By Bob Ryder and Brad Snyder at ringside
Undisputed female middleweight champion Claressa “GWOAT” Shields (15-0, 3 KOs) stepped up to heavyweight to dethrone WBC female heavyweight champion Vanessa Lepage-Joanisse (7-2, 2 KOs) on Saturday night at the Little Ceasars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. Shields totally outclassed Lepage-Joanisse, dropping her three times in round two. Time was 1:09.
World-ranked super lightweight Michel “La Zarza Ali” Rivera (26-1, 14 KOs) won a ten round split decision against Hugo Alberto “Nato” Roldan (22-3-1, 7 KOs). Scores were 98-91, 98-90 for Rivera, 95-94 for Roldan.
Super lightweight upset artist Julian “The Quiet Storm” Smith (9-2, 5 KOs) scored a ten round split decision over former world title challenger and WBC #13 Shohjahon Ergashev (24-2, 21 KOs). Smith, who is legally deaf, gave Ergashev all he could handle, dropping Ergashev in round five. Scores were 95-94 Ergashev, 95-94, 95-94 Smith. Ergashev was a 7:1 favorite.
Super Bantamweight Cameran Pankey (10-1,4 KOs) looked great, as he easily defeated Shaileik Paisley (4-5, 3 KOs) by UD (60-54, 60-54, 60-54).
Early fight of the night contender, Gordie Russ and Josiah Shackleford started the first three rounds at an unbelievable pace. The 1st Round had Super Welterweight Shackleford connecting on Russ at will. He was all over Russ in the 1st Round. Russ had a strong 2nd Round, as both fighters threw punches back and forth. The pace continued in the 3rd and 4th, as both fighters connected great landing blows. Shackleford, perhaps, getting the better of those exchanges. In the 5th Round, Shackleford started with left jab and left hooks to the body. Russ was getting hit with Shackleford’s right a tad more in the 5th. The fight had an amazing pace as both Detroit fighters dug deep and took the bout to the final round. Russ began eating Shackleford’s punches, but threw a good left hook to the head providing some relief from the onslaught. Although the 5th and the 6th did not start well for Russ, he continued to have very strong moments that looked as if he could end the fight at any given moment. The judges had the potential fight of the night scored (59-55, 59-55, 59-55). The scores were correct, but Russ was in those losing rounds as well. The win improves Shackleford to (4-2, 2 KOs). As the loss, now, drops Russ’ record to (6-2, 6 KOs).
In the night’s first scheduled ten round bout Ernesto Mercado dominated the second round landing jabs and hooks to bloody Hector Edgardo Sarmiento’s nose in their super lightweight bout. Mercado turned up the punishment in the third causing Sarmiento’s corner to pull him out before the start of the fourth. Mercado climbs to (16-0, 15 KOs). Sarmiento declines to (21-2, 14 KOs.
Middleweight Husam Al Mashhadi came roaring out of his corner and knocked down Bruno Leonardo Romay as the sound of the opening bell had hardly died away. After Romay arose, Al Mashhadi stayed on top of Romay, knocking him down again for the knockout at :56. Al Mashhadi goes up to (10-1, 9 KOs). Romay traveled all the way from Argentina to fall to (22-14, 19 KOs).
In a super welterweight four round bout Jaquan McElory stunned Travis Floyd at end of the third round and went on to score a four round decision in his pro debut. Scores were 40-36, 39-37 x 2. Floyd drops to (1-102).
Claressa Shields-promoted super lightweight Samantha Worthington went to (9-0, 7 KOs) stopping Edina Kiss (16-21, 9 KOs) after Kiss’ corner pulled her out at end of the second round.
In the opening contest of the night between female heavyweights, Danielle Perkins bloodied and puffed up Christianne Fahey in the third round and continued to pound away in scoring the decision win by scores of 60-54 and 59-55 x 2 to stay undefeated at (5-0, 3 KOs). Fahey was tough and game in dropping to (2-2, KOs).
Women’s boxing sucks. Five broads hold every belt in seventy weight classes. The talent pool is more shallow than a coffee spill at Starbucks. MMA has been light years beyond boxing. Hell, even the WNBA has surpassed women’s boxing now.
No it didn’t. If you dislike it so much don’t watch as a matter of fact STFU nobody told you to watch
Telling people to STFU on a comment section is the peak of retardation. That’s what comment sections are for: commenting. You probably paid to watch this farce. No one outside of the women’s families gives a damn about women’s boxing. It’s garbage.
Then why are you on here going back and forth on here about women’s boxing when there are so many men’s boxing stories on this site?
Women boxing can’t and will never be compared to Men boxing. It is not even remotely close and will never be. If your expecting women boxing to be great or remotely good or compared to the man’s sport your asking to be let down hugely. The women’s sports is way different. The talent pool is weak but what are you truly expecting? If your watching it then you like it to some degree so stop bitching about it. Claressa Shields is a shit fighter with no power. She hardly knocks her opponents out and the women’s talent pool is extremely weak. This woman thinks she can beat an elite male fighter lmfao. If she fought a real elite male opponent she wouldn’t last 1 minute. I can’t stand this woman and the sport which is why I refuse to watch any of it.
Sounds very biased to me
Good for you, now take your ass elsewhere to complain! Bye B _ _ _h…
He’s right tho, female with two wins gets a shot at a title. Female boxing is such an embarrasing joke. So glad it’s not taken seriously.
Jackie Nava won a title by beating Martha Leticia Arevalo who was 1-5-0 women boxing definitely is a joke.
Clarissa shields is no joke! Neither is Marshall or the other elite women’s boxers. Stop the hate
Haters
Good Shit! tell them to go play Ping Pong complaining bastards!
Could say the same thing about mens boxing with their seventeen weight classes. More about the organizations than gender.
No, it isn’t.
No comparison whatsoever, and I bet the only thing you have ever been hit by is your man from the rear end!
Whether the boxing world likes her behavior or dislikes her behavior, Shields deserves a congrats (minus excuses).
Ergashev took a hit, and I was surprised.
“Whether the boxing world likes her behavior or dislikes her behavior, Shields deserves a congrats (minus excuses).”
– Agree w/E-Man.
– Gotta give Shields her props……..
Mercado’s fight was predictable.
What was attendance?
Wow that’s what you worried about?
I saw a lot of empty seats.
The noise didn’t match the crowd size.
Probably pumped crowd noise through speakers.
Ergashev got dropped in round 2 also by Julian Smith but the referee robbed him of this legitimate knockdown by not acknowledging the clear hard punch which was landed and shown in slow motion several times by the broadcast… the scores shouldn’t have even been close… at least they got the right guy winning…
15-0, with 3 KOs. Not impressed with Shields. Somewhere out there is the female version of Evander Holyfield, Marvin Hagler, or James Toney. Shields finally will face someone who has the skills, power, and attitude to outwork and outbox her, hurt her, knock her down, or even knock her out. Then we will see what she’s about. Until then, she can keep fighting these cream puffs, running her mouth, and acting like a damn fool. I don’t think of her when I think of great female fighters.
LexusNexus…. respect your opinion that was the same thing everyone said about the great Pernall Whitaker….”boring…no knockouts..”….no respect until Sweet Pea retired and then today everyone lauds his greatness….like E Man stated …based on Shields overall career and success…her Merit…even if we don’t like Shields style cannot deny Shields greatness..based on her accomplishments in the ring…there is always an opponent out there that will beat the reigning champ…. happened to All of them with exception….ALI, Chavez, Roy Jones, even the great Seat pea Whitaker….greatness is not diluted by destiny…until then…Hats off to Shields….
That’s a lie. Nobody criticized sweet pea for no knocking people out. He was loved and relieved his flowers during and after his career.
Noccowt..at the time that Pernall Whitaker was fighting …many complained about his style….Not that Whitaker was not loved….Whitaker was a defensive genius….would outpoint you beat fighters up in a different…way….at the time many said his Whitaker’s style was boring…. following boxing a long time Noccowt….that is what I perceived and that is my opinion based on perception….Could be wrong….just my opinion
Your opinion isn’t from a boxing mindset for sure, an unknowledgeable fan maybe!
Larry Merchant always gave Whittaker the business about his defensive style.
Thank you, Sweet Pea was greatness through and through! I don’t know what the hell that fella talking about.
Not true about Pernell they created the pfp because of him he was always appreciated by boxing fans not sure what you watched
Go watch sweet peas fights.
He was universally praised then as s great fighter.
You’re making shit up.
Jay…. understand the issue.,…no one never said that Pea was not a great fighter…. many complained that Whitaker’s style was boring…he usually outpoints the other fighters not a lot of KOs.. 40 wins with 17 KOs usually a boxer that is considered “great” has a decent amount of KOs. With the exception of Diobelys Hutado (that fight showed Pea’s greatness)..out of all those championship fight not alot of KOs.,go back and watch the HBO fights…someone posted that Larry Merchant always complained and Larry did…so did the media.same issue with Clarissa…when you know you know..Lions don’t argue with lambs…..
you act like she has ran from somebody! she has fought everyone worth anything
Thats the problem. There is no one worth anything!! Did you see who she just beat?? She looked like she should be working at Wal-Mart!!
You got that right ✅️ she might go to the arena after her shift at Walmart was over.
How about her 2 Olympic gold medals? That’s not impressive? I think there’s some other reason you don’t like her.
– Remember that the women only have 2 minutes per Round, so they have 33% less the time per Round for a KO………
What about Marshall from GB you calling her a cream puff
A female who beat up another female. Some victory
This comment doesn’t make any sense!….. So do you prefer “MEN” beating up a female?!…..
It’s much harder to score kos with two minute rounds Also, women have smaller hands, smaller upper body strength on average. No surprise you don’t see KOs. You don’t need Kos to make a good fight. Gatti Ward being an example. The competition isn’t there at the higher weights
Wasnt a problem for Anne Wolfe, Laila, or Lucia was it???
Yes, sir! IMHO all three woman best the “so-called” GWOAT (personally hate the nickname which Shields bestowed upon herself).
Unlike Canelo who has Shields duck? She has faced and beaten all top notch women challenges. She can only fight what’s there. Women boxers have pushed for years to fight 3 minute rounds, it’s not their fault the governing bodies of boxing won’t change. And think about it. Was Shields opponent tonight any weaker than Canelo’s next opponent?
You lost all credibility with “top notch women”. Lol
Great Job
Well, well… congratulations to Shields. She did it. Pulled off what is extremely hard to do be it women’s or men’s boxing. Clarissa has challenged herself time and time again by going for the top of the divisions. No, she does not have the most crowd pleasing style, but that’s ok. The beauty of the sport is expressed best at the lower weight classes.
What happens from here will be interesting. Once you go up, you lose yourself trying to get back down in weight.
Best of all, we don’t have to hear the baloney about Layla being the goat anymore. Several of the ladies have far surpassed any accomplishments Ali ever had.
why is Layla being the GOAT baloney?
“why is Layla being the GOAT baloney?”
– Because she never was…….
An accomplishment that holds very little considering the level of opposition at hw
Female boxing is such a joke to the sport of boxing. Glad female boxing is not taken seriously.
And yet, she’s still completely unlikable.
I think you guys have a bias problem
Now, it’s time for Laila Ali to come out of retirement show Shields how it’s done.
Do men go to a fight card to specifically see a women’s bout? I sort of doubt it, but to each his own. I’ve been watching boxing since about 1950 or so, on tv and some in person, and have never watched a full women’s bout. Have run across one ever now and then and might have watched a snippet of it, but to actually tune in to see one. Nope, and won’t. Just don’t interest me. Like UFC don’t interest me. And the real fight game don’t have the attraction that it used to have. Good fighters, just costs too much to see the fights. And too many mismatches for me. But, like I said, that’s just me, I’m old and set in my ways. Too late to change.
That about sums it up Bo.
Haters say she has no power so stop the HW champ. She made history. Like her or not there is no denying she is the GWOAT!!
The hw champion had 7 wins and got dropped 3 times from a woman who could throw punches on every pressure point on one face or land the perfect liver shot and still not drop or seriously hurt contenders at her natural weight says how bad this hw champion really was. I didn’t see the fight because Shields undercarriage make her look like a superstar in comparison.
You guys called Loma the king when Ho only had a few fights. Your bias is showing
Let’s not let the criticism of woman’s boxing detract all of Clarissa Shield’s achievements. She has fought really great competition. She is a back-to-back two-time gold medalist.
There is nothing else she has left to prove. She the GWOAT.
This broad is too cocky. I dont like her. Theres no proper competition for her , therefore she is Over-rated ! (here comes the “hater” comments)
You seem like a hater of women especially a certain kind
If women’s boxing wants to be taken seriously, all boxing organizations need to be ban men from pretending to be women. DNA tests & Testosterone tests MUST be required in all situations.
A dude is a dude is a dude. Not a chic. A MF dude.
Funny how this site won’t address that two biological males have been allowed to fight in women’s Olympic boxing in France. What an absolute disgrace. I guess they deem it too controversial. The Olympics is nothing but one big pathetic event.
“Women’s boxing sucks.”
I’d like it to be outlawed, like it used to be, and still is in many places. Also, has that one gotten the XX/XY chromosome test?