Female Fight News June 18, 2018 Showtime for Women
By David A. Avila
Believe it or not female boxing will reach the same heights as the men. It’s just a matter of time.
Television gives a gigantic boost to women’s prizefighting this Friday as Showtime Boxing showcases not just one, but two female world title clashes.
In the main feature, budding superstar Claressa Shields (5-0, 2 KOs) meets Costa Rica’s Hanna Gabriels (18-1-1, 11 KOs) for the vacant WBA and IBF middleweight world titles in Detroit, Michigan. Also, WBC middleweight titlist Christina Hammer (22-0) meets Tori Nelson (17-1-3) in a 10 round clash. Salita Promotions is promoting.
It wouldn’t be possible if Shields or Gabriels waited and waited for the million dollar paydays that most think will accompany television fights. It’s just not the case right now and won’t be for years to come if the current wait-and-see atmosphere persists.
Thankfully here are two warriors from different parts of the hemisphere ready to engage.
“Glad Showtime stepped up and have me as the main event. This is good,” said Shields excitedly. “Thank Showtime for stepping up.”
For Shields it’s more than a just a world title fight, she feels responsible somehow to carry the sport of female prizefighting to the next level. She’s only 23 and wants to crack that barrier that’s kept women’s pro boxing virtually underground.
“When I think of Lucia Rijker and how she didn’t get to fight against Christy Martin. Those were the big fights that could have happened,” said Shields of great female fights that evaporated for one reason or another. “That’s what is going to happen to me and Christina Hammer, (Cecilia) Braekhus, (Layla) McCarter unless we take all these good fights and make other fights possible.”
She’s got her thinking cap on.
Shields will be dropping down eight pounds in weight while Gabriels is gaining six pounds to make the match possible. It’s a gamble for both. The prize will be the winner between Hammer and Nelson. It won’t be easy.
“Speaking of American girls cracking: Tori Nelson and Christina Hammer, I’ve been warning Hammer when she comes to American about underestimating Tori,” said Shields of the semi-main event on Showtime. “I got a freaking unanimous decision. Tori Nelson whew. If people don’t know, Tori Nelson is strong. I was in with her for 10 rounds no matter how many punches I hit her with she was like I’m not going down…Hammer better have some power. The girl (Nelson) can punch.”
Three middleweight world titles belt will be the prize for the quartet of women battling in Detroit on the eve of summer solstice.
They’re bringing the heat.
A third female clash pits Franchon Crews (3-1) against Crystal Byers (0-3) in a six round super middleweight contest.
Based in Washington D.C., it was Crews who willingly stepped up to fight Shields when no others would risk their records. Both Crews and Shields made their pro debut against each other. If you were present at the T-Mobile Arena you will never forget one of the most exciting four round debuts ever presented. It was bombs away that night on the under card of Andre Ward vs Sergey Kovalev on November 2016.
“Our fight with Franchon Crews was fireworks,” said Shields.
If a tournament does take place expect Crews to be disrupting somebody’s dreams.
“I was happy with my performance,” said Crews. “I want more like that.”
First, Crews meets Byers to get back in the boxing ring.
Look for more on this fight card this week on www.ThePrizefighters.com regarding the middleweight title fights.
Thursday
In Queens, New York super middleweights battle in non-title fights as Alicia Napoleon (9-1) meeting Vashon Living in an eight round affair at the Melrose Ballroom in Astoria. Though Nelson won the WBA world title a few months ago the title will not be at stake.
Napoleon is promoted by DiBella Entertainment and could be a player down the line, perhaps this year.
Also, Raquel Miller (5-0) meets Hungary’s Szilvia Szabados (17-11) in a six round middleweight fight. Miller could also be involved in a possible tournament that is rumored to be in talks with Showtime.
Both women could possibly be opponents with Shields, Hammer or Crews in the very near future.
Female Fight News
Argentina
Macarena Ledesma (8-0) defeated Melisa Dozo (4-2-3) by decision after 10 rounds to win the South American lightweight title on Saturday June 16. The match took place in Cipolletti. Also, Abril Vidal (2-0) beat Natalia Sisterna (1-1) in a super welterweight fight.
Natalia Juarez (1-4) beat Dilma Mareco (1-1) by decision on Saturday June 16. The welterweight fight took place in Formosa.
Jennifer Rasjido (8-0-1) defeated Marta Juncos (5-29-4) by decision after eight rounds on Friday June 15. The super bantamweight fight took place in Tinogasta.
Aixa Adema (2-0-1) knocked out Leandra Messina (0-3) in the fourth round on Friday June 15. The bantamweight fight was held in Santa Rosa, La Pampa.
On Friday June 22, featherweights Nazarena Romero (1-0) and Elizabeth Britos (1-6-1) meet in a four round fight at Cordoba.
Canada
Kylie Fallis (1-0) defeated Ana Marquez (1-3) by decision on Saturday June 16. The lightweight bout was held in Hamilton.
China
On Wednesday June 20, featherweights Die Hu (6-1) and Arasa Nimnoi (1-1) meet in a six round fight in DeZhou.
Colombia
Jenifer Rodriguez (6-2-2) knocked out Glenis Cardona (3-15-4) in the fourth round to win the Colombian super bantamweight title on Friday June 15. The match took place in Cartagena.
Fiji
On Saturday June 23, middleweights Visila Kolitapa (0-1-2) fight in a four round fight at Nadi.
Germany
Layla McCarter (42-13-5) defeated Eva Bajic (14-13) by unanimous decision after 10 rounds on Saturday June 16. The GBU and WIBF welterweight world title fight took place in Karlsruhe. Also, Sarah Bormann (6-0) beat Oksana Romanova (9-23-1) to win the vacant GBU and WIBF light flyweight titles.
Tina Rupprecht (8-0) defeated Yokasta Valle (13-2) by unanimous decision after 10 rounds on Saturday June 16. The WBC minimum world title fight took place in Munich.
Italy
Sara Corazza (1-0) won by unanimous decision after six rounds against Ksenija Medic (0-9-1) on Sunday June 10. The super lightweight took place in Santoro, Rome.
Mexico
On Saturday June 23, super flyweights Diana Fernandez (17-2) and Olga Julio (26-17-2) meet in a 10 round fight for the WBC Latino title at Juarez, Chihuahua.
Philippines
On Saturday June 23, light flyweights Amy Berezowski (2-7-1) and Rica Aquino (0-0) meet in a four round fight at Bacoor.
Spain
On Friday June 22, minimum weights Joana Pastrana (12-1) and Oezlem Sahin (24-1-1) meet in a 10 round match for the IBF world title at Madrid.
Thailand
Chaoz Minowa (6-1) won by first round technical knockout against Apinya Srinuan (0-1) on Sunday June 17. The flyweight match was held in Bangkok. Also, Jarusiri Rongmuang (1-0) won by third round technical knockout over Chonlada Artkla (0-1) in a flyweight bout.
United Kingdom
Hannah Rankin (5-1) defeated Sanna Turunen (4-1-1) to win the WBC Silver title on Saturday June 16. The middleweight fight took place in Paisley, Scotland.
Anisha Basheel (8-5) knocked out Sam Smith (8-2) in the first round to win the Commonwealth lightweight title on Friday June 15. The match was held in London, England. Basheel, 20, fights out of Malawi and all eight wins have come via knockout. Also, Savannah Marshall (3-0) beat Alejandra Ayala (8-3) by TKO in round 2 in a super middleweight fight.
On Friday June 22, super welterweights Stacey Copeland (4-0) and Borislava Goranova (11-54-4) meet in an eight round contest at Lancashire, England.
USA
Adelaida Ruiz (6-0) stopped Karla Valenzuela (3-20-3) in the fourth round to win by knockout on Friday June 15. The bantamweight fight was held in City of Industry, Calif. It was Ruiz’s third consecutive knockout win.
On Thursday June 21, super middleweights Alicia Napoleon (9-1) and Vashon Living (6-3) meet in an eight round fight at Astoria, Queens, New York. Also, middleweights Raquel Miller (5-0) and Szilvia Szabados (17-11) meet in a six round fight.
On Friday June 22, middleweights Claressa Shields (5-0) and Hanna Gabriels (18-1-1) meet in a 10 round contest for the IBF and WBA world titles at Detroit, Michigan. Showtime will televise the match live. Also, WBC middleweight titlist Christina Hammer (22-0) fights Tori Nelson (17-1-3) in a 10 round title fight. It will also be televised. Plus, Franchon Crews (3-1) meets Crystal Byers (0-3) in a six round super middleweight fight.
On Saturday June 23, featherweights Amanda Pavone (4-0) and Karen Dulin (3-14) meet in a six round fight at Gilford, New Hampshire.