New World for Female Prizefighting and New Problems

News

Posted on Oct 08 2019 at 1:12 am

Written by: David A. Avila

New World for Female Prizefighting

By David A. Avila

Once upon a time very few boxing fans paid attention to the female prizefighter world and those that did, were labeled kooks.

Those days are gone and female prize fights are being televised and streamed but there are changes that come with it. Important changes.

Headlines were made by female boxers for two different reasons this past week, with superstar Claressa Shields suffering a cancellation due to a sneak attack on her rival’s boxing trainer, and in another completely different prize fight episode, a PED drug test returned showing Heather Hardy had taken a banned substance.

It’s a different world ladies and gentlemen.

Hardy, 33, one of the most popular and likeable prizefighters in the world unknowingly ingested a substance that was not allowed by VADA. Though use of it does not enhance a fighter’s physical abilities, it is banned for other reasons.

It was an innocent oversight and easily overlooked, especially for women who are not accustomed to being tested for substances.

“I asked for the VADA testing,” stated Hardy on social media. “It’s something I’ve wanted for years.”

We’re in a new age of PED testing, something that female fighters never had to worry about. Now, all women should contact VADA to obtain a list of banned substances. There are even food products that cannot be ingested. Read the list and memorize the ingredients and drugs that cannot be ingested. If you are a boxer, this is important to your career.

The Brooklyn former featherweight champion learned a valuable lesson on behalf of all female prizefighters. Hopefully the lesson will not be repeated by other fighters.

“When I was tested I told the screener (VADA) that I had recently taken a prescription version of Midol (an over-the-counter PMS diuretic and pain medication). I had no idea that what I took was banned,” stated Hardy, adding that she uses the ingredient to stop bloating. “It was my first time being tested and I was shocked when I found out a water pill was not permitted.”

All prizefighters should go to the VADA site and read and study the list of banned products. It will prevent any surprises.

Dozens and dozens of men have failed the test. Recently BJ Saunders of Great Britain had been tested under a European testing group and passed. But when tested by VADA that has an even larger list of banned products, he failed. The speedy southpaw has moved up a weight division and is ready to contend for another world title, but now armed with knowledge on VADA’s PED testing.

Shields

Middleweight world champion Claressa Shields learned the cold hard facts of how a title fight can be lost due to outside circumstances.

Just before the weigh-in for Shields and Ivana Habazin in Flint, Mich. an argument ensued between James Ali Bashir and a female. The two were separated and Shields departed to another room. Meanwhile, an unknown male attacked Bashir from behind and left him unconscious and severely injured. The injured trainer was rushed to a hospital and surgery was performed. Habazin withdrew from the fight and was at Bashir’s hospital bedside.

Several lessons were learned by last Friday’s debacle: security was lax, too many people aside from boxing officials were allowed by the scale, and supposed friends or supporters can be your worst enemies and derail a $300,000 televised world title fight.

It was a horrible lesson.

“We can set our dream in motion and still, one person, one split second, can unravel it all,” stated Shields on Saturday. “I ask for your prayers and support to help make something positive come from this tragedy.”

Fans are great, but overzealous fans can be dangerous and a major hindrance.

Chicago

Female WBC and WBA super lightweight titlist Jessica McCaskill (7-2, 3 KOs) meets Argentina’s Erica Farias (26-3, 10 KOs) in a rematch but this time there are two titles at stake on Saturday Oct.12, at Wintrust Arena in Chicago. DAZN will stream the fight.

It’s a hometown fight for McCaskill who defeated Farias a year ago in the same arena to rip the WBC title away from one of Argentina’s best fighters. Then the Chicago stock market official took the WBA title away from another Argentine fighter Anahi Sanchez.

Argentina must be a little angry at Chicago.

McCaskill has proven to be a multi-skilled fighter capable of slugging it out or using her ever-growing arsenal of boxing tools that she showed in her first confrontation with Farias.

One thing about the Chicago fighter has been her willingness to compete with anyone regardless of reputation. She’s absolutely fearless and one of the most dangerous fighters in the world.

Mexico

Female WBC bantamweight titlist Mariana “Barby” Juarez meets Argentina’s Carolina Duer a former bantamweight champion on Saturday Oct. 12, in Zacatecas. Televisa will show the fight.

Juarez, 39, will be making the ninth defense of the title since acquiring it on April 2017. Duer, 41, formerly held the WBO version and needs a win to remain relevant in the international boxing world that is finally opening up.