Claressa Shields took the dangerous route of dropping 20 pounds to challenge middleweight champion Kaye Scott and proved once again to be the best female fighter on the planet while taking back the WBC and WBA middleweight titles by technical knockout on Saturday.

And she sold out Atlanta.

Shields (19-0, 4 KOs) lost weight, overcome a camp injury and left hooked Australia’s tough Scott (5-2-1) from her senses before more than 16,000 excited fans at State Farm Arena in Atlanta.

Once again Shields is the WBA and WBC middleweight champion.

Before the fight, the Flint, Michigan native whose life was made into a Hollywood movie, had stated she wanted a knockout above all else. She achieved the knockout but it was not easy for seven rounds.

“I was actually trying to figure her out. She was stronger than I thought,” Shields admitted. “I didn’t want to exert too much energy early. I wasn’t as strong as I feel at 175.”

Scott tried jabbing her way into position to unload her big blows but was stymied by Shields incredible hand speed. Still, the taller Aussie persisted in trying to connect and kept the pressure on Shields.

Because Shields had not fought at 160 pounds in three years, she was told by her corner to remain calm and patient. Every time the two fighters exchanged, it was obvious that Shields had the faster hands, but Scott was connecting too. She just wasn’t winning the rounds.

“I started going to her body and breaking her down. My right hand was just landing,” said Shields.

But in the eighth round, a Shields left hook wobbled Scott and another left hook shook the Aussie more. Then a right to the chin paralyzed Scott and her legs gave out and she swerved against the ropes. It was ruled a knockdown. The fight resumed and Shields unleashed a barrage of blows. Referee Joel Scobie stepped in to stop the match as white towels were tossed in the boxing ring by Scott’s corner at 1:38 of the eighth round.

“This was a hard camp. I got down to 160. It was the hardest camp since the Olympics,” Shields said. “I felt really good and strong… I’m happy with my performance.”

The return of Shields to the middleweight division opens up a wealth of possibilities for the two-time Olympic gold medalist. Among those Shields mentioned are Lauren Price of the United Kingdom, Mikaela Mayer and Tam Thibeault who recently won the IBF and WBO middleweight titles along with the Ring Magazine champion designation.

“I’ve always been number one at 160. I don’t know how ring made her (Thibeault) number one. It doesn’t make sense,” said Shields.

 

Other bouts

Highly-ranked contender Ernesto “Tito” Mercado had his fight canceled because his scheduled foe Emmanuel Tagoe could not make weight and neither could a replacement. Instead, middleweight prospect Tory Isley (17-0) stepped in and fought Joseph Hicks (12-2) to win by unanimous decision after 10 rounds.

Isley and Hicks have bad blood that goes back to their amateur days and as pros they fought like they knew each other’s strengths and weaknesses. Isley was the aggressor as Hicks relied on counterpunching and had his moments early in the fight.

After getting wobbled from a left hook early, Isley turned up the steam a little and fired more blows than Hicks and the judges rewarded him with the win by decision 97-92, 96-93 (2x).

 

Title Changes by Disqualification

South Africa’s Bernice Ferreira (11-0, 4 KOs) retained the IBO super featherweight title and won the WBC title from Caroline Veyre (11-2) who was disqualified for excessive holding. Surprise, surprise.

Veyre had committed the same infractions when she won the title against Belgium’s Delfine Persoon, but due to poor refereeing she emerged the winner. Not this time. Referee Malik Waleed warned her repeatedly and deducted two points, but the Canadian fighter ignored or does not know how to fight without grappling opponents.

Ferreira came in fighting at a distance with Veyre, and both engaged each other from the outside. But as the South African began to cross into the danger zone with solid blows, Veyre resorted to holding in an effort to keep the fight on the outside. She did this repeatedly every round.

Holding is stated in boxing rules as an illegal tactic the same as hitting below the belt, hitting behind the head, kicking or eye gouging. Its allowed in MMA but not in boxing.

The referee warned Veryre repeatedly and she may have felt that no way a championship fight would be lost on disqualification due to excessive holding. At 1:04 of the eighth round, Waleek stopped the fight and awarded Ferreira the win.

 

Other Result

Puerto Rico’s talented Ashleyann Lozada (5-0) out-punched and out-boxed Mexico’s Paulette Cuesta (19-6-1) to win by unanimous decision. But like fighters with a lot of amateur experience, Lozada holds a lot. Too much. Every time Cuesta got in close, Lozada held or grabbed the Mexican in a headlock.

Lozada won by unanimous decision but needs to learn to fight inside, not just outside.

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