Summer of 26: The Greatest Summer for Women’s Boxing and More News and Notes
By David A. Avila
Katie Taylor’s win over France’s Flora Pili capped off the best summer in the history of women’s boxing.
The sport of female prizefighting had never before experienced so many top championship bouts in such a short period of time. All summerlong elite female world champions and contenders performed in arenas around the world.
In the past, there were female boxing cards like Arnold “Tokyo” Rosenthal’s a Ring of their Own shows that were filled with top notch female fighters like Mia St. John, Elena “Baby Doll” Reid and Jennifer Salinas all on the same card.
Rosenthal put together several female cards that featured top female fighters during the early 2000s in Hollywood, Laughlin, Nevada and other spots. He was a master salesman and organizer and all-around good guy.
Others like Tom Loeffler found room to stage top female fights such as Laila Ali versus Valerie Mahfood at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on June 2003. The main event featured Lennox Lewis defending the heavyweight title against Vitali Klitschko. Lewis won a bloody war and it would be his final bout. He soon retired. Also, on that fight card Lucia Rijker the “Dutch Destroyer: fought England’s Jane Couch. These kind of matchups were rare but when they happened fans arrived.
On July 2, 2007, Elena “Baby Doll” Reid headlined a card when she faced South Korea’s Shin Hee Choi for the IBA flyweight world title. Also, on that card promoted by Roy Englebrecht, were five female bouts televised on Fox at Pechanga Casino. These types of all women cards did occur but were rare.
Momentum
The arrival of Claressa Shields, Taylor and Amanda Serrano propelled the women’s sport to its greatest heights. With the help of promoters like Salita Promotions, Most Valuable Promotions and Matchroom Boxing who continue to give women’s boxing a platform, female prize fighting continues to prosper.
When Shields built her audience in Detroit it was originally felt by many observers that the two-time Olympic gold medalist would not be able to sell outside of Michigan. She proved everyone wrong this past August when he sold out an arena in Atlanta, Georgia.
MVP staged a female boxing show in El Paso, Texas and sold out there.
Perhaps the greatest feat so far has been Taylor vs Serrano II in Texas on November 2024 that was shown on Netflix. Their second encounter garnered more than 72 million views on the Netflix platform. It proved so successful that ESPN signed a three-year deal with MVP worth a rumored to be more than $300 million.
This past weekend we saw the final performance of Ireland’s sensational Taylor. Last month, we saw Puerto Rico’s Serrano win a tough battle and declare she has one fight left in her. Retirement will follow. Shields also mentioned thoughts of retirement but added she has about three big bouts remaining including Chantelle Cameron, Mikaela Mayer and whoever emerges on top.
Fans of women’s boxing enjoyed the greatest summer of all time this summer of 2026. It might be just the beginning.
It began with Dina Thorslund soundly defeating Cherneka Johnson on Aug. 8. Then Shields knocked out Kaye Scott on Aug. 15 in Atlanta. Amanda Serrano defeated Lucrecia Manzur on Aug. 21 in Temecula, Calif. The next week Mikaela Mayer and Chantelle Cameron clashed on Aug. 29, in Birmingham, England. Then Katie Taylor engaged in her farewell fight on Sept. 5 at Dublin, Ireland.
It was a remarkable streak of top notch female title fights not seen before. It’s just the beginning.
More Fight News
Argentina
Flyweights Dana Mailen (1-0-1) and Maria Rodriguez (3-3-1) fought to a majority draw after four rounds on Saturday Sept. 5. The match was held in Las Heras.
Cintia Burgos (4-0-1) won by decision after four versus Daiana Rodriguez (1-3-1) on Friday Sept. 4. The super feather fight took place in Junin.
Daiana Ferreyra (1-3) beat Yoana Rodriguez (1-2) in four rounds on Friday Sept. 4. The super welter fight took place in Ciudad Mendoza.
On Friday Sept. 11, flyweights Nazarena Serra (5-2) and Victoria Moreyra (3-11-2) meet six rounds at Buenos Aires. Also, Juliana Pettinato (2-1) and Mora Amado (0-2) meet six; and super flies Florencia Compiano (2-2-1) and Sheila Olivera (0-3) meet six.
On Saturday Sept. 12, bantams Daiana Gonzalez (0-0) and Veronica Garcia (0-3) meet four rounds at Mar del Plata.
On Saturday Sept. 12, super lightweights Maria Ferreyra (13-1-1) and Anahi Ester Sanchez (26-7) meet 10 rounds for regional title at Villa Dominico. Also, atomweights Sol Cudos (11-1-2) and Mercedes Reyna (4-1-3) meet 10.
Australia
Samara Fulcher (1-0) defeated Putri Padmi (0-1) after four rounds on Saturday Sept. 5. The super lightweight match took place in Terrigal.
Linn Sandstrom (13-4-4) won by unanimous decision after 10 rounds versus Ruqsana Begum (6-4-1) on Friday Sept. 4. The regional flyweight title fight was held in Warwick Farm.
On Friday Sept. 11, featherweights Skye Falzon (11-2) and Monika Singh (10-3) meet 10 rounds for a regional title at Hurlstone. Also, super feathers Sara Jalonen (6-3) and Sushila Virat (7-4) meet 10.
Chile
On Friday Sept. 11, lightweights Camila Herrera (2-0) and Najhelly Tafur (0-2) meet six rounds at Concepcion.
On Saturday Sept. 12, bantams Nicole Araya (3-1) and Belen Quiroz (2-0-1) meet eight rounds at Huechuraba. Also, feathers Maryuri Valdez (2-0) and Genoveva Candia (1-4-3) meet six.
China
On Saturday Sept. 12, featherweights Dilinaer Maimaiti (3-0) and Ziqi Sheng (2-0) meet six rounds at Altay. Also, lightweights Haini Mulataiali (6-1) and Ran RR Zhang (0-0) meet four.
Colombia
Minellis Blanco (8-0) knocked out Paulina Cardona (27-36-7) in the third round on Monday Aug. 31. The cruiserweight fight was held in Santa Marta. Also, super fly Maryan Esteban (1-0) knocked out Marisela Romero (0-4) in one.
On Saturday Sept. 12, super welters Any Paez (5-0) and Karen Fernandez (1-5) meet six rounds at Santa Marta.
Czechia
Lenka Volejnikova (4-6-1) beat Katerina Dvorakova (3-10)by split decision after 10 rounds on Sunday Sept.6.The lightweight fight took place in Podebrady.
Germany
On Saturday Sept. 12, light flies Patrician Boehm (1-0) and Jelena Bokan (1-7) meet six rounds at Baden-Wurttemberg.
On Saturday Sept. 12, feathers Lena Venjacob (7-3) and Sonja Pilipovic (0-16) meet six rounds at Nordrhein.
Hungary
On Saturday Sept. 12, light flies Sara Enyingi (0-0) and Sara Orszagi (3-16) meet four rounds at Veresegyhaz.
Ireland
Katie Taylor (26-1) defeated Flora Pili (12-1) by unanimous decision after 10 rounds on Saturday Sept. 5. The undisputed super lightweight title match was held in Dublin. Also, bantamweight Molly McCann (5-0) beat Sylwia Doligala (8-3-2) after eight.
Italy
On Saturday Sept. 12, flyweights Federica Macri (8-1-1) and Jasmina Nad (11-40-5) meet six rounds at Valle D’Aosta.
Japan
Yurie Kishi (4-2-2) knocked out Mao Kamada (5-2-3) in the fourth round on Saturday Sept. 5. The atomweight fight took place in Iyo.
Mika Yagio (9-4-1) knocked out Wanasanan Onuch (9-7-2) in the first round on Monday Aug. 31. The super fly fight was held in Tokyo.
On Saturday Sept. 12, atomweights Honami Sunakawa (0-0) and Kokono Tado (1-2-1) meet four rounds at Sakai. Also, super flies Mad Max Darts (0-0) and Mirei Oki (0-1) meet four.
On Sunday Sept. 13, atomweights Sowaka Megumi (1-2) and Noa Hamada (0-0) meet four rounds at Sakai.
Malawi
Loveness Kokha (5-12-1) defeated Sakina Ibrahim (4-4-1) by decision after six rounds on Sunday Aug. 30. The featherweight fight was held in Lilongwe.
Netherlands
On Saturday Sept. 12, super lights Tessa Van Stenus (3-3) and Bianka Nagy (2-7) meet eight rounds at Wilnis.
New Zealand
On Saturday Sept. 12, light heavyweights Tinta Smith (2-3-1) and Stacey Love (0-2) meet eight rounds at Hamilton.
Panama
Olga Julio (43-19-4) and Fabiola Caporal (8-9-4) fought to a split draw after 10 rounds on Saturday Sept. 5. The flyweight title match was held in Panama City.
Russia
On Sunday Sept. 13, super bantams Ekaterina Sycheva (1-0) and Sara Alex (8-2-1) meet eight rounds at Orenburg.
Spain
Estela Palma (0-0-1) and Petra Mezei (1-1-1) fought to a majority draw after four rounds on Saturday Sept. 5. The super flyweight fight took place in Malaga.
Thailand
On Sunday Sept. 13, minimumweights Sothita Sitthichai (13-6) and Porwa Thamnawat (4-2) meet eight rounds at Pathum Thani.
United Kingdom
Rianna Doforo (5-1) won by decision after 10 rounds versus Chelsey Arnell (6-4-1) on Saturday Sept. 5. The super feather regional title fight was held in Rotherham. Also, bantam Samantha Lightfoot (4-0) beat Kira Carter (0-36-1) in six.
On Friday Sept. 11, bantams Mia Hull (0-0) and Sydney Chambers (0-9) meet four rounds at Coventry.
On Saturday Sept. 12, super lights Laylie Heath (2-0) and Katherine Quintana (0-45-1) meet six rounds at Bolton. Also, super welters Jenna Pilling (3-1) and Johana Rajmont (7-10-1) meet six.
On Saturday Sept. 12, super feathers Olivia Holmes (2-0) and Antonella Molina (4-32-2) meet six rounds at Liverpool.
USA
Vana Medrano (1-2-1) defeated Brittany Cruz (12-14-2) by majority decision after four rounds on Sunday Sept. 6. The welterweight fight took place in Denver, Colorado.
Shavon Furrow (4-0) defeated Lilian Almaraz (2-7) by decision after six rounds on Saturday Sept. 5. The super fly match was held in Lincoln, Calif.
Stephanie Calderon (4-1) beat Sarah Click (2-15-2) by decision after six rounds on Tuesday Sept. 1. The featherweight fight took place in Nashville, Tenn.
On Friday Sept. 11, feathers Shakilya Ellis (1-0) and Karen Chacon (3-0) meet six rounds at Hidalgo, Texas. Also, super feathers Mercedes Castanon (0-0) and Katelyn Marks (0-0) meet four; and middleweights Ariana Carrasco (2-0) and Jozette Cotton (0-5-1) meet four.
On Saturday Sept. 12, super bantams Alexis Bolduc (2-2) and Wendy Villegas (2-9) meet six rounds at Medford, Mass. Also, welters Sage Rosario (0-0) and Simone Aparecido (17-39) meet four.
