Jamie Mitchell Enters Bantamweight Elite and More News
By David A. Avila
American bantamweight Jamie Mitchell became the newest addition to the world class prizefighters with a convincing majority decision win over England’s Shannon Courtenay. One judge’s mistaken scorecard cannot detract from a performance witnessed by millions.
Courtenay, though overweight, was never out of the fight and though she entered the fight ineligible to retain the WBA bantamweight title, the feisty pugilist was always looking for the knockout blow. She connected and received many blows in return, but was unable to deter Mitchell.
Mitchell outworked Courtenay from beginning to the end before more than 11,000 fans at the Liverpool, England arena. It’s good to see fans again.
With Mitchell now adding her name to the list of world titlists, this is how the bantamweight class now looks:
WBC Yulihan Luna (22-3-1, 4 KOs) Mexico. The 27-year-old from Durango was able to wrest the throne from Mexican great Mariana Juarez. It was one of the greatest upsets of the last 10 years. Luna is a former super bantamweight world titlist who dropped down a weight division several years ago. She is 5’5” in height and knows how to use her reach. Almost all of her fights have been in Mexico.
WBO Dina Thorslund (16-0, 6 KOs) Denmark. The 27-year-old from Struer has a date next month against former super flyweight world titlist Zulina Munoz of Mexico. The title clash takes place on Nov. 13, in Kolding, Denmark. Thorslund formerly held the super bantamweight world title but dropped down in weight to compete in the more talented weight division. She is very strong and relentless but never fought outside of Denmark or Germany.
IBF Maria Cecilia Roman (15-5-1) Argentina, 38, despite losing to Melissa Odessa Parker by majority decision in an eight round fight this past February in Florida, she retained the IBF version. Strange circumstances.
IBO Melissa Odessa Parker (5-0), 2 KOs) USA, 34, won the IBO version by majority decision in an eight-round fight. Most world title fights are 10 or on rare occasions 12 round affairs. Still, Parker, a southpaw, holds a version of a bantamweight title and seeks another opportunity.
WBA Jamie Mitchell (7-0-2, 4 KOs) USA, 36, her win places in smack in the middle of a weight division that has been slowly heating up the past two years. Now the bantamweights are beginning to sizzle especially with the assistance several top-notch fighters in the United Kingdom.
Other elite bantams from the UK are Shannon Courtenay who is purported to have a rematch clause with Mitchell. And there is Elie Scotney who campaigns at super bantamweight but could probably drop down to 118.
Australia recently provided the world a glimpse of Ebanie Bridges and her talent, but there are others like Avril Mathie who trains in Florida, Shannon O’Connell a former champion and Susie Ramadan another former champion.
Mexico has always been loaded with bantamweights and though many of their records are not spotless, they are battle-ready and often better than expected such as Jessica Gonzalez, Paulette Valenzuela and Jasseth Noriega.
America also has been a bastion for bantamweights and among those ready to contend are Rosalinda Rodriguez, Merari Vivar and a slew of amateurs that just turned professional these past few months.
Savannah Show
A battle of undefeated middleweights takes place this weekend as WBA middleweight titlist Savannah Marshall (10-0, 8 KOs) defends against Zambia’s Lolita Muzeya (16-0, 8 KOs) on Saturday Oct. 16, at Newcastle, England. DAZN and Sky Sports will show the match.
Little is known about Muzeya who has only fought on the African continent. This will be her first prize fight in Europe. She does have eight knockout wins but has not faced elite competition in the middleweights. Muzeya remains a big question mark but you never can tell with African fighters. They have a tendency to surprise.
Marshall is quite the opposite of Muzeya. The tall middleweight has an extensive amateur background and packs a lot of power in those fists. Her best wins have been against former champions Hannah Rankin and Maria Lindberg who she stopped by technical knockout in the past 12 months. She’s headed for a showdown with Claressa Shields after this fight probably early next year.
More Fight News
Argentina
Maria Mazzarello (1-0) defeated Carmen Bratschi (0-1) by decision after four rounds on Saturday Oct. 9. The super bantamweight fight was held in Buenos Aires.
Oriana Sanchez (2-1) won by decision after four rounds against Maira Loyola (0-1-1) on Friday Oct. 8. The light flyweight match was held in Buenos Aires.
On Saturday Oct. 16, light flyweights Andrea Sanchez (8-2-1) and Maria Baumstarh (2-6-1) meet six rounds at Santa Fe.
On Saturday Oct. 16, flyweights Carla Merino (4-2) and Sandra Villaruel (1-2-1) meet four rounds at Cordoba.
Belgium
Amy Naert (4-0) was the winner by unanimous decision after four rounds versus Claudia Ferenczi (20-83-8) on Saturday Oct. 9. The super flyweight bout took place at West Vlaanderen.
Colombia
Maria Jose Ramos (1-0) won her pro debut by decision after four rounds versus Stefania Garnica (0-1) on Friday Oct. 8. The featherweight fight took place at Cienaga de Oro.
Dominican Republic
Claribel Mena (6-1) won by knockout in the second round against Rocio De Leon (1-26-2) on Friday Oct. 8. The super welterweight bout took place at Santo Domingo.
Germany
On Sunday Oct.17, super featherweights Cecile Forstner (2-0) and Nora Zoller (0-0) meet four rounds at Landau.
Ghana
On Saturday Oct. 16, bantamweights Sarah Apew (0-0) and Osman Fairuza (0-0) meet six rounds at Accra. Also light flyweights Ramatu Quaye (0-0) and Leticia Ankrah (0-0) meet six rounds.
India
On Saturday Oct. 16, super lightweights Geeta Solanki (3-0) and Manu Badhan (1-0) meet four rounds at Delhi.
On Sunday Oct. 17, featherweights Priyanka Priyanka (0-0) and Rajwant Kaur (0-0) debut against each other four rounds at Patiala.
Japan
On Friday Oct. 15, atomweights Mika Iwakawa (10-5-1) and Nanae Suzuki (10-4-1) meet 10 rounds for the WBO atomweight world title at Tokyo. Also, Kayoko Ebata (12-8) meets Nao Ikeyama (18-6-4) in six round light flyweight bout; Nanae Yamaka (4-0) meets Mizuki Hiruta (0-0) in six round super flyweight bout; Honoka Kano (3-0-1) meets Megumi Hosoda (3-2) in atomweight six round bout; Shuka Furuya (1-0) versus Hamburg Hiroko (0-0) in four round minimum weights; Hoju Maeda (1-0) versus Chiaki Yasui (0-0) flyweights; Mayumi Iwata (0-0) versus Ozora Hikaru (0-6) super flyweights; and pro debuts for minimum weights Kagishippo Sachi versus Natsuki Tamagawa.
Kenya
On Saturday Oct. 16, super featherweights Consolata Musanga (8-5-3) and Jane Kavulani (18-14-4) meet six rounds at Nairobi.
Mexico
On Saturday Oct. 16, light flyweights Yesenia Gomez (18-5-3) and Itzayana Cruz (6-7) meet eight rounds at Cancun.
Russia
On Friday Oct. 15, bantamweights Fatima Dudieva (10-0) and Soledad Macedo (17-15-2) meet eight rounds at Kazan.
South Korea
Ryu Kyung Suh (3-0-1) won by unanimous decision after four rounds against Myung Eun Lee (1-3-2) on Saturday Oct. 9. The light flyweight contest was held at Hwaseong.
Thailand
Thanchanok Phanan (8-2) defeated Arisara Wisetwongsa (0-2) by decision after six rounds on Monday Oct. 4. The super bantamweight bout was held at PathumThani. Also, Ratsadaporn Khiaosopa (2-14) beat Piyatida Aimthuam (0-1) by decision after six rounds in a super lightweight bout.
United Arab Emirates
On Saturday Oct. 16, flyweights Shivani Dahiya (2-2) and Chadni Mehra (7-2) meet four rounds at Dubai.
United Kingdom
Jamie Mitchell (7-0-2) defeated Shannon Courtenay (7-2) by majority decision after 10 rounds on Saturday Oct. 9. The WBC bantamweight world title fight took place at Liverpool, England. Courtenay was more than two pounds over the weight limit.
Lianne Bush (1-0) won her pro debut by decision after four rounds against Eftychia Kathopouli (4-2) on Saturday Oct. 9. The featherweight fight was held at Nottingham.
On Saturday Oct. 16, middleweights Savannah Marshall (10-0) and Lolita Muzeya (16-0) meet 10 rounds for the WBO world title at Newcastle, England.
USA
On Saturday Oct. 16, flyweights Maryguenn Vellinga (2-1-2) and Simona Sarpa (0-0) meet four rounds at Clearwater, Florida.
On Saturday Oct. 16, light heavyweights Lissete Russell (0-0) and Kayla Williams (0-5-1) meet four rounds at Gadsden, Alabama.
(Photo by Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing)