Claressa Shields MMA Fight on Nov. 25 Remains Only Snag and More Fight News
By David A. Avila
After the postponement of a lofty fight card led by Claressa Shields and other world champions due to the passing of United Kingdom’s Queen Elizabeth II, many wondered if the proposed date of October 15 could be met.
So far, it looks good.
Only one conflict stands in the way and that’s a previous agreement signed by Shields with Professional Fighters League the MMA organization. Shields previously signed an agreement with PFL to perform on Nov. 25.
Boxxer, Top Rank, Salita Promotions and Matchroom Boxing all have agreed on the new fight date and O2 Arena remains the venue for the all-women fight card that features several elite world champions including Savannah Marshall, Alycia Baumgardner and Mikaela Mayer.
Mark Taffet, manager for Shields, expects an amicable result with PFL who televises its fight cards on ESPN. It’s the same network that was signed to show the boxing card this past Sept. 10th to American audiences. SKY handles the other audiences.
Taffet was the former head of HBO pay-per-view programming and was experienced with other unforeseen catastrophes and events such as what happened 21 years ago in New York City.
“I was involved with the Felix Trinidad and Bernard Hopkins fight in New York during 9-11,” said Taffet. “We were able to successfully move that to a later date.”
Taffet said all parties involved in the Legacy fight card quickly agreed to the new date, site, and various contracts. Only the Shields contract to fight on Nov. 25 for PFL remains an obligation to be considered.
“We have a great relationship with PFL and Shields,” said Taffet. “They know how important this fight is for Claressa (with Savannah Marshall).
Another important Legacy fight involved super featherweight world titlists Mayer and Baumgardner. The new date of October 15 conflicts with another Top Rank fight on the same day between undisputed lightweight world champion Devin Haney and Australia’s George Kambosas Jr and takes place in Australia.
Mayer also fights for Top Rank.
But Top Rank’s Brad Goodman says the two major fights do not conflict because of the vast time differences. Mayer’s title fight would be shown early on ESPN while Haney’s title fight is late at night.
Shields MMA commitment remains the only minor bump.
“We have a really good relationship with PFL and don’t foresee this as being a problem,” said Taffet who also manages Sarah Liegmann a former kickboxing champion from Germany now a super bantamweight boxer. “We just have to work some things out.”
The October date for the Legacy fight card remains on track.
More Fight News
Argentina
Debora Dionicius (33-4) beat Lilian Silva (4-15-1) by decision after six rounds on Friday Sept. 9. The super featherweight bout took place at Parana.
Anahi Sanchez (21-5) knocked out Natalia Zulema (1-7) in the second round on Friday Sept. 9. The welterweight bout took place at Pergamino.
Maria Maderna (17-13-3) won by decision over Nerina Salafia (0-5-3) after four rounds on Friday Sept. 9. The middleweight fight was held at Rafael Castillo.
Eliana Orecchia (3-5) beat Romina Nunez (1-1) by decision after four rounds on Friday Sept. 9. The super bantamweight fight was held at Oncativo.
Australia
Connie Chan (2-3) defeated Kaitlyn Lodge (0-1) by majority decision after eight rounds on Saturday Sept. 10. The super welterweight match took place at Rooty Hill.
Austria
On Saturday Sept. 17, welterweights Michaela Kotaskova (1-0-1) and Patricia Gonzalez (0-0-1) meet six rounds at Vienna.
Brazil
On Saturday Sept. 17, super bantamweights Ana De Moraes (3-0) and Eliane Lopes (0-0) meet four rounds at Sao Paolo.
Canada
Mary Spencer (7-0) knocked out Cynthia Lozano (9-2) in the first round on Friday Sept. 9. The super welterweight regional title fight was held in Montreal. Also, super featherweight Leila Beaudoin (7-0) beat Karla Ramos (9-9) by decision after six rounds.
Melinda Watpool (1-0) defeated Silvia Barraza (1-2) by decision after four rounds on Friday Sept. 9. The super middleweight fight was held at Brampton.
Colombia
Bethy Franco (4-0-1) beat Jeimi Claros (0-2) by decision after four rounds on Sunday Sept. 11. The super bantamweight bout was held at Risaralda.
Francia Bravo (22-5-2) won by second round knockout over Yenifer Rodriguez (12-6-2) on Thursday Sept. 8. The super lightweight fight took place at Santa Marta.
Costa Rica
Yokasta Valle (26-2) defeated Thi Thu Nhi Nguyen (5-1) by unanimous decision on Thursday Sept. 8. The IBF, WBO minimumweight world title fight was held at San Jose. Also, Adelaida Ruiz (12-0-1) beat Sonia Osoria (15-8-2) by unanimous decision after 10 rounds for the interim WBC super flyweight title. Raquel Miller (12-0) knocked out Sheila Aires (0-1) in the first round of their middleweight fight.
Germany
Melinda Meibaum (3-0) beat Angela Cannizzaro (6-17-1) by decision after four rounds on Saturday Sept. 10. The super bantamweight fight was held in Hamburg.
Hanna Hansen (6-0) defeated Stephanie Wirt (0-5) by knockout in the first round on Saturday Sept. 10. The super welterweight bout was held at Giessen.
On Saturday Sept. 17, welterweights Maria Lindberg (19-8-2) and Katarina Vistica (2-21) meet six rounds at Mecklenburg. Also, super featherweights Maja Milenkovic (10-10) and Angelika Oles (0-1) meet four rounds.
Japan
Ran Higuchi (1-1-2) won by decision after four rounds against Wei Lin Liu (1-2) on Saturday Sept. 10. The super bantamweight fight was held at Yokkaichi.
On Saturday Sept. 17, minimumweights Mizuki Chimoto (4-0) and Hye Soo Park (6-8-3) meet eight rounds for a regional title at Osaka.
Nigeria
On Sunday Sept. 18, super flyweights Adijat Gbadamosi (3-0) and Christiana James (0-1) meet four rounds at Ikeja. Also, bantamweights Elizabeth Oshoba (0-0) and Margaret Ibiam (0-5) meet four rounds.
Russia
On Friday Sept. 16, flyweights Olga Gurova (4-1) and Sofia Abraamyan (6-2) meet eight rounds at Moscow.
Spain
Patricia Cabrera (1-0) defeated Katherine Quintana (0-16-1) by decision after four rounds on Saturday Sept. 10. The middleweight match was held at Guia de Isora.
Thailand
Nillada Meekoon (2-0) won by third round knockout over Onya Riabroi (1-1) on Wednesday Sept. 7. The flyweight fight was held at Bang Phli. Also, Tanyarak Gokbungkhla (1-1) beat Kannika Phitthakkhirikhet (0-1) and Yupin Tarapim (1-1) beat Paweena Lungsu (0-1) in flyweight bouts.
Turkey
On Saturday Sept. 17, super featherweights Yasemin Akturk (1-3) and Adel Khuri (0-1) meet four rounds at Turkiye.
United Kingdom
On Saturday Sept. 17, super welterweights Bree Burbeary (1-0) and Ester Konecna (2-15-1) meet six rounds at Rotherham.
On Saturday Sept. 17, featherweights Lucy Wildheart (8-1) and Eva Cantos (4-6-1) meet six rounds at Grays.
USA
Indeya Smith (4-5-2) won by unanimous decision after six rounds versus Ashley Sciscente (5-2) on Saturday Sept. 10. The super flyweight bout took place at Rock Hill, South Carolina.
Leanne Calderon (1-1-1) beat Devany Cuevas (2-1) by majority decision after four rounds on Saturday Sept. 10. The bantamweight fight was held in San Antonio, Texas.
On Friday Sept. 16, super featherweights Kara Ro (17-0) and Elizabeth Tuani (2-8) meet six rounds at Detroit, Michigan.
On Friday Sept. 16, super flyweights LeAnna Cruz (2-0) and Lilian Almaraz (0-0) meet four rounds in Philadelphia, Pa.
On Saturday Sept. 17, lightweights Logan Holler (9-1-1) and Olivia Gerula (18-19-3) meet six rounds at Wilmington, Delaware. Lightweights Jessica Camara (9-3) and Maria Vega (9-4) fight eight rounds.
On Saturday Sept. 17, super flyweights Yadira Bustillos (5-0) and Katherine Lindenmuth (2-0) meet six rounds at Salt Lake City, Utah.
(Photo by Jujitsu Times)