2016 Olympic Gold Medalist and current WBA, WBC, WBO and IBF World Middleweight champion Claressa ‘T-Rex’ Shields stopped WBC and WBF World Heavyweight champion Vanessa Le-Page-Joanisse in the second round for the vacant WBO World Light Heavyweight title on Saturday night at Little Ceasar’s Arena, Detroit, Michigan.
‘T-Rex’ Shields (15-0, 3 KO) stopped WBC World Heavyweight champion Le-Page-Joanisse (7-2, 2 KO) at 1:09 of the second round of a scheduled ten rounds for the vacant WBO World Light Heavyweight title.
In the first round, no punch landed in the first minute. Shields landed the first punch and took the round with a flurry. In the second round, a left hook followed by a right from Shields on the chin dropped Le-Page-Joanisse for an 8-count from referee Ben Rodriguez.
Seconds later, Shields dropped Le-Page-Joanisse for another 8-count. Then Shields ended it with a third knockdown with a combination.
In the co-feature, light welterweight Michel ‘La Zarza Ali’ Rivera (26-1, 14 KOs) defeated WBA Fedelatin welterweight champion Hugo ‘Nato’ Roldan (22-3-1, 7 KO) over ten rounds.
In the first round, Roldan had the edge, while in the second round, Rivera came back, taking that one. In the third round, Rivera landed a right to the body, followed by one to Roldan’s chin.
In the fourth rounds final seconds Roldan missed with a right and almost went through the ropes. Seconds later Rivera landed a right to the head of Roldan. In the fifth round Rivera outworked Roldan.
In the seventh round’s final seconds, Rivera rocked Roldan with a right on the chin. In the eighth round, Rivera landed an elbow while throwing a missed right to Roldan’s chin.
In the ninth round, Rivera took the round, out-landing Roldan. In the tenth and final round, Rivera, with tape hanging from his left glove, tried for a knockout as Roldan fell forward, missing a right and was countered by a left on the chin from Rivera that looked like a knockdown, but referee Ansel Stewart called it a slip.
The scores were 98-90, 98-91 for Rivera, and 95-94 for Roldan.
Welterweight southpaw Shohjahon ‘Descendant of Tarmerlane’ Ergashev (24-2, 21 KOs) was upset, losing by split decision to Julian ‘Quiet Storm’ Smith (9-2, 5) over ten rounds.
In the second round’s final seconds, Smith landed a right on the chin of Ergashev, who hit the canvas in the corner, and Referee Ben Rodriguez somehow ruled it a slip. In the fourth round, both had their moments. In the fifth round’s final seconds, a left hook from Smith on the chin dropped Ergashev for an 8-count from Referee Rodriguez.
In the sixth round, Ergashev got rocked and grabbed Smith, taking him to the canvas. In the ninth round, it went back and forth, with Smith now getting the support of the crowd. Smith landed a flurry of punches in the tenth and final round, hurting Ergashev and taking the round.
Scores were 95-94 for Ergashev, 95-94, and 95-94 for Smith.
Feather Cameran ‘The Problem’ Pankey, 10-1, 4 KO) defeated southpaw Shailek ’Kutthroat’ Paisley (4-5, 3 KO) over six rounds.
After two competitive rounds, Pankey hurt Paisley with a body shot in the third round. In the sixth and final minute, Pankey tried for the stoppage, but Paisley got to the end.
The scores were 60-54, 60-54 and 60-54.
Super Welter Gordie Russ ll, 6-2, 6 KO), was upset by southpaw Josiah ‘Mighty Joe’ Shackleford (4-2, 2 KO) over six rounds.
In the first three rounds, Shackleford dominated. In the sixth and final round, Shackleford went for the stoppage. In the final minute, Russ fought back well. The scores were 59-55, 59-55 and 59-55.
Middleweight southpaw Husam ‘Lion Heart’ Al Mashhadi (10-1, 9 KOs) knocked out southpaw Bruno ‘El Zar’ Leonardo Romay (22-14, 19 KOs) at 0:56 of the first round of a scheduled six-round bout.
In the first round final minute, a pair of left hooks to the chin and down went Romay for the count from referee Pat Schmidt.
Super Light Ernesto Mercado (16-0, 15 KOs) stopped Hector ‘Pajarito’ Edgardo Sarmiento (21-3, 14 KOs) after three rounds of a scheduled ten rounds.
In the third round, Mercado bloodied the nose of Edgardo and hurt him with a body shot in the final seconds. Edgardo’s corner halted the fight in between rounds.
Middle Jaquan ‘King’ McElroy (1-0) defeated southpaw Travis Floyd (1-10-2) over four rounds.
In the first three rounds, McElroy had an edge. In the sixth and final round, both had their moments.
The scores were 40-36, 39-37 and 39-37.
Super Light Samantha Worthington (9-0, 7 KO) stopped Edina ‘DNA’ Kiss (15-21, 9 KO), who retired after two rounds of a scheduled 8-round fight.
In the second round, Worthington battered Kiss the entire round. Kiss’ corner halted the match.
Middleweight southpaw Danielle Perkins (5-0, 2 KO) defeated Christianne Fahey (2-2, 2 KO) over six rounds.
In the third round, Perkins suffered a bloody nose, though winning another round.
Scores 60-54, 59-55 and 59-55.
The ring announcer was Pete Trevino, Jr.
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