By Ken Hissner: At the 02 Arena, Greenwich, London, UK Saturday over ESPN+ Mick Hennessy, Dmitriy Salita and Benjamin Shalom presented 2-time Olympic Gold Medalist, IBF, WBA and WBC Middle champ Claressa “T-Rex” Shields against the one person that beat her in 2012 in the amateurs 2-time Olympian WBO World Middle champ Savannah “Silent Assassin” Marshall avenging that loss over ten rounds. In the Co-Main Event Olympian, IBF and WBO World Super Feather champ Mikaela Mayer lost a split decision to WBC and IBO Super Feather champ Alycia “The Bomb” Baumgardner over ten rounds.
In the Main Event IBF, WBA and WBC Middle champ Claressa “T-Rex” Shields, 13-0-2 (2), #159 ¼, of Flint, MI defeated WBO World Middle champ Savannah ‘Silent Assassin’ Marshall, 12-1 (10), #159 ¼, of Harlepool, UK, over 10×2 rounds.
In the first round the taller Marshall used an effective jab coming forward in the first minute. Shields opened up with a flurry of close to a dozen punches without return in the beginning of the second half of the round. In the second and third rounds both let it all hang out with Shields coming out on top in a pro Marshall crowd cheering for anything Marshall does. In the fourth and fifth rounds Shields again was landing more and slipping punches better even off the ropes.
In the sixth and best round of the fight Marshall may have won her first round. In the seventh round Marshall seemed to have an edge until the final seconds when Shields rallied. In the eighth round a brawl broke out with Shields possibly having a slight edge in a close round.
In the ninth round again both mixed it up well in a close round that Shields seemed to have an edge. In the tenth and final round with the crowd on their feet both let it all hang out in a close round. Referee Victor Loughlin had an easy night.
Scores were 96-94 and 97-93 twice as did this writer.
In the co-Main Event IBF and WBO Super Feather champ Mikaela Mayer, 17-1 (5), #129 ¼, of Woodland Hills, CA, and Colorado Springs, CO, lost a split decision to WBC and IBO Super Feather champ Alycia “The Bomb” Baumgardner, 13-1 (7), #129 ¼, of Detroit, MI, over 10×2 rounds.
In the first two rounds Mayer was the aggressor using a good jab being the taller of the two. Baumgardner landing lead rights on the chin being the faster of the two. In the third round Mayer finally landed a right on the chin of Baumbardner who started talking in reply.
In the fourth round Mayer rocked Baumgardner with a right with half a round remaining. Then hurt Baumgardner with a right followed by a left hook to the chin seconds before the bell. In the fifth round Baumgardner stopped moving around the ring and stayed in the center of the ring and gave the round to Mayer who landed many rights on the chin having a big round.
In the sixth it was more of the same with Mayer’s experience paying off in a closer round but a winning one winning her fourth straight round. In the seventh rounds midway point Baumgardner opened up a cut on the right eyebrow of Mayer with a solid right. Good round for Baumgardner.
In the eighth round Baumgardner became more aggressive in a close round with both boxers having their moment won by Baumgardner. Referee Bob Williams finally warned Baumgardner for clinching too much.
In the ninth round Mayer had a slight edge in a close round and close fight. In the tenth and final round again it was a close round in a close fight going down to the wire with neither boxer going all out being a close fight.
Scores were 97-93 Mayer, 96-95 twice for Baumgardner and 95-95 from this writer though I felt Mayer would have gotten the decision by the judges.
Welter 2021 Olympic Gold Medalist southpaw Lauren Price, 2-0 (1), #145 ¼, of Ystrad Mynach, Wales, UK, stopped Timea Belik, 6-7 (2), #145, of Budapest, HUN, at 1:18 of the fourth round of a scheduled 6×2 rounds.
In the first two rounds Price had an edge in a competitive fight. In the third rounds final twenty seconds Price rocked Belik with a left on the chin. In the fourth round Price had Belik on the defense before referee Mark Bates may have prematurely halted the bout that Price was well ahead at the time.
2021 Olympian southpaw Caroline Dubois, 4-0 (3), #137, of London, UK, stopped Milena ”Hells Baby” Koleva, 10-15-1 (4), #136 ¾, of Berlin, GER, at 1:53 of the fifth round of a scheduled 6×2 rounds.
In the first three rounds the action was furious with Dubois the southpaw having an edge. In the fourth’s final seconds Dubois landed as much of her arm as her glove on the back of the neck dropping Koleva for an 8-count by referee Sean McAvoy. Dubois is the sister of former WBO International heavyweight champ Daniel ‘Dynamite’ Dubois, 18-1 (17).
In the fifth rounds final seconds Dubois landed a flurry of punches without return having Koleva against the ropes until the referee wisely halted the bout.
2021 Olympic Bronze Medalist southpaw Karriss Artingstall, 1-0 (0), #125, of Macclesfield, UK, Marina Sakharov, 5-16-2 (3), #124, of Strasbourg, Bas-Rhin, FR, 6×2 rounds.
In the first three rounds Artingstall had her way keeping Sakharov on the defense with a solid body attack and some good head shots. In the last three rounds the southpaw Artingstall went to the body with right hooks to the ribs of Sakharov who did a little better in the second half of the fight but couldn’t win a round.
Referee Mark Bates scored it 60-54 as did this writer.
