Feminine boxing was massive this yr, very massive. Although the game will not be for everybody, feminine boxing has grown and grown in recognition, this one thing that didn’t appear potential again when feminine boxing was struggling for acceptance, not to mention seeking to pull in massive numbers so far as stay gate and PPV numbers are involved.
This yr, we noticed the likes of Katie Taylor, Amanda Serrano, Claressa Shields, Savannah Marshall, Alycia Baumgardner, Mikaela Mayer and different very good feminine fighters pull in big crowds and fan consideration as they placed on some nice motion fights.
However who’s deserving of The 2022 Feminine Fighter of the Yr award? It appears the decide comes down to 2 names: Katie Taylor and Claressa Shields.
Taylor, a real celebrity and the reigning undisputed light-weight champion, fought twice this yr. The unbeaten 36 yr previous from Eire fought Amanda Serrano in April, in what was for some The Battle of the Yr no matter gender. It was an enormous occasion, filling Madison Sq. Backyard. The struggle lived as much as the appreciable hype, with Taylor having to dig deep to drag out the break up choice win that left us all asking for extra. A rematch has been spoken of ever since.
Taylor then fought the unbeaten Karen Carbajal in October in London. This was, as compared, a reasonably straightforward and easy night time’s work for Taylor, as she pounded out a unanimous choice win. Subsequent yr, Taylor goals to have a monster of a sell-out struggle at Eire’s huge Croke Park. As common as she is, as particular as she is, Taylor is greater than able to filling the venue she says it has lengthy since been her dream to struggle at.
Taylor sees out 2022 with a 22-0(6) file.
Claressa Shields, the self-proclaimed “Best Lady of all Time,” additionally boxed twice this yr and, as was the case with Taylor, one in every of her two fights was an enormous occasion. Again in February, in Cardiff, Wales, Shields fought Ema Kozin, getting the ten spherical UD. This struggle was merely a warm-up, nevertheless – for an enormous struggle with the unbeaten Savannah Marshall in what can be a middleweight unification showdown. A rematch of kinds (Marshall having crushed Shields within the amateurs manner again in 2012) the October struggle actually did seize the eye of the general public. Going out on common Sky Sports activities, not Field-Workplace, the struggle pulled in massive numbers.
It was additionally an excellent struggle, with 27 yr previous Shields backing up all of her trash-talk; her scorching abilities dazzling each Marshall and the followers, her unanimous choice victory most deserved. There’s already speak of a rematch, with Shields disputing the truth that there was a rematch clause in place (Marshall not too long ago acknowledged that she has activated the rematch clause). Shields has loads of different choices and he or she says, pretty sufficient, {that a} rematch wouldn’t be within the UK. Shields did the travelling final time, to London, so why not have the return in America?
Shields sees out 2022 with a 13-0(2) file.
So who was the higher total fighter of the yr in terms of Taylor and Shields, unified champions each? It’s a tricky one to name, however I’m going Shields. Simply.
Who Was 2022’s Feminine Fighter Of The Yr?
