Mayer, Baumgardner, Shields, Marshall Clash in London and More Fight News
By David A. Avila
Once again, London, England becomes the center of women boxing’s universe.
After a brief month delay, the battle of all battles take place with super featherweights Mikaela Mayer and Alycia Baumgardner speeding toward each other like runaway trains on a single track for multiple world title belts.
Not to be outdone, middleweight champions Claressa Shields and Savannah Marshall will have their moment to explode too.
Women’s prizefighting has never been better.
Luckily for men’s prizefighting the women will be clashing early in the morning or afternoon on Saturday Oct. 15, for American boxing fans. ESPN and Sky TV will televise and stream the all-women fight card.
Its fitting that an all-women fight card takes place in the United Kingdom. Thanks to British promoters and a flourishing number of female fighters, attention to women’s boxing continues to spike. No other locale in the world compares at the moment.
Women’s prizefighting constantly hops from country to country and plants its roots deep into boxing fan’s souls. It can be traced back to Christy Martin appearing on American television in the late 80s that set the spark. Then it moved to Germany with its blonde bombshells Regina Halmich and Daisy Lang attracting fans to arenas. Finally, Mexico mushroomed into a warrior’s world with Ana Maria Torres, Mariana Juarez and Laura Serrano leading the way.
Of course, the next stage was the 2012 Olympics that finally allowed women’s boxing and brought us Katie Taylor, Natasha Jonas and Shields. Now, here we are with an all-women fight card in London.
Top Rank, Boxxer, Matchroom Boxing and Salita Promotions all are part of this mega female boxing card that will be shown by ESPN and Sky TV in the morning for half the American fans. And afternoon for others.
Mayer vs Baumgardner Breakdown
The super featherweight clash between Mayer and Baumgardner has grabbed a lot of headlines because of their social media war that dates back to 2019. If words were swords both would have been headless.
Now they enter the ring.
Mayer has the height advantage and vast experience in international competition. Over the years aided by her coach the venerable Al Mitchell, the lanky Southern California native has learned how to fight on the inside as well as outside.
One hidden asset has always been her fearlessness. Mayer is self-driven and willing to go the extra mile for sparring. Even before she was a US National champion in the amateurs, she often traveled to barrio gyms in East L.A. and South Central LA where few Anglo girls would venture.
Baumgardner has strength in abundance stemming from her high school days as a competitive wrestler. One thing about wrestling is it teaches you balance. You can see it in her many fights. She also has strength and power in her punches as many saw when she knocked out Terri Harper for the world title a year ago.
Natural strength can be an asset in the trenches and Baumgardner has the skills and polish to hang with the best of the best. She can end a fight with one punch so that always plays a factor in any fight.
Over the years I’ve covered many of these similar type of showdowns with men. I’ve seen Carlos Zarate versus Alfonso Zamora. In women of similar physical abilities Para Draine versus Bridgette Riley comes to mind as the closest. But every fight is different.
Claressa vs Savannah breakdown
Both middleweights have distinct advantages. Shields has incredible speed and agility. Marshall has a height and reach advantage and tremendous knockout power as her record reflects. It all boils down to who can dictate the fight.
In my near 30 years covering women’s boxing I cannot remember seeing anyone with Shield’s hand speed over 135 pounds. Watching her perform on television does not compare to watching her live. That’s when you get the full range of her physical speed.
Marshall not only has height and reach but a skilled approach that allows her to corral opponents into her power zone. Once foes are in the hitting zone, she batters them and quickly its over.
This matchup reminds me of when Floyd Mayweather and Diego Corrales met as undefeated fighters back in 2000. Though Corrales was a deadly knockout puncher, Mayweather was able to use his defense and timing to nullify Corrales two-fisted power. Or will it be like Tommy Hearns and Sugar Ray Leonard in their rematch?
Its difficult to surmise.
Whoever dictates the fight and imposes their style of fight will win.
2Min Round Show guests
For those of you interested, every other week I participate in a women’s boxing podcast called 2Min Round: Hooks and Jabs in Women’s Boxing. This week joining Lupi Gutierrez, Felipe Leon and myself will be author Malissa Smith whose book A History of Women’s Boxing is a must read for any boxing fan. Also joining us is promoter Terri Moss, a former world champion who regularly stages boxing cards in the Atlanta area.
We should have some interesting conversation on women’s boxing this week. Join us this Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. Pacific Time/10:30 p.m. Eastern Time. You can find us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and other pod casts links.
Heather Hardy
New York City’s favorite blonde fighter Heather “The Heat” Hardy (22-2) headlines a boxing card in Manhattan when she faces Colombia’s Calista Salgado (20-15-3) at Sony Hall on Thursday Oct. 13. You can watch the fight card live 4 p.m. PT/7 p.m. ET on this link: https://bxngtv.com/newbeginnings101322/
Hardy returns to the ring after more than a year. She faces Salgado a veteran who’s fought most of the top contenders at featherweight to lightweight.
Mariana Juarez
Former world champion Mariana “Barby” Juarez (55-11-4) challenges WBC super bantamweight titlist Yamileth Mercado (19-3) on Saturday Oct. 15, in Chihuahua. It could be Juarez’s final bow.
Juarez, 42, has been fighting since the late 1990s when she began fighting on underground shows in Mexico. At the time boxing for women was illegal so she fought on shows that were non-sanctioned. Eventually she moved across the border to California and began honing her boxing skills under Ben Lira. She then won world titles and returned to Mexico where he has won various world titles. She was one of a handful of female fighters that brought women’s boxing to the forefront in Mexico.
Mercado, recently fought and lost to the great Amanda Serrano last year in a featherweight fight. She has since moved back to super bantamweight and will defend against Juarez who has sought this match for a couple of years. It will not be televised outside of Mexico.
More Fight News
Argentina
Romina Gisel (3-1-4) beat Micaela Cuello (0-2-1) by decision after four rounds on Saturday Oct. 8. The flyweight match was held at Carmen de Areco.
Australia
Tywarna Campbell (3-0-1) won by decision after eight rounds versus Jessica Adams (1-2-1) on Saturday Oct. 8. The Australian super featherweight title fight was held at Newcastle. Also, Ella Boot (3-0) beat Zoe Putorak (0-1-1) for the Australia super lightweight title by decision. Other winners Dani Mace (1-1), Tylisha Turner (1-0), Ayisha Abied (2-5) and Sarah Watt (2-2).
On Saturday Oct. 15, flyweights Skye Nicolson (4-0) and Krystina Jacobs (6-3) meet 10 rounds for a regional title at South Brisbane.
On Sunday Oct. 16, super bantamweights Susi Ramadan (29-3) and Cherneka Johnson (14-1) meet 10 rounds for the IBF world title at Melbourne. ESPN will televise.
Austria
Christina Poeppelmeyer (2-0) defeated Klaudia Vigh (3-39-1) by decision after four rounds on Saturday Oct. 8. The lightweight fight took place at Vienna.
Belgium
On Friday Oct.14, super lightweights Oshin Derieuw (16-0) and Mahjouba Oubtil (4-2) meet eight rounds at Ghent.
Colombia
Bethy Franco (6-0-1) beat Carolina Mejia (1-3) by unanimous decision after six rounds on Saturday Oct. 8. The featherweight fight was held at Melgar.
Czech Republic
Alexas Kubicki (4-0) won by unanimous decision after eight rounds against Xenia Jorneac (10-6) on Saturday Oct. 8. The flyweight fight took place at Brno.
France
On Saturday Oct. 15, super lightweights Flora Pili (5-0) and Elsa Hemat (4-7-2) meet eight rounds for the French title at St. Avold.
Germany
Beke Bas (17-0) defeated Marisa Nunez (8-12-3) by majority decision after 10 rounds on Saturday Oct. 8. The vacant IBA lightweight world title fight was held at Detmold. Also, super featherweight Leonie Giebel (14-0-2) beat Fatuma Yazidu (19-8-1) for a regional title after eight rounds.
Nina Meinke (14-3) won by unanimous decision after six rounds versus Karina Szmalenberg (14-54-4) on Saturday Oct. 8. The super bantamweight fight was held at Falkensee.
Phannarai Netisri (12-0) defeated Ana Arrazola (28-16-3) by unanimous decision after 10 rounds on Wednesday Oct. 5. The WBF super bantamweight title fight was held at St. Pauli.
Italy
On Friday Oct. 14, super lightweights Silvia Bartot (9-1-1) and Aleksandra Vujovic (5-20-2) meet six rounds at Monza.
Japan
Yukiko Ijuin (0-0-1) and Mika Yagio (2-2-1) fought to a draw after four rounds on Monday Oct. 3. The featherweight match was held at Tokyo. Also, atomweights Natsuki Yamada (0-1-2) and Megumi Watanabe (2-0-1) fought to a split draw after four rounds.
On Sunday Oct. 16, minimumweights Moemi Inukai (2-1) and Riho Yoshida (0-0-1) meet four rounds at Kariya.
On Sunday Oct. 16, lightweights Pei Yi Wu (1-0) and Eun Kyung Shi (0-0) meet four rounds at Ashikita-gun.
Mexico
Norma Vazquez (4-9) defeated Maria Rodriguez (2-2) by split decision after six rounds on Sunday Oct. 9. The flyweight bout was held in Chiapas.
On Thursday Oct. 13, light flyweights Isabel Millan (30-8-1) and Eloisa Martinez 3-14-3) meet eight rounds at Nuevo Leon. Also, minimumweights Cecilia Rodriguez (9-0-1) and Clara Alcantara (5-7) meet six rounds.
On Saturday Oct. 15, super bantamweights Yamileth Mercado (19-3) and Mariana Juarez (55-11-4) meet 10 rounds for the WBC world title at Chihuahua.
Poland
Angelika Oles (2-1) beat Karolina Sowinska (0-1) by knockout in the second round on Saturday Oct. 8. The super lightweight match was held at Ruda Slaska. Also, Joanna Mazurkiewicz (3-0) beat Svitlana Vaslevska (1-2) by decision in a super bantamweight fight.
South Africa
Matshidiso Daries (7-3-1) and Monalisa Takane (4-0-1) fought to a draw after 10 rounds on Sunday Oct. 9. The South African super bantamweight title fight was held in Gqeberha.
Spain
Karla Merida (4-1-1) knocked out Daisy Preston (0-3-1) in the second round on Saturday Oct. 8. The super featherweight fight was held in Barcelona.
United Kingdom
Kirsty Hill (3-0) won by decision after six rounds versus Beccy Ferguson (2-6) on Saturday Oct. 8. The super featherweight fight was held in Leeds.
Lauren Parker (7-1-1) beat Edna Maltos (5-8-1) by decision after 10 rounds on Friday Oct. 7. The super flyweight regional title fight was held at Rotherham, England. Also, flyweight Kristina O’Hara (3-0) beat Judit Hachbold (5-17); lightweight Lucy Wildheart (10-1) beat Claudia Ferenczi (20-98-8); and super welterweight Paige Goodyear (2-0) beat Ester Konecna (2-18-1).
On Saturday Oct. 15, middleweights Claressa Shields (12-0) and Savannah Marshall (12-0) meet 10 rounds for the undisputed middleweight world championship at London, England. Also, super featherweights Mikaela Mayer (17-0) and Alycia Baumgardner (12-1) meet 10 rounds for the IBO, WBO, WBC, IBF world titles. Plus lightweights Caroline Dubois (3-0) vs Milena Kovic (10-14-1); featherweights Ebonie Jones (2-0-1) vs Vanesa Caballero (4-15-3) and Karriss Artingstall (1-0) vs Marina Sakharov (5-16-2); super flyweights Shannon Ryan (2-0) vs Buchra El Quassi (3-2-3) and Ginny Fuchs (1-0) vs Gemma Ruegg (5-4); super welterweights Georgia O’Connor (2-0) vs Joyce Van Ee (2-0-1) and April Hunter (5-1) vs Erica Alvarez 3-6); welterweights Lauren Price (1-0) vs Timea Belik (6-6); and super bantamweights Sarah Liegmann (5-0) vs Bec Connolly (3-15). ESPN will televise the major fights.
On Saturday Oct. 15, in Grays, England, welterweights Dee Allen (3-0) and Cindy Reyes (4-0) meet 10 rounds for a regional title.
On Saturday Oct. 15, bantamweights Johanna Wonyou (5-0) and Wendellin Cruz (5-0-1) meet 10 rounds at Glasgow, Scotland.
USA
Gabriela Fundora (9-0) defeated Naomi Arellano (9-2) by unanimous decision after 10 rounds on Saturday Oct. 8. The flyweight title fight was held in Carson, California.
Destiny Jones (3-1) defeated Iranda Paola Torres (13-8-1) by decision after six rounds on Saturday Oct. 8. The lightweight match was held in San Antonio, Texas.
On Thursday Oct. 13, lightweights Heather Hardy (22-2) and Calista Salgado (20-15-3) meet six rounds in New York City.
On Saturday Oct. 15, middleweights Olivia Curry (5-1) and Samantha Pill (5-1) meet six rounds at Rosemont, Illinois.
(Photo by Sky Sports)