Raven Chapman and Brain Bleeds, Atlanta Fight Card and More News
By David A. Avila
Recently, England’s Raven Chapman was hospitalized after feinting after a sparring session. It was revealed she had suffered a “brain bleed”.
Boxing is an extremely dangerous sport because it involves one person hitting another person in the head.
Any doctor would advise against participating in the sport.
Brain bleeds, in particular, are a constant danger for boxers who engage in exchanging vicious punches.
This year three female prizefighters sustained injuries that resulted in brain bleeds:
In late March in San Bernardino, Calif. a fighter named Isis Sio sustained head injuries during a fight with Jocelyn Camarillo that led to a brain bleed. She survived.
Then on April 17, in New York City, IBF and WBO super middleweight champion Shadasia Green was battered by Lani Daniels and sent to the hospital with a brain bleed. She survived too.
Last week, Raven Chapman a British boxer was taken to the hospital after feinting during a sparring session. A brain bleed was the cause for her collapse.
There are four different forms of brain bleeds depending on the location of the bleed. What is important to know is that for survivors, consider yourself lucky. Only 13 to 39 percent of survivors regain total independence in daily self-care. Others are unable to fend for themselves if they survive. And still others die.
I am one of those lucky ones. It was 12 years ago that I endured a “brain bleed”. I had been suffering for months and couldn’t understand why my balance was off and why it became difficult to climb stairs.
Normally I’m an easy-going person and love covering boxing events. It was during Juan Manuel Marquez’s fight against Mike Alvarado on May 17, 2014 at the Inglewood Forum that I realized something was wrong. As I walked around in the dark all I could think about was getting in my car and driving home. A few days later a boxing event at the Santa Monica Pier was taking place and as I tried to climb the wooden stairs of the pier I kept falling. People around me lent me a hand. Once again before the event began I started thinking I should return home 70 miles away and I did. My wife realized I was not myself and simply drove me to the emergency hospital. She told them my symptoms and next thing you know they rushed me into an MRI and a doctor told me I had a brain bleed.
They asked me if I had been hit in the head recently and I told them no. They told me usually boxers sustain this kind of injury and I laughed inside because of all the boxing events I had covered for decades and now I had a boxing-type injury. They performed surgery immediately and cut my skull open so that blood could escape to relieve pressure to the brain. I was kept in that hospital for nearly a month. I suffered seizures and memory loss while in the hospital. Friends and family visited me and though I had short conversations I still don’t recall much of it.
While in the hospital an infection occurred and I was kept even longer. I asked my wife to bring my laptop so I could begin my weekly routine of boxing columns. I still needed to get paid. Eventually I was released but my driver’s license was suspended six months because I had endured seizures in the hospital. I was forced to take extra exams to prove I would not get seizures while driving.
Despite all this, I was one of the lucky ones. I regained all my mental faculties and was able to walk and talk without problems. The one major element I lost was stamina. I no longer have the ability to run marathons or exercise for hours. That was gone forever.
I still get headaches and worry that it might be a sign of something worse. So far, I have been lucky.
So, when I read about fighters with the same injury who are talking about returning to boxing I shake my head. If you are able to walk and talk like before the injury, consider yourself very fortunate. There are many boxers not as lucky as you who died from their injuries or are bedridden and unable to fend for themselves.
Do not tempt fate and definitely do not return to the boxing ring. Even just to spar.
Claressa in Atlanta
In a dangerous move Claressa Shields (18-0) returns to middleweight and faces Kaye Scott (5-1-1) the current WBC and WBA middleweight titlist on Saturday Aug. 16, at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. DAZN will stream the Salitas Promotions and Wynn Records fight card.
By shrinking down from 174 pounds to 160 pounds at age 31, Shields risks slowing down her reflexes, speed and stamina to fight a very strong champion in Scott. Normally, Shields is too physically talented for anyone she faces but when you are forced to lose weight, the process can weaken even the strongest and best athletes.
But, if Shields can make the weight and maintain the form that enabled her to win two Olympic gold medals and world championships in five divisions, then perhaps the boxing world can see the Flint, Michigan super star keep her run going.
Last week, Canada’s Tamm Thibeault dismantled Australia’s Desley Robinson to win the IBF and WBO middleweight titles. It makes sense to match Thibeault with the winner of Shields and Scott.
Can Shields be Shields at 160 again?
Two other world title fights also take place on the Atlanta card. First, Canada’s Caroline Veyre (11-1) the WBC super feather titlist meets Bernice Ferreira (10-0) the IBO titlist. The winner could face former undisputed super feather champ Alycia Baumgardner for all the titles once again.
A third world title fight pits WBA light heavyweight titlist Danielle Perkins (6-1) against Olivia Curry (7-3-2). It’s Perkins first defense.
Amanda Serrano in Temecula
Seven-weight division champion Amanda “The Real Deal” Serrano performs at Pechanga Resort and Casino in Temecula, Calif. on Aug. 21. She has never boxed in California before, though she did participate in an MMA match in Los Angeles back in 2018.
Serrano (49-4-1, 32 Kos) will fight Argentina’s Lucrecia Manzur (14-4, 7 Kos) on Friday Aug. 21, at Pechanga Casino. The Most Valuable Promotions event will be streamed live on TikTok. It’s the first time the social media giant participates in boxing.
The Puerto Rican super star could establish a record for knockout wins. Currently she is tied with the great Christy Martin with 32 wins by knockout. In Serrano’s last fight she knocked out Cheyenne Hanson to equal Martin’s record.
One other reason to watch Serrano is there has been talk that she could be retiring this year as an active prizefighter. She began fighting professionally in March 2009.
More Fight News
Argentina
Josefina Gatica (1-0) knocked out Yamila Palacios (0-3-1) in the second round on Saturday Aug. 8. The featherweight fight took place in Merlo.
Augustina Romero (4-0) defeated Brisa Aguirre (0-6) after four rounds on Saturday Aug. 8. The minimumweight fight took place in Buenos Aires.
Sofia Antieco (1-0) beat Mirian Basan (0-1) by decision after four rounds on Friday Aug. 7. The light flyweight fight took place in Trelew.
Juliana Pettinato (2-1) defeated Victoria Moreyra (2-11-2) by decision after four on Friday Aug. 7. The bantamweight fight took place in Buenos Aires.
Yoana Rodriguez (1-1) knocked out Maria Elorza (1-6) in the second round on Friday Aug. 7. The welter fight took place in Rafaela.
On Saturday Aug. 15, flyweights Zoe Fernandez (4-0) and Antonella Hein (0-2) meet six rounds at Mar de Plata. Also, light flies Romina Sosa (5-2-4) and Maria Rodriguez (3-2) meet four.
On Saturday Aug. 15, atomweights Aldana Lopez (15-0) and Elizabeth Cruz (12-3) meet 10 rounds at Buenos Aires.
Australia
Connie Chan (7-10) won by decision after eight rounds versus Maureen Chand (4-11) on Saturday Aug. 8. The super welterweight title fight took place in Coolangatta.
On Wednesday Aug. 12, flyweights Jasmine Parr (8-2) and Jemma Peart (9-1) meet eight rounds at Gold Coast. Also, flyweights Lekaysha Woodbridge (4-0) and Sothita Sitthichai (13-5) meet five.
On Saturday Aug. 15, welters Sophia Asfour (2-0) and Noppaket Srisawas (11-6) meet six rounds at Marrickville.
Costa Rica
On Friday Aug. 14, atomweights Gypsy Diaz (12-0) and Maria Martinez (4-15-2) meet 10 rounds for a regional title at Puntarenas. Also, minimumweights Aurora Gutierrez (0-0) and Meri Romero (0-0) meet four.
India
On Saturday Aug. 15, bantams Renu Kumar (0-0) and Anjali Anjali (0-1) meet four rounds at Gohana. Also, feathers Jyoti Saraya (3-1) and Sweta (1-0) meet four.
On Sunday Aug. 16, welters Soniya Naresh (2-0) and Kanishka Sanjay (0-1) meet four rounds at Tohana. Also, middleweights Mansi Budhwar (2-0) and Sonal Soni (1-1) meet four; super feathers Mannu Sajjan (1-1) and Sakshi Aarya (0-1) meet four; super lights Kavita Devi (2-0) and Sadbhawan Suman (0-1) meet four; super bantams Janvi Kesarvani (1-2) and Mansi Rabinder (0-0) meet four; flyweights Kajal Dikbagh (1-0) and Rajvinder Kaur (0-3) meet four; middles Mamta (0-1) and Karter Singh (0-3) meet four; super middles Darshana Daulat (0-1) and Sakina Goyat (0-0) meet four; and bantams Nishi Vaish (4-3) and Sumran (1-1) meet four.
Indonesia
On Sunday Aug. 16, super flies Maria Sarah (1-0-1) and Titya Nainggolan (0-0) meet fur rounds at Jakarta.
Japan
Mitsuki Kitamura (2-0) knocked out Jun Arata (0-1) in four on Sunday Aug. 9. The flyweight fight took place in Osaka. Also, super fly Noa Tozawa (2-0-1) beat Misato Sawaki (1-2-1) in four.
New Zealand
Sheilla Yama (8-0) defeated Jessica Messina 8-2) by decision after 10 rounds on Saturday Aug. 8. The super lightweight match was held on North Shore.
Nigeria
On Saturday Aug. 15, flyweights Idowu Ajoke (1-0) and Popoola Adufe (1-7-1) meet six rounds at Lagos. Also, super flies Jennifer Odhegba (4-0) and Adekunle Opeyemi (0-1) meet six.
South Africa
On Thursday Aug. 13, bantamweights Tarisai Mutsau (3-2) and Sazisiwe Simon (7-3) meet eight rounds at Johannesburg.
South Korea
On Saturday Aug. 15, light flies Hye Su Jang (6-0) and Kanae Maehara (5-4-2) meet eight rounds at Incheon. Also, super flies Min Zy Choi (3-0) and Bang Un Kim (0-11) meet six; Hye Jung Lee (3-3) and Joo Young Kim (1-1-1) meet four; flyweights Yu Gyeoung Lee (0-2) and Ye Rin Lee (0-2) meet four; and Ji In Kim (0-1-1) and Joo Hee Lee (0-0) meet four.
Thailand
On Sunday Aug. 16, minimumweights Muthita Iamsaard (10-6) and Kanithsorn Sae-tiea (0-0) meet six rounds at Pathum Thani.
United Kingdom
Jordan Barker Porter (11-4-1) won by decision over Katherine Quintana (0-45-1) after six rounds on Saturday Aug. 8. The super lightweight fight took place in Houghton le Spring.
On Saturday Aug. 15, lightweights Olivia Holmes (2-0) and Amy Greatorex (2-12) meet six rounds at Wigan.
On Saturday Aug. 15, super flies Emma Dolan (8-1) and Antonella Molina (4-31-2) meet six rounds at Nottingham.
USA
Dina Thorslund (25-0) defeated Cherneka Johnson (19-3) by unanimous decision after 10 rounds on Saturday Aug. 8. The undisputed bantamweight championship fight took place in Orlando, Florida. Also, middleweight Tamm Thibeault (5-0) beat Desley Robinson (12-4) by unanimous decision after 10 to win the WBO and IBF titles; super flyweight Amanda Galle (13-1-1) beat Shurretta Metcalf (15-6-1); bantamweight Krystal Rosado (10-1) beat Alondra Hernandez (11-3); and light flyweight Sa’Rai Brown-El (2-0) beat Sheyla Moreno (5-1-1).
Amanda Lovato (2-4-1) defeated Leanna Martinez (5-6) by decision after four rounds on Saturday Aug. 8. The flyweight fight took place in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Nicole Fisher (1-0) won by unanimous decision after four rounds against Jozette Cotton (0-5-1) on Friday Aug. 7. The super welterweight fight took place in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Ayanna Orona (8-2-1) was victorious after six rounds against Maria Salinas (27-16-6) on Friday Aug. 7. The featherweight fight took place in El Paso, Texas. Also, super fly Christina Cruz (7-1) beat Randee Morales (6-8) in six; and super welter Ariana Carrasco (2-0) beat Chanisse Jenner (0-1) in four.
On Saturday Aug. 15, middleweights Claressa Shields (18-0) and Kaye Scott (5-1-1) meet 10 rounds for the WBC title at Atlanta, Ga. Also, super featherweights Caroline Veyre (11-1) and Bernice Ferreira (10-0) meet 10 rounds for the IBO and WBC titles; super bantams Ashleyann Lozada (4-0) and Paulette Cuesta (19-5-1) meet 10; light heavyweights Daniele Perkins (6-1) and Olivia Curry (7-3-2) meet 10 rounds for the WBA title; and featherweights Shannel Butler (8-0) and Marianela Soledad (14-11-2) meet eight.
On Saturday Aug. 15, bantamweights Janiya Escareno (0-0) and Maraya Dixon (0-0) meet four rounds at Pasadena, Texas.
