Boxing Odds and Ends: Ben Shalom’s All-Female Extravaganza and More

Boxing Odds and Ends: Ben Shalom’s All-Female Extravaganza and More

Two undefeated fighters, Claressa Shields and Savannah Marshall, collide at the O2 Arena in London on Sept. 10. The match, which will be televised on Sky Sports in the U.K. and on ESPN+ in the United States and Canada, has all the ingredients of a blockbuster, notwithstanding the feeling in many quarters that boxing is not a proper activity for women. Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano attracted a near-capacity crowd to Madison Square Garden on April 30 and wowed the multitude with a fight that was better than advertised. That was a great advertisement for the next big shebang in women’s boxing and this is it.

Granted, the advance pub has been a bit over the top. “After a Ten-Year War of Words, The Greatest Rivalry in Women’s Boxing History Will Reach It’s Dramatic conclusion in England’s Historical Capital….A Landmark Moment for British Sport as Career-Defining Legacy Contest Headlines UK’s First-Ever All-Female Card,” reads a press release from Ben Shalom’s U.K. promotional firm BOXXER.

It seems odd to call this a “great rivalry” as the ladies have met only one time before. Ten years have elapsed since Marshall out-pointed Shields by a 14-8 score at an amateur tournament in China. That stands as the only loss that Shields (12-0, 2 KOs as a pro) has suffered in boxing. The lady from Flint, Michigan, went on to become a two-time Olympic gold medalist whereas Hartlepool’s Marshall, also a two-time Olympian, failed to medal, getting bounced out by a fighter from Kazakhstan in 2012 and a fighter from the Netherlands in 2016.

Both ladies have spent time at the Mayweather Boxing Club in Las Vegas. In fact, Marshall turned pro under Floyd Mayweather Jr’s management and had her first pro fight in Las Vegas before returning to England.

Those that worked the pads with Marshall in Las Vegas such as veteran boxing coach Rodney Crisler marveled at her punching power. They had never worked with a girl that hit as hard. As a pro, Savannah has stopped seven of her 12 opponents, a high knockout ratio for a female boxer who is consigned to fighting two-minute rounds.

Shields vs. Marshall is basically a “pick ‘em” affair, as was Taylor vs. Serrano, a good omen. Most betting establishments have Marshall the slightest of favorites over the self-described GWOAT who to our recollection hasn’t lost a round to anyone other than Hanna Gabriels.

Co-Feature

The Sept. 10 show has a strong co-feature in the form of a 130-pound unification fight between Mikaela Mayer (17-0, 5 KOs) and Alycia Baumgardner (12-1, 7 KOs). Mayer owns the WBO and IBF 130-pound belts; Baumgardner owns the WBC diadem. (The WBA belt-holder is China’s Hyun Mi Choi.)

Ben Shalom

What’s unusual about the show – and an encouraging development for boxing fans – is that rival promoters have put down their swords to make it happen. Think about it: Mikaela Mayer is promoted by Bob Arum, Alycia Baumgardner by Eddie Hearn, Claressa Shields by Dmitry Salita, and Savannah Marshall by Ben Shalom.

Shalom, the new kid on the block, is the lead promoter. This is something of a coming-out party for him.

Shalom

At age 23, Ben Shalom was England’s youngest boxing promoter. Now 27, he has his feet firmly planted in the sport because of his exclusive arrangement with Sky. In June of last year, just weeks after Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom organization bolted Sky for DAZN, ending a nine-year partnership, Shalom filled the breach, carving out a four-year deal.

As to be expected of a fledgling promoter, Shalom promises to make the sport less musty, bringing in a younger demographic. “I think boxing is still running like how it was 40, 50 years ago because it’s still the same people running it,” he says. He also promises to keep a low profile, a marked departure from Eddie Hearn. “Eddie loves being a presenter,” says Shalom, “he’d be a chat show host if he could.”

Shalom grew up in Manchester where he was raised in the faith of his mother, a staunch Irish Catholic.

Upset

There was one big upset on last weekend’s docket, but it wasn’t a big fight so it fell under the radar.

On the undercard of the Ryan Garcia vs. Javier Fortuna bout in Los Angeles, Costa Rica’s David Jimenez scored a majority decision over Ricardo Sandoval in a 12-rounder framed as a WBA flyweight title eliminator. Jimenez, 30, was up against it when he lost a point for holding in round seven, but he pulled the fight out of the fire in what was his U.S. debut, knocking Sandoval to the canvas in round 11.

Jimenez was 11-0 heading in, but he hadn’t defeated anyone of consequence and his previous three bouts were all slated for eight rounds. Sandoval, from the SoCal community of Rialto, was riding a 16-fight winning streak and had knocked out his last seven opponents.

What Jimenez had going for him was a stronger amateur background. He had competed in such places as Cuba and Kazakhstan where he was thrust against opponents undoubtedly more skilled than those he would meet in his early pro fights.

The price-makers paid no heed and Sandoval was as high as a 20/1 favorite in the betting marketplace with the take-back on the Costa Rican a juicy plus-900.

Jimenez’s next bout will theoretically come against Artem Dalakian, a fighter from the Ukraine. It would be the sixth world title defense for Dalakian who won his WBA flyweight belt in California and has had his last five fights in Kiev.

Photo credit: Lawrence Lustig / BOXXER

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