Shurretta Metcalf secured her first career title in a competitive rematch against bantamweight titleholder Miyo Yoshida on Wednesday at The Theater at Madison Square Garden.
Metcalf, who had previously defeated Yoshida last to become the IBF bantamweight mandatory challenger, won the close bout on scores of 96-94, 97-93 and 99-91.
After the fight, Metcalf reflected on her performance: “In the first fight, I moved a lot,” Metcalf said in her postgame interview on the ProBox TV broadcast. “I wasn’t putting much power on my punches. This time, I wanted her to feel me. I came to make a statement.”
Metcalf, 14-4-1 (2 KOs), 39, from Dallas, started quickly, using her height and reach advantage. Standing at 5ft 7ins, Metcalf kept the 5ft 3ins Yoshida, who hails from Kagoshima, Japan, and is now based in New York City, on the outside by pumping her jab and controlling the distance.
Yoshida, 17-5, found moments of success in the second round, landing a sharp right hand that caught the attention of the judges. The third round was a swing round, as Metcalf’s volume contrasted with a powerful right from Yoshida that closed the round on a high note for the defending titleholder.
In the fourth, Metcalf’s jab and flurries dictated the pace, though Yoshida remained dangerous on the inside, landing damaging shots when she closed the gap. Yoshida pushed forward in the fifth, but Metcalf adjusted with hooks and uppercuts in close range. Despite Metcalf’s control, Yoshida ended the round with a strong flurry.
The sixth round saw Yoshida change tactics, moving backward as Metcalf pressed the action from a distance. A clubbing right hand from Yoshida in the closing moments briefly caught Metcalf, as Yoshida followed up with a couple of stiff jabs to end the round.
Both fighters appeared to slow down in the seventh. Metcalf’s hard jab and hook combinations kept her ahead, though Yoshida often finished strong, making the rounds competitive. Metcalf pressed the action in the ninth, landing a solid left hook to the body with 30 seconds remaining. Yoshida refused to back down, making it through the round without further exchanges.
In the final round, the fight remained tense as Metcalf started fast. Yoshida countered effectively, landing eye-catching shots, but Metcalf’s higher output and sharp right hands defined the exchanges. The fight ended with both fighters trading right punches up until the final bell rang.
Asked about a possible third fight, Metcalf commented in the ring afterward: “She didn’t want to give me a rematch the first time, but if the money’s there, we’ll do it again.”
Lucas Ketelle is a proud member of the Boxing Writers Association of America and author of “Inside The Ropes of Boxing” (available on Amazon). Contact him on X @LukieBoxing.
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