and the two featherweights showed HBO what it was missing in not including female prize fights these past four decades. Not only did the two provide 10 action-packed rounds, they also sold most of the tickets at the Hulu Theater in Madison Square Garden.

For years HBO denied the women a spot on televised fights. Instead, it was Showtime that took the supposed gamble and put females on its network. But so far, Showtime has not completely put in all their chips. The women fights are relegated to the Shobox cards or on the Showtime streaming app. Only Claressa Shields has been given main event status.

Now DAZN has entered the fight game and they have already shown Katie Taylor and Jessica McCaskill. In several weeks it will be showing Shields versus Ranking. If they continue the trend of showcasing female prize fights it will definitely attract the female boxing audience that goes undiscovered by mainstream media. Recently, the addition of Golden Boy Promotions and DiBella Entertainment to the DAZN account will add even more female prizefighters on DAZN streamed fights. Both promotion companies have several top notch female fighters like Seniesa Estrada, Marlen Esparza, Amanda Serrano, Alicia Napoleon and others.

ESPN+ is another streaming source and has shown super featherweight sensation Mikaela Mayer, but she remains the only female on that streaming device.

Poland’s best

Poland’s Ewa Brodnicka (16-0) at age 34 recently won the WBO super featherweight world title and kept it with a decision win over South Africa’s Nozipho Bell (8-2-1) on Friday in Lublin, Poland. The super featherweight division is one of the hotter weight classes among female fighters and is strong in Europe.

Others in the loaded weight class are Finland’s Eva Wahlstrom, America’s Melissa St. Vil, and Germany’s Ramona Kuehne who defeated Poland’s Sylwia Maksym on Saturday in Germany.  Kuehne briefly held the WBO title that Brodnicka now has. Maybe a clash between the two will come soon?

World title clashes

Mexico’s queen of boxing Mariana “Barby” Juarez (51-9-4) retained the WBC bantamweight world title by unanimous decision after 10 rounds against former world champion Susie Ramadan (27-3) of Australia.

Juarez was the aggressor throughout the fight using her jab and straight punches as Ramadan tried to keep the fight outside while countering with looping punches. After 10 rounds the scores were 100-90, 99-91, 98-91 for Juarez. A point was deducted from Ramadan for hitting behind the back.

Ramadan showed athleticism and quickness with her punches and had her best round in the 10th.  The Aussie fighter preferred to fight outside and when the two got in close there was lots of holding. It was a clash of different styles. Mexican fighters prefer to fight inside and Ramadan liked the outside.

The world title fight took place in San Luis Potosi, Mexico.

In a nontitle fight Sulem Urbina (8-0) remained undefeated with a six round victory by unanimous decision over Angela Nolazco (1-3-1) in Culiacan, Mexico.

“I wanted to show everyone that I can fight inside too,” said Urbina, a former Mexican Olympian. “I went forward, fought inside, and showed I was stronger, faster and smarter.”

Another Mexican world champion Maribel Ramirez (13-9-2) defended her WBA super flyweight title in Switzerland and defeated Aniya Seki (34-4-2) by unanimous decision after 10 rounds. Ramirez, who fights out of Mexico City, floored Seki early in the fight and cruised to victory. Last year Ramirez traveled to Peru and defeated Linda Lecca for the WBA title. It’s stark proof once again to never underestimate a Mexican female fighter. This past year several Mexican fighters with seemingly mediocre records upset fighters in other countries. Guadalupe Martinez is another Mexican super flyweight who upset Zulina Munoz for the WBC super flyweight world title.

 

More Female Fight News

Argentina

On Saturday Nov. 3, bantamweights Roxana Bermudez (0-0) and Antonella Molina (0-0) meet in a four round bout at Arroyo Seco, Santa Fe.

 

Belgium

Nina Pavlovic (1-1-1) was the winner by majority decision after six rounds versus Florence De Coster (2-1) on Saturday Oct. 27. The super featherweight fight took place at Brugge.

On Friday Nov.2, bantamweights Jill Serron (4-1) and Sonia Klos (0-3) meet in a eight round fight at Limburg.

 

Bulgaria

Savannah Marshall (4-0) beat Yanina Orozco (4-1) by unanimous decision after 10 rounds to win a regional WBA title on Saturday Oct. 27. The super middleweight fight took place at Sofia.

 

Canada

On Saturday Nov. 3, super lightweights Kandi Wyatt (6-0) and Zsofia Bedo (19-41-1) meet in an eight round contest at Calgary.

 

Colombia

Jenifer Rodriguez (8-2-2) won by technical knockout in the third round versus Geraldine Perez (0-5) on Friday Oct. 26. The featherweight match was held at Palmar de Varela.

 

France

AmiraHamzaoui (11-2-1) and Snezana Siljkovic (1-0-1) fought to a draw after six rounds on Saturday Oct. 27. The super flyweight match was held at Epernay.

Marie Helene Meron (5-0-1) and Aleksandra Vujovic (4-8-2) fought to a split draw after six rounds on Saturday Oct. 27. The super lightweight fight was held at Laon.

On Friday Nov. 2, bantamweights Segolene Lefebvre (10-0) and Yesica Marcos (28-1-2) meet in a 10 round world title fight at Nord.

 

Germany

Ramona Kuehne (28-1) was the winner by unanimous decision after eight rounds with Poland’s Sylwia Maksym (2-5) on Saturday Oct. 27. The super featherweight match took place at Weissenfels.

 

Japan

Airi Motoki (1-0) won her debut by knockout of Hinata Mizumoto (0-2) in the third round on Monday Oct. 22. The super featherweight fight took place at Tokyo.

On Wednesday Oct. 31, minimum weights Chie Higano (7-7) and Yumi Narita (3-2-2) meet in a six round fight for the Japanese title at Tokyo.

 

Malaysia

Hayatan Najihin (1-0) defeated Elika Tarigan (0-1) by decision after four rounds on Sunday Oct. 21. The featherweight fight was held at Johore Bahru.

 

Mexico

Sulem Urbina (8-0) defeated Angela Nolazco (1-3-1) by decision after six rounds on Saturday Oct. 27. The flyweight match took place in Culiacan.

Mariana Juarez (51-9-4) was the winner by unanimous decision after 10 rounds versus Australia’s Susie Ramadan (27-3) on Saturday Oct. 27. The WBC bantamweight world title fight was held in San Luis Potosi.

 

Monaco

Nahed Kharchi (4-1) knocked out Marijana Dasovic (0-1) in the first round on Thursday Oct. 25. The featherweight fight was held at Fontvielle.

 

Poland

Dorota Norek (3-0) defeated Wiktoria Sadej (0-1) by split decision after four rounds on Saturday Oct. 27. The super flyweight match took place at Wieliczka.

Ewa Brodnicka (16-0) was the winner by unanimous decision after 10 rounds against Nozipho Bell (8-2-1) on Friday Oct. 26. The WBO super featherweight world title fight took place at Lublin. The champion Brodnicka, 34, was making the first defense of the title she won last April. Bell fights out of South Africa.

 

Spain

Catalina Diaz (4-2) won by decision after six rounds against Joana Suarez (3-1) on Saturday Oct. 27. The flyweight contest took place at Gallarta.

 

Switzerland

Maribel Ramirez (13-9-2) defeated Aniya Seki (34-4-2) by unanimous decision after 10 rounds on Saturday Oct. 27. Ramirez, 32, fights out of Mexico City and retains the WBA super flyweight world title.

 

Thailand

Himeki Kameda (2-0) knocked out Saowaluk Nareepangsri (7-14) in the third round on Friday Oct. 26. The minimum weight fight took place at Rangsit.

Anchalee Mankong (2-3) defeated Jitramas Manadee (0-1) by decision after six rounds on Monday Oct. 22. The bantamweight fight took place at Bangkok and was one of six female bouts. Others were Kannika Bangnara (1-0) knocking out Manatsavee Srithongkham (0-1); Suphansa Phooong (1-0) beating Areeya Sahot (0-2) in six round super bantamweight match; Watcharin Khodam (1-0) knocking out Sunisa Mangsuk (0-2) in round two of a minimum weight match; Tassana Paladsrichuay (1-4) beating Apinya Srinuan (0-2) in a four round light flyweight contest; and Ketmanee Chasing (1-0) winning by decision after four rounds versus Phennapha Subin (0-1) in a minimum weight fight.

 

United Kingdom

On Saturday Nov. 3, lightweights Jade Taylor (1-0) and Lana Cooper (0-9) meet in a four round fight at Lancashire.

 

USA

Heather Hardy (22-0, 4 KOs) won by unanimous decision over rival Shelly Vincent (23-2, 1 KO) after 10 rounds on Saturday Oct. 27, to win the vacant WBO featherweight world title in New York City. It had been two years since their first encounter that ended in a close win for Hardy, and this time the scores were a little wider. Vincent fought hard but was unable to penetrate inside with success. Hardy, 36, is based in Brooklyn, New York. Vincent, 39, is based out of Rhode Island.

Ayanna Vasquez (5-0-1) was the winner by unanimous decision after eight rounds on Saturday Oct. 27. The featherweight regional title fight took place in San Antonio, Texas. Also, Briana Gonzalez (4-1-2) beat Cristina Fuentes (9-10-6) by majority decision to win a regional featherweight title.

On Saturday Nov. 3, super flyweights Adelaida Ruiz (6-0) and Jhosep Vizcaino (7-7) meet in a six round fight at Montebello, California. Ruiz, 30, has won three consecutive fights by knockout.