| |
|
|
Claressa Shields Knocks Out Kaye Scott
To Win WBC & WBA Middleweight Titles
Boxing “GWOAT” Claressa Shields put on a show for more than
16,000 fans, celebrities and boxing royalty at State Farm
Arena Saturday on DAZN, knocking out unified WBC and WBA
Champion Kaye Scott in the sixth round to once again stamp
her claim as the world’s best middleweight.
The all-action scrap had the crowd at State Farm Arena on
their feet from the opening bell for the first women’s main
event in the history of the home of the NBA’s Atlanta Hawks.
Shields brought the stars out for her Atlanta debut, with
Floyd Mayweather, Terrence Crawford and Shakur Stevenson
sitting alongside entertainment A-listers Usher, Kevin Gates
and Brandy.
Already the most accomplished woman in boxing history,
Shields added yet another achievement that may never be
replicated. The undisputed heavyweight champion became just
the second heavyweight titlist in 120-plus years to
successfully win a belt in a lower division, joining Boxing
Hall of Famer Roy Jones Jr. in accomplishing the feat.
Saturday’s event was presented by Salita Promotions in
partnership with Wynn Records, Claressa Shields Promotions
and Route 30 Promotions, presenting sponsor Zeus Network and
sponsor OnlyFans.
After a huge barrage of shots in the opening minute of the
second round, a massive welt formed over Scott’s left eye.
Shields continued to press the action, controlling the pace
and far out-punching and out-landing Scott in rounds three
and four. The defending champion had Shields against the
ropes for the first time for most of the fifth, but Shields
kept her guard up and was able to punch out, take back
control, and bring the fight back to the center of the ring.
Shields (19-0, 4 KOs) stepped on the gas in the sixth,
landing a huge left hook to Scott’s jaw that staggered the
unified champion. Shields continued to throw bombs and
landed a flush overhand right that sent Scott tumbling back
into the ropes. Clearly dazed, Scott beat the count, but was
on shaky legs and her corner threw in the towel moments
later, at 1:38 of the sixth.
“What a night!! I still can’t believe all of the fans who
showed up to make this a sold-out show here at State Farm
Arena,” Shields said. “I thank every single one of you.”
“I know I made it look easy, but Kaye Scott had power behind
those punches. She’s a hell of an opponent. I felt sharp
going into this fight, I had a great camp and it showed
tonight. I listened to my corner, stayed patient and—we all
saw what happened!”
“I can’t believe I had a knockout in front of Usher!”
After the fight, Scott (5-2-1), who competed as a top
amateur for nearly two decades before turning professional,
admitted she never faced anyone quite like Shields.
“The right hand landed pretty hard,” Scott said. “She warned
me about it. I knew it was coming, but I hadn’t been hit
like that before with a right hand that hard before. My legs
were gone and I couldn’t recover. I tried everything, but
she was just too good. I think it was her speed and power.”
“My jaw is fine,” Scott said after being asked if she hurt
her jaw in the initial exchange in the sixth. “We had a
clash of heads, I think in the second, that caused this big
welt.”
Said promoter Dmitriy Salita: “It was yet another amazing
and historic night for Claressa Shields, becoming the first
woman to headline at State Farm Arena and drawing more than
16,000 for her debut in Atlanta. Claressa's resume is
unmatched, and she is once again the top middleweight in the
world along with being boxing's GWOAT. Tonight was yet
another reminder that we are witnessing something truly
special. I hope the fans saved their tickets tonight.”
It was yet another amazing and historic night for Claressa
Shields, becoming the first woman to headline at State Farm
Arena and drawing more than 16,000 for her debut fight in
Atlanta. Claressa's resume is unmatched and she is once
again the top middleweight in the world along with being
boxing's GWOAT. Tonight was yet another reminder that we are
witnessing something truly special. I hope the fans at State
Farm tonight saved their tickets.
Undefeated middleweight contender Troy Isley won a close but
convincing 10-round unanimous decision over longtime amateur
rival Joe Hicks, scored 97-92, 96-93 twice.
Isley (17-0, 6 KOs) pressed the action, forcing Hicks to
fight off his back foot for most of the fight. Isley far
outpaced his amateur rival in power shows, throwing 178
compared to just 113 for Hicks according to CompuBox. Hicks
started strong and landed the biggest punch of the bout in
the second round, but he failed to capitalize and never
showed much urgency in the ring. Isley was deducted a point
for a kidney shot in the fifth yet still won comfortably on
all three scorecards.
Undefeated super bantamweight Ashleyann Lozada (5-0, 1 KOs)
won a near-shutout 10-round unanimous decision over Paulette
Cuesta (19-6-1, 4 KOs), scored 100-90, 100-90, 99-91, in a
bout for the WBA Gold Women’s Super Bantamweight belt.
Lozada is now positioned to challenge No. 3 ranked Phannerai
Netisri in a WBA world title eliminator.
In the opening bout on DAZN, undefeated challenger Bernice
Ferreira (11-0, 4 KOs) dethroned WBC Super Featherweight
Champion Caroline Veyre after the champion was disqualified
for holding in the eighth round (1:04). Veyre (11-2) was
deducted points for holding in the fourth and the seventh.
At time of the stoppage, Veyre was up on two of the three
judges’ scorecards, 66-65, 67-64, 67-64.
In Zeus Network undercard professional boxing fights,
undefeated light heavyweight contender Atif Oberlton (17-0,
14 KOs) won a shutout unanimous decision over Roamer Alexis
Angulo (29-5, 24 KOs), scored 100-90 three times.
Super Middleweight prospect Da’Vella Smith (15-0, 10 KOs)
kept his undefeated record intact with a 6th round TKO
(1:44) of local favorite Hakim Lopez. Smith was up on all
three judges’ scorecards at the time of the fight, 50-45,
49-46, 49-46.
Undefeated featherweight contender Shannel Butler extended
her unblemished record to 8-0 (3 KOs) with a convincing
unanimous decision victory over Marianela Ramirez (14-12-2),
scored 79-73, 79-72, 78-74.
In a matchup of previously unbeaten super welterweights,
Jacquan McElroy (6-0, 2 KOs) won a close unanimous decision
over Alexander Thiel (5-1, 2 KOs), scored 58-56 on all three
of the judges’ scorecards.
In the opening bout on Zeus Network, Daniel Mercado, brother
of undefeated 140-pound star Tito Mercado, knocked Rahmel
McKinley (1-5) down twice in the first round, winning via KO
at 1:48 of the first.
In celebrity influencer bouts on Zeus Network, Noah won via
second round knockout (1:15) over Xavier Pabon in a matchup
of Zeus executive security guards.
In the Zeus influencer co-main event, Ray J won by unanimous
decision (29-27, 29-27, 30-26) over rival Orlando Brown in a
matchup of TV personalities.
In the Zeus Network main event, Big Lex defeated Tesehki in
an amateur boxing showdown between the two TV personalities.
|
|
|
