Avila Perspective, Chap. 207: Boxing Showdowns in London, Melbourne and Brooklyn

Expect a very long Saturday of boxing.

It’s showdown time with several of the best female fighters on the planet clashing in unification matches in London, England this Saturday, Oct. 15. ESPN+ and Sky will stream the fight 11:30 a.m. PT/2:30 p.m. ET.

If words match action, then expect Claressa Shields (12-0, 2 KOs) and Savannah Marshall (12-0, 10 KOs) in their middleweight contest for undisputed status to provide an eyeful at the O2 Arena in London on Saturday afternoon.

Not to be outdone, the super featherweight unification match between Mikaela Mayer (17-0, 5 KOs) and Alycia Baumgardner takes (12-1, 7 KOs) a backseat to no one in their fight on the same card.

These two women have been trading verbal grenades through social media and now in person. Both can fight and fan expectations are high. (That’s Mayer on the left; Baumgardner on the right.)

ESPN+ will stream the all-female fight card that includes about seven other bouts.

It should be loud and full at the London arena. The United Kingdom has shown that its fans are great supporters of women’s prizefighting. Though that nation was late to the female boxing party, they are now accepting women’s boxing with open arms and pocketbooks.

Top Rank promotes Mayer who began as a teen in the tough and competitive amateur circles in Southern California. After several years she made the US Olympic boxing team and performed well. She then signed with Top Rank and has quickly acquired professional fight skills and a few world title belts as a super featherweight.

Mayer has speed, height and can fight outside or inside as she displayed against France’s Maiva Hamadouche last year in Las Vegas. It was the Fight of the Year in women’s boxing.

Matchroom Boxing promotes Baumgardner who also began as a teen in the amateur boxing program. She also wrestled in high school and has a good sense of balance and power.

Baumgardner’s attributes are more suited for pros than amateurs and it all came together against Terri Harper a year ago. A one-punch knockout rendered the tall British fighter unconscious on her feet. It was the Knockout of the Year in 2021.

The two super featherweights have been warring on social media for years now. Finally, they meet in the prize ring. Who will win?

“I’ve said from the beginning I want to be undisputed,” said Mayer. “I’ve pushed for this fight.”

Baumgardner expects a knockout win.

“My confidence is triggered by her,” said Baumgardner of Mayer. “We’re fighting for unification come Saturday night.”

The middleweight clash between Shields and Marshall has an even longer history. They fought each other as amateurs 10 years ago and the British fighter won. It remains the only loss for Shields in her boxing career.

The two-time Olympic gold medalist and undisputed middleweight and super welterweight world champion Shields doesn’t like any loss hanging over her head like a Sword of Damocles.

Marshall has knocked out nearly every foe she’s faces as a pro and thinks she can do the same to Shields. She grabbed the vacant WBO title and wants the others that Shields still holds.

Shields wants that title back and revenge.

“I know what I’m capable and I know what I am going to do on Saturday night,” said Shields. “We’re going to let her do whatever she wants to do and I’m going to adapt and do whatever I have to do.”

Marshall believes she will beat Shields again.

“I believe I am the better boxer,” said Marshall. “I’m just itching to get in there now.”

The remainder of the boxing card is filled with highly qualified prospects and contenders including Ginny Fuchs, Caroline DuBois, Sarah Liegmann among others.

Because of the time difference American viewers will watch the card starting in the morning or afternoon depending on where they live.

Top Rank has two fight cards in different points of the globe: Australia and Great Britain.

“We’re everywhere,” said Todd DuBoef, president of Top Rank while in London.

Melbourne Rematch

In a rematch Devin Haney (28-0, 15 KOs) defends his undisputed lightweight world championship against former holder George Kambosos (20-1, 10 KOs) on Sunday, Oct. 16. The Top Rank and DiBella Entertainment card will appear on ESPN+ on Saturday, Oct. 15, in America and Europe because of the time difference.

They met four months ago in the outdoor Marvel Stadium in Melbourne. They are back again in the rematch but this time at Rod Laver Arena in the same city.

“I’m going to go in there and do what I’m going to do regardless. No matter what referee is in there, no matter where the fight is at, it doesn’t matter,” said Haney.

Kambosos wants the titles back.

“I love when they doubt me. I love when they think I have no chance. That’s OK. We’ll prove them wrong once again,” said Kambosos.

Also on the card are the Moloney brothers Jason and Andrew. Plus, a female bout pits Cherneka Johnson (14-1) against former bantamweight world titlist Susie Ramadan (29-3) fighting for the vacant IBF super bantamweight world title.

Brooklyn and Wilder

It’s the return of Deontay Wilder and the former heavyweight titlist does not have an easy fight against Robert Helenius. Or does he?

Wilder (42-2-1, 41 KOs) meets Finland’s Helenius (31-3, 20 KOs) “the Nordic Nightmare” on Saturday, Oct. 15, at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. The PBC card will be shown on FOX pay-per-view.

It’s been a year since Wilder last fought and was stopped by Tyson Fury in a rousing 11 rounds of back-and-forth heavyweight action. Whenever Wilder fights you are going to get your money’s worth of action. Somebody is going down.

“One thing about Robert (Helenius) is he has a warrior’s heart and I have a warrior’s heart as well,” said Wilder of his former sparring partner.

In the co-main event former world titlist Caleb Plant (21-1, 10 KOs) returns to the ring and meets Anthony Dirrell (34-2-2, 25 KOs) who fought on the same fight card a year ago. That’s when Plant lost to Saul “Canelo” Alvarez in Las Vegas. Dirrell won that night with a sensational uppercut knockout win.

“I’m a go in there and whip his ass, as simple as that,” said Dirrell during the press conference.

The two super middleweights do not appear to have a kinship.

“This aint a therapy session. I could care less about emotions,” Plant said.

Also on the card is the fast-rising Gary Antonio Russell (19-0, 12 KOs) facing Emmanuel Rodriguez (20-2, 13 KOs) in a bantamweight match set for 12 rounds.

Fights to Watch (all times Pacific Time)

Sat. ESPN+ 11:30 a.m. Claressa Shields (12-0) vs Savannah Marshall (12-0); Mikaela Mayer (17-0) vs Alycia Baumgardner (12-1).

Sat. FOX ppv 6 p.m. Deontay Wilder (42-2-1) vs Robert Helenius (31-3); Caleb Plant (21-1) vs Anthony Dirrell (34-2-2); Gary Antonio Russell (19-0) vs Emmanuel Rodriguez (20-2).

Sat. ESPN 7:30 p.m. Devin Haney (28-0) vs George Kambosos (20-1); Jason Moloney (24-2) vs Nawaphon Kaikanha (56-1-1); Andrew Moloney (24-2) vs Norbelto Jimenez (31-9-6).

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