Claressa Shields at Risk as a Heavyweight and More News
By David A. Avila
Possessing two of the quickest hands Claressa Shields sits perched on top of this publication’s pound for pound list like a Kobe Bryant statue. It’s been so for the past eight years.
She is also one of the most skilled fighters in history.
But, in her search for challenges, Shields (15-0, 3 Kos) recently moved up to heavyweight and makes an attempt to become undisputed heavyweight champion against southpaw Danielle Perkins (5-0, 2 Kos) at Dort Financial Center in Flint, Michigan on Sunday Feb. 2. DAZN will stream the Salita Promotions card.
Heavyweights are dangerous for obvious reasons. They are big.
“She is taller and stronger, but that doesn’t mean she is going to win the boxing match,” said Shields on social media. “She is up against somebody who can punch, who has great defense, great offense.”
Though the heavyweight division has no height or weight limit, and most times women above 180 pounds do not wield blazing fast hands or agility, the power they possess can be a surprise for anyone.
Perkins has power.
No other division has firepower like heavyweights. And in boxing, the old axiom still prevails: “it only takes one punch.”
Many champion fighters in boxing history have journeyed from lower weight classes to test the big- bad heavyweights. Most have failed.
When Roy Jones Jr. dared move up from light heavyweight to heavyweight in 2003 to challenge heavyweight champion John Ruiz, it took a large toll on his body to put on extra weight on his body frame. It slowed down his reflexes and he was never the same nimble cat-quick fighter when he returned to light heavyweight.
Will Shields suffer the same fate?
At the time Jones moved up in weight he was one of the best fighters ever seen. Aside from his incredible hand-speed, his ability to dart in and out of danger was uncanny. I once saw Jones throw a punch from eight feet away and connect and slip out of danger in the blink of an eye. The distance he covered in a flash was seemingly impossible. I’ve never seen anyone else repeat that in a boxing ring.
Two fights later, Jones was knocked out by Antonio Tarver, then left unconscious by Glencofe Johnson in back-to-back fights in 2004. Before moving to the heavyweights Jones had never been knocked out. All total, he’s lost five times by knockout.
Shields has dominated every division she entered with her blend of incredible hand speed, defensive prowess, solid chin and ring generalship. The fighter from Flint, Michigan has battled against every style of boxing from her amateur days and pros. Now she meets a heavyweight with a heavyweight punch.
“I know she is going to try and impose her size and her will,” Shields said of Perkins. “I’m a lot stronger. I’m as strong as hell at heavyweight.”
Enter Perkins, a slightly taller athlete who weighs more or less 198 pounds and has a longer reach. She also packs heavyweight power from a southpaw stance. The one drawback is she is 42 years old.
Formerly a basketball star from Brooklyn, she was a standout on the courts including her college career at St. John’s. She later played overseas professionally. When a car accident cut short her career, she found boxing as a means of getting back in shape. Luckily, she discovered a hidden talent for boxing.
Fighting as a heavyweight boxer professionally has always been a path of poverty. But when Shields moved into the heavyweight division suddenly the door opened for Perkins and she is happy about.
On Sunday, Shields and Perkins fight for the undisputed heavyweight world championship.
Perkins has a puncher’s chance.
Scotney and Nicolson
Super bantamweight world titlist England’s Ellie Scotney wants to move up and challenge WBC featherweight titlist Skye Nicolson of Australia. She will have to wait.
Australia’s Nicolson will be defending the title against America’s Tiara Brown on March 22, in Sydney, Australia.
Both are undefeated and have been clamoring for this showdown for a couple of years.
If it happens, I’m sure Scotney would welcome the winner.
Scotney looked very sharp and extremely on point during her defense this past week against New Zealand’s Mea Motu. Every round was contentious but Scotney’s technical prowess gave her the victory. It was impressive.
More Fight News
Argentina
On Saturday Feb. 1, light flyweights Andrea Sanchez (10-4-1) and Erika Bolivar (7-3-1) meet 10 rounds for a regional title at Villa Carlos Paz.
Australia
On Saturday Feb. 1, bantamweights Mili Saul (0-0) and Deanne Gibson (0-1) meet six rounds at Loganholme for a regional title.
Belgium
On Saturday Feb. 1, super lightweights Oshin Derieuw (19-0) and Mahjouba Oubtil (5-4-2) meet eight rounds at West Vlaanderen.
Canada
On Friday Jan. 31, welterweights Sophie La Grand (0-0) and Gisela Luna (3-6-1) meet four rounds at Montreal.
Colombia
Kenifer Garcia (1-0) defeated Dipika Tiwari (2-2-4) by decision after four rounds on Saturday Jan. 25. The super lightweight fight was held in Sahagun.
Nathalia Arango (2-3) won by decision after six rounds against Daylin Mata (0-4) on Tuesday Jan. 21. The bantamweight fight was held in Cali.
Japan
Yuko Kuroki (24-8-2) won by unanimous decision after 10 rounds versus Ye Kyeng Seo (7-1-3) on Tuesday Jan. 21. The WBA minimumweight title fight was held in Tokyo. Also, Sazanami Balu (5-0-1) beat Kanae Maehara (4-3-2) in six; atomweight Honoka Kano (9-1-2) beat Riho Yoshida (5-2-1) in eight; Nao Ugawa (6-0) beat Kaho Munetoshi (4-2) in eight; bantamweight Nana Yamashita (6-2) beat Nodoka Funukawa (4-1-1) in six; and atomweight Eri Sato (1-0) beat Kasumi Yamamoto (0-1) in four.
Poland
On Friday Jan. 31, welterweights Adrianna Jedrzejczyk (3-0) and Estheliz Hernandez (7-2) meet six rounds at Zyrardow.
Russia
On Friday Jan. 31, super flyweights Angelina Lukas (11-1) and Ayisat Ariyomi (9-0) meet eight rounds at Moscow.
Thailand
Magdalena Szwed (1-0) knocked out Patcharaphon Kransakun (0-5-1) in the third round on Saturday Jan. 25. The super fly fight took place in Bangkok.
Panamud Bubpamalo (7-7) won by decision after four versus Tassawan Hoiraya (0-1) on Saturday Jan. 25. The light fly fight was held in Pathum Thani. Also, light fly Kullthida Kueasanor (8-4) beat Patcarawan Eiadloun (0-1) in four; and super bantam Nattarat Prempida (11-5-1) beat Alisa Luangpayung (0-1).
Haini Mulataialli (3-0) knocked out Pattarawan Thaosuwan (15-7) in the first round on Monday Jan. 20. The lightweight fight was held in Bangkok.
United Kingdom
Ellie Scotney (10-0) won by decision after 10 rounds versus Mea Motu (20-1) on Saturday Jan. 25. The IBF, WBO, IBO super bantamweight title fight was held in Nottingham, England.
USA
On Thurs. Jan. 30, lightweights Stevie Morgan (14-2) and Marisa Portillo (21-19-3) meet eight rounds at Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Also, bantamweights Nicole Chisolm (5-1) and Anyela Lopez (3-2-1) meet six rounds.
On Saturday Feb. 1, middleweights Logan Holler (9-3-1) and Kailtin LaVigne (3-3-1) meet six rounds at Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Also, super flyweights Evelyn Romo (1-0) and Wendy Villegas (2-4) meet four rounds.
On Saturday Feb. 1, featherweights Gabriela Tellez (3-0) and Abril Abril Anguiano (4-0) meet four rounds at Las Vegas, Nevada.
On Saturday Feb. 1, bantamweights Miyo Yoshida (17-5) and Beata Dudek (5-5) meet eight rounds at Newark, New Jersey.
On Sunday Feb. 2, heavyweights Claressa Shields (15-0) and Danielle Perkins (5-0) meet 10 rounds for the WBC heavyweight world title at Flint, Mich. Also, super lightweights Samantha Worthington (10-0) and Vaida Masiokaite (10-26-6) meet eight; featherweights Caroline Veyre (8-1) and Carmen Vargas (5-2-1) meet six rounds; and super bantams Ashleyann Lozada (0-0) and Denise Moran (3-0) meet six. DAZN will stream the Salita Promotions card.
(Photo by Claressa Shields social media)