Claressa Shields and Alycia Baumgardner Win in London

Published

1 year ago

October 15, 2022

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A sold-out London crowd saw Claressa Shields emerge the undisputed middleweight champion by slugging it out with nemesis Savannah Marshall on Saturday and Alycia Baumgardner unified the super featherweight division by split decision over Mikaela Mayer.

“That was definitely the hardest fight of my career,” Shields said to Marshall and her corner.

Shields (13-0, 2 KOs) was forced to dig deep in conquering Marshall (12-1, 10 KOs) the hard punching British fighter at the O2 Arena. An estimated 20,000 fans saw the middleweights and super featherweights battle for supremacy.

It was worth the ticket.

Shields had lost to Marshall 10 years ago while amateurs in an international tournament held in China. It was a thorn on her record and one that bothered the two-time Olympic gold medalist and three-time undisputed world champion.

In the first round Shields displayed her blistering hand-speed as she pummeled the slower Marshall to the body and head. Four and five-punch combinations rained on the taller knockout puncher Marshall. She fired back but was seldom accurate.

Though Marshall absorbed some big blows from Shields in the first three rounds, it never seemed to slow her down. Slowly, the number of incoming blows from the American fighter seemed to wane and that left opportunities for the British middleweight.

Around the seventh round Marshall began to use her physical strength to maneuver Shields into the ropes. She also used her elbow to keep the speedy American fighter from escaping while she fired combinations on Shields. Though not many landed, it was enough to convince the crowd and the judges that Marshall was in the hunt.

Shields retaliated with blazing four and five-punch combinations. And though they were not as speedy as the earlier rounds, they connected. But Shields continued to be pushed into the ropes and that allowed Marshall openings to connect more and more.

Neither fighter ever seemed hurt by a big blow. Each connected cleanly at times but the power did not seem to bother either boxer.

Shields later said she could not see out of her right eye after the sixth round. But fought on.

Marshall had a good round in the ninth as she connected with three and four-punch combinations with Shields on the ropes. It was the one place where Marshall could execute her plan and she found success over and over.

In the 10^th and final round Shields opened up with a right cross-left hook combination. It was a combination that worked most of the fight. She then moved away from the ropes and kept the fight away from the ropes. It allowed her to not be trapped by Marshall who feasted on Shields whenever her back touched the ropes.

After 10 rounds the judges saw it 96-94, 97-93 twice for Shields who becomes undisputed middleweight champion a second time.

Shields was grateful for the victory but more thankful for the large London crowd.

“I want to thank Savannah Marshall and the whole UK,” said Shields adding that women have fought decades for this type of environment and showcase. “It’s an unbelievable moment.”

Marshall also was grateful.

“A massive thank you to everyone who bought tickets,” Marshall said. “Claressa is a brilliant fighter. The greatest woman of all time.”

Baumgardner Wins

A unification battle between super featherweight world titlists saw Alycia Baumgardner’s counter-punching style appeal to two judges in a split-decision win over the taller jabbing Mikaela Mayer after 10 ebb and flow rounds.

From the opening round it was apparent that Baumgardner (13-1, 7 KOs) was looking to land the counter right shot that had allowed her to win the WBC and IBO titles a year ago. Against Mayer (17-1, 5 KOs), though they landed occasionally, it did not cause the same result, but won over the judges.

“I think I landed the harder, cleaner shots,” Baumgardner said.

Mayer lost the two first rounds as she tried to figure out a careful method of attack. Though the tall Southern California fighter had reach and height on her side, the power belonged to Baumgardner.

Things changed in the third round as Mayer began to find the range and rhythm for her left jab and used feints and timing to avoid the big right counters from her fellow American. And when she began to attack Baumgardner suddenly the momentum changed.

Baumgardner continued to cock the right hand in search of the knockout blow. Mayer was wise to the trap and continued to fire jabs and her own counters once Baumgardner unleashed the rights. Round after round seemed to sway in Mayer’s favor.

After the sixth round Baumgardner’s corner warned that she was not throwing enough punches. They were right.

The seventh round erupted in blows with both getting their combinations going. Mayer landed to the head and body and Baumgardner countered with a left hook to the head. Mayer connected with a three-punch combination and Baumgardner connected with a right. Both landed and both emptied their chambers. It was the best round of the fight.

Mayer returned to using jabs and moving to her left to avoid Baumgardner’s right hand counters in the ninth. And it worked to her advantage. But in the 10^th and final round but became tentative and that favored Baumgardner’s counter-punching style.

One judge scored it 97-93 for Mayer but two saw it 96-95 for Baumgardner who now holds all the titles except the WBA.

“For all the doubters,” said Baumgardner. “I’m unified world champion of the world.”

Other Televised Bouts

British Olympian Lauren Price (2-0) won by technical knockout over Hungary’s Timea Belik (6-7) After delivering left after left, the referee stopped the fight at 1:20 of the fourth round of the welterweight bout. Though Belik never went down or was close to going down, the referee apparently felt she was over-matched.

Britain’s Caroline Dubois (4-0, 3 KOs) out-fought Bulgaria’s Milena Koleva (10-15-1) and ended the lightweight match by knockout at 2:53 of the fifth round. A left cross to the body by southpaw DuBois sent Koleva slumped against the ropes helpless.

British Olympian Kariss Artingstall (2-0) had an easy time over Marina Sakharov (5-17-2) in a badly mismatched featherweight fight. There was nothing to learn in this contest.

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David A. Avila

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Ryan “KingRy” Garcia Returns With a Bang; KOs Oscar Duarte

Published

1 hour ago

December 2, 2023

David A. Avila

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It was a different Ryan “KingRy” Garcia the world saw in defeating Mexico’s rugged Oscar Duarte, but it was that same deadly left hook counter that got the job done by knockout on Saturday.

Only the quick survive.

Garcia (24-1, 20 KOs) used a variety of stances before luring knockout artist Duarte (26-1-1, 21 KOs) into his favorite punch before a sold-out crowd at Toyota Arena in Houston, Texas. That punch should be patented in gold.

It was somewhat advertised as knockout artist versus matinee idol, but those who know the sport knew that Garcia was a real puncher. But could he rebound from his loss earlier this year?

The answer was yes.

Garcia used a variety of styles beginning with a jab at a prescribed distance via his new trainer Derrick James. It allowed both Garcia and Duarte to gain footing and knock the cobwebs out of their reflexes. Garcia’s jab scored most of the early points during the first three rounds. He also snapped off some left hooks and rights.

“He was a strong fighter, took a strong punch,” said Garcia. “I hit him with some hard punches and he kept coming.”

Duarte, an ultra-pale Mexican from Durango, was cautious, knowing full well how many Garcia foes had underestimated the power behind his blows.

Slowly the muscular Mexican fighter began closing in with body shots and soon both fighters were locked in an inside battle. Garcia used a tucked-in shoulder style while Duarte pounded the body, back of the head and in the back causing the referee to warn for the illegal punches twice.

Still, Duarte had finally managed to punch Garcia with multiple shots for several rounds.

Around the sixth round Garcia was advised by his new trainer to begin jabbing and moving. It forced Duarte out of his rhythm as he was unable to punch without planting his feet. Suddenly, the momentum had reversed again and Duarte looked less dangerous.

“I had to slow his momentum down. That softened him up,” said Garcia about using that change in style to change Duarte’s pressure attack. “Shout out to Derrick James.”

Boos began cascading from the crowd but Garcia was on a roll and had definitely regained the advantage. A quick five-punch combination rocked Duarte though not all landed. The danger made the Mexican pause.

In the eighth round Duarte knew he had to take back the momentum and charged even harder. In one lickety-split second a near invisible counter left hook connected on Duarte’s temple and he stumbled like a drunken soldier on liberty in Honolulu. Garcia quickly followed up with rights and uppercuts as Duarte had a look of terror as his legs failed to maintain stability. Down he went for the count.

Duarte was counted out by referee James Green at 2:51 of the eighth round as Garcia watched from the other side of the ring.

“I started opening up my legs a little bit to open up the shot,” explained Garcia. “When I hurt somebody that hard, I just keep cracking them. I hurt him with a counter left hook.”

The weapon of champions.

Garcia’s victory returns him back to the forefront as one of boxing’s biggest gate attractions. A list of potential foes is his to dissect and choose.

“I’m just ready to continue to my ascent to be a champion at 140,” Garcia said.

It was a tranquil end after such a tumultuous last three days.

Other Bouts

Floyd Schofield (16-0, 12 KOs) blitzed Mexico’s Ricardo “Not Finito” Lopez (17-8-3) with a four knockdown blowout that left fans mesmerized and pleased with the fighter from Austin, Texas.

Schofield immediately shot out quick jabs and then a lightning four-punch combination that delivered Lopez to the canvas wondering what had happened. He got up. Then Scholfield moved in with a jab and crisp left hook and down went Lopez like a dunked basketball bouncing.

At this point it seemed the fight might stop. But it proceeded and Schofield unleashed another quick combo that sent Lopez down though he did try to punch back. It was getting monotonous. Lopez got up and then was met with another rapid fire five- or six-punch combination. Lopez was down for the fourth time and the referee stopped the devastation.

“I appreciate him risking his life,” said Schofield of his victim.

In a middleweight clash Shane Mosley Jr. (21-4, 12 KOs) out-worked Joshua Conley (17-6-1, 11 KOs) for five rounds before stopping the San Bernardino fighter at 1:51 of the sixth round. It was Mosley’s second consecutive knockout and fourth straight win.

Mosley continues to improve in every fight and again moves up the middleweight rankings.

Super middleweight prospect Darius Fulghum (9-0, 9 KOs) of Houston remained undefeated and kept his knockout string intact with a second round pounding and stoppage over Pachino Hill (8-5-1) in 56 seconds of that round.

Photo credit: Golden Boy Promotions

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Jordan Gill TKOs Michael Conlan Who May Have Reached the End of the Road

Published

7 hours ago

December 2, 2023

Arne K. Lang

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Fighting on his home turf, two-time Olympian Michael Conlan was an 8/1 favorite over Jordan Gill tonight in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Had he won, Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn was eyeing a rematch for Conlan with Leigh Wood. Their March 2022 rumble in Nottingham was a popular pick for the Fight of the Year. But the 29-year-old Gill, a Cambridgeshire man, rendered that discussion moot with a seventh-round stoppage. It was Conlan’s third loss inside the distance in the last 18 months and he would be wise to call it a day. His punch resistance is plainly not what it once was.

It was with considerable fanfare that Conlan cast his lot with Top Rank coming out of the amateur ranks. Tonight was his first assignment for Matchroom and his first fight at 130 pounds after coming up short in two world featherweight title fights. And he almost didn’t make it past the second round. Gill had him on the canvas in the opening minute of round two compliments of a left hook and stunned him late in the round with a right hand that left him on unsteady legs.

He survived the round and for a fleeting moment in the sixth frame it appeared that he had reversed Gill’s momentum. But Gill took charge again in the next stanza, trapping Conlan in the corner and unloading a fusillade of punches that forced referee Howard Foster to waive it off, much to the great dismay of the crowd. The official time was 1:09 of round seven.

Released by Top Rank, Conlan trained for this fight in Miami, Florida, under Pedro Diaz, best known for rejuvenating the career of Miguel Cotto. But the switch in trainer and in promoter made no difference as Conlan, who won his first amateur title at age 11, was damaged goods before he entered the ring. It was a career-defining victory for Jordan Gill (28-2-1, 9 KOs) who was not known as a big puncher and was returning to the ring after being stopped by Kiko Martinez 13 months ago in his previous start.

Semi-wind-up

In the “Battle of Belfast,” undefeated welterweight Lewis Crocker seized control in the opening round and went on to win a lopsided decision over intra-city rival Tyrone McKenna (23-4-1). Two of the judges gave Crocker every round and the other had it 98-92, but yet this was entertaining fight in spurts. McKenna had more fans in the building, but Crocker, seven years younger at age 26, went to post a 7/2 favorite and youth was served.

Other Bouts of Note

Belfast super welterweight Caoimhin Agyarko, who overcame a near-fatal mugging at age 20, advanced to 14-0 (7) with a 10-round split decision over Troy Williamson (20-2-1). The judges had it 98-92 and 97-93 for Agyarko with a dissenter submitting a curious 96-94 score for the 31-year-old Williamson who wasn’t able to exploit his advantages in height and reach.

Sean McComb, a 31-year-old Belfast southpaw, scored what was arguably the best win of his career with a 10-round beat-down of longtime sparring partner Sam Maxwell. Two of the judges gave McComb every round and the other had it 99-88. McComb, who has an interesting nickname, “The Public Nuisance, successfully defended his WBO European super welterweight strap while elevating his record to 18-1 (6). The fading, 35-year-old Maxwell, a former BBBofC British title-holder, lost for third time in his last four starts after winning his first 16 pro fights.

Photo credit: Mark Robinson / Matchroom

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Avila Perspective, Chap. 262: Ryan Garcia Reloads and More Fight News

Published

1 day ago

December 1, 2023

David A. Avila

Avila Perspective, Chap. 262: Ryan Garcia Reloads and More Fight News

Nobody is perfect.

That’s a mantra that everyone including boxers, promoters and managers should realize. No person is perfect. Everyone makes mistakes.

Ryan “King Ry” Garcia (23-1, 19 KOs) returns to the prize ring to face thunderous punching Oscar Duarte (26-1-1, 21 KOs) on Saturday, Dec. 2, at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. DAZN will stream the stacked Golden Boy Promotions card.

A press conference started slowly like a long-lit fuse slowly burning to the stick of dynamite. And when the fire reached the stick, it exploded with everyone in the vicinity burned.

Garcia unleashed pent-up frustration with verbal attacks on his promoters and burned the perimeter with fire. Poor Duarte sat there knowing something happened, but probably needed translation from his people to discover Garcia burned the room.

No survivors.

If that’s just a sample of what’s coming on Saturday night, well buckle-up and don’t miss a second of Garcia and Duarte’s confrontation.

Duarte has 11 consecutive knockouts and an 80 percent knockout rate. Garcia recently lost to Gervonta “Tank” Davis by stoppage and is looking to raze the earth. He has an 82 percent knockout rate.

Somebody is going to sleep in front of millions of fans.

“Oscar is a tough opponent. I know he’s going to come to fight. But I’m right here to make an example for the 140-division,” said Garcia with a death knell stare during the face-off. “This is how I’m coming. This is the Ryan Garcia you are going to get.”

Duarte knows he’s in the limelight. There’s no better place to be. Or is there?

“This is a dream for me. I come very prepared. This Saturday you will see my best version,” said Duarte. “I’m going to win.”

Maybe he picked the wrong time.

Garcia looked as if he were General Sherman on his way to scorch the earth on his way to Atlanta. No survivors.

It doesn’t look good for anyone.

“I’m laser focused” said Garcia with a stare that looked like Superman shooting lasers from his eyes.

The loss to Davis last spring was only on his ledger. In his pocketbook the lean, snap-quick fighter from Victorville, California gained $30+ million. That’s what happens when you fight the best and the world wants to see it. Both he and Tank Davis broke the bank and the counting machine for pay-per-views.

But winning still remains important and few know better than promoter Oscar De La Hoya.

“You never know where the mindset is in a fighter after he loses. You have to give it up to Ryan. When you pick a guy who is dangerous and speedy and who has a shot, kudos to Ryan,” said De La Hoya on social media in a statement that probably lit the Garcia’s fuse that roasted the room.

“When fighters lose they have their emotional rollercoasters. But once you win and you get 30 million bucks everything is friggin good,” De La Hoya added.

Others on the card are Shane Mosley Jr., Floyd Schofield, Darius Fulghum and Ryan’s younger brother Sean Garcia.

It’s loaded. Beware of fire.

SoCal

Amado Vargas, son of the great Fernando Vargas, makes his return.

Vargas (9-0, 4 KOs), a lightweight, meets Ezequiel Flores (4-1) in the main event on Saturday Dec. 2, at C. Robert Lee Center in Hawaiian Gardens, Calif. on the MarvNation Boxing Promotions card

All three of the Vargas brothers have been burning up to boxing ring and all are signed by promoters. Amado and Fernando Vargas Jr. signed with MarvNation and have attracted many fans.

This is the last boxing card of the year for MarvNation. Doors open at 5 p.m. For more information call (562) 713-9026 or (562) 639-3980.

Florida

Don King Productions has its last card of the year and ends it with five title fights including undefeated Antonio Perez (8-0, 5 KOs) versus Haskell Rhodes (29-5-1, 14 KOs) in a welterweight clash at Casino Miami Jai Ali in Miami, Florida.

Perez, 21, is only 5-6 in height and Rhodes is even shorter, but has experience against top competition such as Floyd Schofield and Sergey Lipinets.

Also on the card are Ian Green, Vaughn Alexander, Tre’Sean Wiggins, Chris Howard, Alex Castro, Harry Cruz and more.

The Don King Production card will be streamed at this link: https://itube247.com/

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