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Top Stories
The new rankings are up. No movement, but some talk.
Maurice Hooker and Jose Ramirez discussed their upcoming July 27 140-pound unification fight, which is officially official. Hooker thinks he’s the better and smarter fighter, while Ramirez talked about fans winning when promoters work together like this. And trainer Robert Garcia believes it has Fight of the Year potential.
Claressa Shields’ next fight is set. She’s won titles at 168 and fully unified 160, so with nothing interesting to do at those weights she’ll fight at 154 for a vacant belt. On paper, her Aug. 17 matchup with Ivana Habazin isn’t very interesting, but honestly, what can she possibly do that really might be a compelling actual fight other than go down to 147 and fight Cecilia Braekhus, or even meet Braekhus at a catchweight? And her move down in weight suggests that’s a possibility for the future, depending on Shields being able to comfortably fight as she moves down.
It’s great that Shields has done so much and is trying to change the game for women’s boxing — and I really mean that, it’s great the effort she’s putting in — but until she has a dance partner that can make for an actual interesting in-ring product, the whole thing is only going to capture so much attention. Shields-Hammer had something on paper, but then the fight itself was a dud. And it’s not Shields’ fault that nobody at 160 or 168 was an actual legitimate challenge for her, either.
Quick Hits
- The Sergey Kovalev-Anthony Yarde purse bid has been pushed back again, now to June 24.
- Shakur Stevenson’s July 13 fight with Hairon Socarras is official.
- David Feldman of BKFC talked about making the Malignaggi-Lobov fight and his hopes for the company.
- Franchon Crews-Dezurn, who made her pro debut opposite Shields’ pro debut, has gone on to win the WBC 168-pound title, and has now signed with Golden Boy. She’ll fight on June 20.
- Kid Galahad believes he’s hungrier and fresher than Josh Warrington ahead of Saturday’s title fight.
- Kal Yafai and Norbelto Jimenez meet in what may be a bit of a sleeper title fight on June 29. Yafai wants to look good in victory, while Jimenez really feels he’s going to get the upset, and his last 30 fights suggest he’s got a chance.
- Emanuele Blandamura and Fabio Turchi will return on July 11 in Rome, with DAZN streaming the bouts.