HAMMER TIME FOR SHIELDS
The ‘biggest female ght ever’ is tantalisingly close, writes Jack Hirsch
THERE will be no justice for the men who boxed on the bill headed by two female bouts at the Masonic Temple (Salita Promotions). The undercard results are being deliberately left out because what the women did was historic from a statistical standpoint. When the evening’s festivities ended, Claressa Shields and Christina Hammer had six world title belts between them, positioning themselves to engage in what might be the biggest female fight ever. Some might say that such a statement is premature, but judging by how Shields tried to assault Hammer, who had entered the ring following her victory, the wheels are certainly in motion.
If there will be a villain in the proposed matchup it is likely to be the charismatic Shields, who has already begun to antagonise some by calling herself the greatest woman fighter of all time. A bold statement after having had only half a dozen professional contests, but as Vasyl Lomachenko has shown on the men’s side, a standout amateur pedigree can serve as a fast track to greatness, something Shields has as a two-time Olympic gold medallist.
On this night at least, Shields, from nearby Flint, was the crowd favourite. Already the WBC and IBF supermiddleweight champion, Shields was dropping a weight division to box Alajuela, Costa Rica’s Hanna Gabriels for the vacant WBA and IBF middleweight crowns. Gabriels, the WBA and WBO super-welterweight titleholder, was moving up in weight, but there was no noticeable size difference as both scaled 159 1/2lbs.
Any thoughts that this would be a showcase for Shields, 6-0 (2), evaporated in the opening round when a right uppercut dropped her for a three-count with about 45 seconds left. The punch jarred Shields and knocked out her mouthpiece as well, but credit referee Gerard White, who did not give her a reprieve and allow it to be put back in until about 30 seconds later, when there was a lull in the action and it was obvious that Claressa had fully recovered.
Shields came on strongly in the second round. Gabriels bounced in and out, scoring with good rights from time to time, but had a difficult time matching Shields’ work rate. There would be times when Gabriels would appear to be fading, walking back to the corner with a discouraged look on her face, but would periodically rally and even have Shields on the ropes for stretches. Their heads would occasionally clash as well, and when it was over Shields had a deep cut on her left cheekbone.
Shields’ classy combinations and straight punches saw her get the better of it in arguably every round after the first, though you could make a case for Gabriels, 18-2-1 (11), perhaps having shaded a couple of them. In any event, Shields took the 10-twos unanimous decision by scores of 97-92 twice (Pasquale Procopio and Jeremy Hayes) and 98-91 (Michael Ancona).
Some fighters are just so superior to others that if they boxed 20 times the outcome would never vary. Such was the feeling after Dortmund’s WBC and WBO middleweight titlist Christina Hammer, 159 1/4lbs and 23-0 (10) 1 NC, successfully defended her belts, winning a unanimous 10-twos decision over former WBC middleweight champ Tori Nelson from Ashburn, Virginia. Judge Procopio got it right, turning in a 100-90 scorecard, while Katealia Chambers and Benoit Roussel (99-91) each eked out a round for the challenger. Frank Garza refereed.
Nelson, 157 1/2lbs and 17-2-3 (2), should be commended for moving forward most of the time, forcing her Kazakhstan-born opponent to retreat in intervals and depriving her of the stoppage she had badly wanted to have. Being that Nelson had previously lasted the full course with Shields, Hammer was looking to make a statement by going one better.
Hammer looked outstanding in the opening round, holding her ground and firing off hard jabs and combinations. But after a few rounds Hammer seemed resigned to going the distance, using more of the ring and adhering to the most successful formula of all – hit and don’t be hit. Nelson showed great heart, but her skill level was clearly below Hammer’s. The question now is, will Shields’ be too?
THE VERDICT Bring on Shields vs Hammer!