Heather Hardy Beats Shelly Vincent in Rematch 

By David A. Avila

Heather Hardy turned up the heat and the jab to win the vacant WBO featherweight world title by unanimous decision over Shelly Vincent in the long-awaited rematch on Saturday.

This time the scores were much wider.

Before a large crowd at Madison Square Garden, and in front of HBO, the Brooklyn prizefighter Hardy (22-0, 4 KOs) showed her first win two years ago was not a fluke in defeating Rhode Island’s Vincent (23-2, 1 K), but like before, it was not easy.

The jab was the key for Hardy who used it like a measuring stick and to stop the shorter Vincent from charging in unimpeded. Time after time that Hardy jab started the action and finished it.

“My jab was so much better, I felt in control the whole fight,” Heather, 36, said.

Another key for Hardy was her ability to step to the side to neutralize the charges. Between the jabs and the side steps Vincent was unable to mount a sustainable attack. But she never quit for one second.

Vincent was able to score with the left hook especially in the second round. When she got in close within hooking distance, she landed blows to the body and the head with the double left hook. But soon Heather became aware of the double hooks and simply moved out of range.

Both fighters targeted the body but Hardy was able to use her longer reach to advantage especially with rights to the left side of Vincent’s body. The shorter Vincent landed too when she was able to penetrate inside.

Hardy mixed up her attacks and was able to land effective uppercuts especially in the fourth round. During the seventh round Heather connected hard with a three-punch combination and Vincent’s head fell into Hardy’s forehead and immediately opened up a cut. Hardy’s team was able to work the cut at the end of the round and the fight resumed.

Vincent, 39, just didn’t seem to have the same energy as in her first fight. Though she never slowed her attack the longer reach of Hardy was like a barrier that could not be pierced. The jab always seemed to be too much to overcome for Vincent and when she connected she was met by return fire immediately.

After 10 rounds all three judges scored in favor of Hardy 97-93 twice and 99-91.

“This time my technique was so much better, she wasn’t able to just run into me and attack,” said Hardy. “I moved, gave her angles.”

It was Hardy’s night to win the world title. But it was both fighters who showed they could captivate an audience with their fiery temperament before a nationally televised audience.

“I was in much better shape for this fight, our camp was longer and we were able to work on so much more,” said Hardy. “Thanks to everyone on my team, it’s an unbelievable feeling to be a world champion.”

(Photo by JP Yim)