Katie Taylor, Amanda Serrano, Claressa Shields and More Fight News
By David A. Avila
Members of the millionaire’s club gathered in the United Kingdom with Claressa Shields blazing past Ema Kozin in Wales to re-establish herself as the middleweight world champion while Amanda Serrano and Katie Taylor arrived in London
Shields, Serrano and Taylor are all platinum plus members of those making at least 1 million to battle in the prize ring. Thank you, United Kingdom.
The jump from paupers to business moguls arrived quicker than most imagined. I remember not too long ago debating this topic that women would be making $1 million to fight in the boxing ring. Without European promoters leading the way it would not have been possible.
This past Saturday, in Cardfiff, Wales, America’s Shields made her obligatory defense of the middleweight titles against undefeated Ema Kozin. It was also the first fight of her two-fight contract with Boxxer Promotions that gives her more than $1 million to now fight undefeated Savannah Marshall in a middleweight showdown later this year.
Marshall has a fight next month and if she wins as expected, the tall British fighter will finally meet Shields in the prize ring.
Shields showed that undefeated records are not an indicator of talent in the professional world. Though Kozin had twice as many wins and many more knockouts, it doesn’t necessarily translate to superiority. Athleticism, acquired skills and high-level competition help shape fighters like Shields via the Olympic Games and also fighting top level pros.
Kozin built a solid career with wins over good competition but fighting elite competition that’s a different matter. It might have made a difference had she fought better competition, but probably not when facing the best fighter pound for pound in Shields.
Now it’s Marshall’s turn after she expectedly sweeps aside her next foe Femke Hermans on March 12 in Newcastle, England.
Amanda and Katy
Seven-division world titlist Amanda Serrano and undisputed lightweight world champion Katie Taylor officially announced their April 30 clash that takes place at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Both champions took part in a two-city tour that started in New York City and ended in London, England.
It’s official.
If you love women’s prizefighting then this is the big fight, the biggest fight probably in history. Not only are they both champions, but recognized as the top fighters pound for pound. It’s a toss up deciding who will emerge victorious.
“Of course, this is the biggest female fight of all time but it’s also one of the biggest fights in boxing, April 30 the world will stop to watch these two great fighters change the sport and take women’s boxing to a new level,” said Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Boxing.
Serrano, 33, holds the distinction of being the hardest-hitting female fighter with 31 knockouts in 41 bouts. She’s a wrecking machine with the ability to switch gears in the middle of a fight and use her boxing abilities to win just as easily by decision. The Brooklyn-based fighter has speed and endurance to match plus she’s a southpaw.
For a few years finding competition was difficult. Few wanted to face her especially for small purses that weren’t enough to pay the rent. Another factor was American audiences were not familiar with the pretty brunette with shocking power in her fists. Television rarely showed her fights.
That changed a year ago when Serrano was asked to participate on the Ring City USA fight series televised in 2021. Millions were able to see the Puerto Rican pugilist meet Argentina’s talented Daniela Bermudez and win by impressive knockout. Among those watching was a young entrepreneur Jake Paul with out-of-the-box visions of promoting Serrano.
“I want to give these ladies a round of applause for what they’re doing, what most people in boxing aren’t doing, the pound-for-pound two best going at it. This is what boxing needs more of whether it’s male or female, they’re putting it all on the line for this fight which is what makes it big,” said Paul who promotes Serrano.
Both worked with Showtime in putting together a card in Cleveland and then another card in Tampa. Both made money and showcased Serrano’s abilities to a degree never seen before in her career. The world now was familiar with Serrano’s talent and her marketing power.
“I’m super happy and excited that I’ve finally get to see a little bit of light at the end of the tunnel with this fight with Katie Taylor. We’re making history and that’s what I want to do, I want to continue to open the doors for the new generation coming into the sport,” said Serrano.
Ireland’s Katie Taylor, 35, has long been the darling of European boxing especially with promoter Eddie Hearn backing her from the beginning of her professional career. What further helped was Taylor’s willingness to push the agenda of propelling women’s boxing to heights never seen before.
Once Taylor became familiar with the pro style of fighting she zoomed to the top with spectacular confrontations against Delfine Persoon, Jessica McCaskill, and Christina Linardatou. Whatever the world wanted to see Taylor was willing to meet in the prize ring.
Backed by Matchroom Boxing, the Olympic gold medalist unified the lightweight division and headlined each of her fights. Her massive appeal led to her becoming the first woman to fight for a million-dollar purse. Many boxing pundits said it was not possible for any woman to attain that kind of value but Taylor shredded their opinions like ancient papyrus. She proved them all wrong.
With her hyper-efficient style mixing speedy combinations with uncanny athleticism Ireland’s Taylor has become the beacon of women’s boxing.
“This is the fight I’ve wanted from the get-go, ever since I turned pro, I had me sights set on Serrano. I’m just so excited the fight is happening now; I do genuinely believe this is the best fight and most exciting fight in boxing right now,” said Taylor.
Taylor versus Serrano will be the most important fight in the history of women’s boxing. It matches two fighters of equal magnitude meeting at Madison Square Garden with the entire world awaiting the victor. It’s comparable to Muhammad Ali meeting Joe Frazier back in 1971 in the same venue. Regardless of who wins, the fight itself will be the most important fight in women’s prizefighting.
Those in attendance on April 30 will tell other future generations what they experienced on that day watching Serrano and Taylor in the boxing ring.
More Fight News
Argentina
Veronica Ruiz (2-0) defeated Sofia Mendez (1-1) by majority decision after four three-minute rounds on Saturday Feb. 5. The flyweight fight was held at La Rioja. Also, Maria Mazzarello (3-0) beat Daniela Arena (0-2) in a four round super bantamweight bout.
On Friday Feb. 11, super bantamweights Gloria Yancaqueo (8-11-13) and Antonella Molina (1-11-1) meet six rounds in Concordia.
Austria
Denise Stanojev (3-0) beat Nikolett Szabo (0-3) by knockout in the first round on Saturday Feb. 5. The super featherweight match took place at Maria Enzersdorf.
France
Nahed Kharchi (7-4) won by unanimous decision after eight rounds versus Amel Anouar (2-1-1) on Saturday Feb. 5. The French featherweight title fight was held at Nice.
Japan
On Monday Feb. 14, featherweights Yoshie Wakasa (7-2) and Kimika Miyoshi (15-13-1) meet six rounds at Tokyo. Also, minimumweights Miyuki Katsuya (1-2-1) and Riyako Goshi (3-7) meet four rounds; plus featherweights Sara Ito (1-0) and Federica Boni (0-0-1) meet four rounds.
Mexico
On Saturday Feb. 12, flyweights Violeta Balboa (0-0) and Norma De La Cruz (0-0) meet four rounds at Chiapas.
New Zealand
On Saturday Feb. 12, super featherweights Mea Motu (10-0) and Ayisha Abied (0-3) meet eight rounds at Auckland for the New Zealand title.
United Kingdom
Claressa Shields (12-0) defeated Ema Kozin (21-1-1) by unanimous decision after 10 rounds on Saturday Feb. 5. The WBA, WBC, IBF, middleweight title fight was held in Cardiff, Wales. Also, Caroline Dubois (1-0) defeated Vaida Masiokaite (2-15-4) by unanimous decision after six rounds in a lightweight bout.
On Thursday Feb. 10, super bantamweights Cassidy Todd (1-0) and Gemma Ruegg (1-2) meet six rounds at Glasgow, Scotland.
On Friday Feb. 11, bantamweights Nina Hughes (1-0) and Bec Connolly (3-11) meet eight rounds in London.
On Saturday Feb. 12, super bantamweights Elie Scotney (3-0) and Jorgelina Guanini (9-3-2) meet 10 rounds for a regional title at London, England.
On Saturday Feb. 12, super bantamweights Ellis Booth (1-0) and Polina Golubeva (1-4) meet four rounds at London, England.
USA
Jamie Mitchell (8-0-2) knocked out Carly Skelly (4-1-1) in the fourth round on Saturday Feb. 5. The WBA bantamweight world title fight took place in Phoenix, Arizona.
On Friday Feb. 11, bantamweights Stefanie Cohen (1-0-1) and Karla Valenzuela (3-25-3) meet four rounds at Miami, Florida.
On Friday Feb. 11, super lightweights Nicole Reinhart (2-2) and Gabrielle Hayes (1-0) meet four rounds at Detroit, Michigan.
On Friday Feb. 11, super featherweights Chiara Dituri (4-0) and Michelle Cook (1-2-2) meet four rounds at New York City.
On Saturday Feb. 12, super bantamweights Merari Vivar (4-0) and Elizabeth Tuani (1-5) meet four rounds at Commerce, California. Also, super flyweights Stephanie Chavez (0-0) and Dawn Mazarakis (0-1) meet four rounds.
On Saturday Feb. 12, super welterweights Olivia Curry (3-1) and LeAnn O’Malley (1-1) meet four rounds at Davenport, Iowa.
On Saturday Feb. 12, super lightweights Miranda Reyes (5-0-1) and Jaica Pavilus (1-4-1) meet four rounds at Dedham, Mass.
On Saturday Feb. 12, light flyweights Jennifer Morales (1-0) and Randee Morales (2-3) meet four rounds at Austin, Texas.
Venezuela
On Saturday Feb. 12, bantamweights Yurmary Jaramillo (2-0) and Keren Batiz (6-3-1) meet eight rounds at La Victoria.
(Photo by Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing)