World championship Female boxing: Lamare defeats Hallback

By Boxing News - 11/06/2011 - Comments

By Euro-Boxing Critic: The 5th of November is an historic day for fireworks and the contest between Myriam Lamare (France) and Chevelle ‘fists of steel’ Hallback saw displays of fireworks in the ring.

This (10 x 2 min round) contest for the women’s IBF world welter-weight title was staged in Toulon, France and promised to highlight top level female boxing for a large audience screened on Euro-Sport.

Lamare appeared to look heavier than the light welter-weight limit stood before Hallback who looked in peak physical condition for a 40 year old.

Myriam Lamare (36) with a record of 19-3-0 with 10 KO’s took up the challenge for the title against Chevelle Hallback (40) hailing from the USA with an impressive record of 28-7-2 with (11 KO’s).

From the 1st round Lamare came forward to force the fight throwing a good range of combinations and moving on her feet looking to impress the judges and the home crowd.

Hallback used single jabs and slipping the punches did not make use of her vast amount of experience to counter-punch or good use of her foot-work.

Lamare the stronger puncher during the early rounds scored with some good right hands to nick most of the rounds.

Hallback used mostly hooks that were swinging wide which did not land with venom when chasing Lamare. Hallback made an attempt to force the fight in the mid-rounds throwing a flurry of body shots and counter punches but both boxers lacked defence, either boxers blocking or parrying shots to set up the counter.

From round 7 it was apparent that this would not end in a KO as both boxers did not have the strength to land a power-punch or the stamina to sustain a full out attack.

Lamare moved well and used a range of punches to keep up enough pressure to stay on top. Hallback could not raise the pace after landing a couple of straight right punches stunning Larmare just before the bell which could have turned the fight around.

The final rounds saw both boxers using their different styles and skills to make the fight and both attempting win the rounds. Lamare slowed down and moved away more which made Hallback miss when pressing forward throwing her swinging hooks. The clash of styles made this a good contest and at times the action was as good as any world title fight although some of the punches were not crisp or accurate enough to cause any problems. The referee rarely had to intervene and this made it a very sporting title fight.

The contest was a good example of female boxing since the days of Jane Couch MBE where I had the pleasure of officiating several of her contests.

Lamare taking the title with scores of 99-91, 98-92 and 96-94, I scored the contest 6 rounds Lamare, 3 rounds Hallback with 1 even.

It is good to see female boxing back in the lime-light.



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