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).
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