Two of the most effective feminine boxers on the planet put forth a duel worthy of the principle occasion platform. WBO junior light-weight world champion Mikaela Mayer (16-0, 5 KOs) defeated IBF champion Maiva Hamadouche (22-2, 18 KOs) by unanimous resolution to unify titles Friday night at The Theater at Virgin Resorts Las Vegas.
The scorecards — 100-90, 99-91 and 98-92 — didn’t do Hamadouche’s effort justice. Hamadouche, who had been champion for 5 years and 6 title defenses, landed 233 of 872 punches. Mayer was extra correct, touchdown 239 of 594 blows.
“{I confirmed} I may bang it out on the within. That wasn’t actually the whole recreation plan,” Mayer mentioned. “The sport plan was to make use of my jab, however behind my head, I knew she was going to maintain it shut, hold me on the within. Although we skilled for that, simply with the ability to try this for 10 straight rounds taught me rather a lot.
“That is the whole lot I skilled for. It actually hasn’t even sunk in, however I’m happy with what I did. I’m happy with my crew. We’re going to have a good time this one, for certain.”
Added High Rank chairman Bob Arum, “This was a sensational struggle, among the best fights of the 12 months, male or feminine. These two women are a credit score to the game, they usually left all of it within the ring. It was a detailed struggle, however I felt Mikaela did greater than sufficient to have her hand raised.”
With the victory, Mayer now units her sights on the undisputed crown.
Mayer mentioned, “I actually needed to indicate everybody within the division and the naysayers that I didn’t have the facility and the grit to remain in there for 10 rounds with Hamadouche that I’m the most effective within the division. I’m coming to be undisputed, and I would like the massive fights. I’m undoubtedly a menace.”
In different motion:
Puerto Rican upstart Luis Melendez (17-1, 13 KOs) notched the most important win of his profession, edging Cleveland native Thomas Mattice (17-3-1, 13 KOs) by unanimous resolution in an eight-round junior light-weight tilt. All three judges scored the struggle 77-75 for Melendez, who constructed an early lead and held off Mattice’s late rally. Mattice landed 37 extra punches over the second half of the struggle (81-44).
Abdullah Mason (1-0, 1 KO), the 17-year-old southpaw light-weight prodigy from Cleveland, had an eye-opening skilled debut, knocking out Jaylan Phillips (1-1, 1 KO) within the second spherical. Mason had Phillips pinned towards the ropes and unloaded with a sequence of crosses. Phillips’ knees buckled, and that was sufficient for referee Robert Hoyle to step in and stop additional carnage.
Las Vegas native Andres “Savage” Cortes (16-0, 9 KOs) had a becoming homecoming, knocking out Filipino veteran Mark Bernaldez (23-5, 17 KOs) within the third spherical of a junior light-weight bout. Cortes snapped Bernaldez’s head again with just a few crisp proper arms, prompting referee Allen Huggins to step in. Bernaldez protested the stoppage, his first knockout defeat in additional than three years.
Middleweight Ian Inexperienced (15-2, 11 KOs) upset the beforehand undefeated Tyler Howard (19-1, 11 KOs) by a near-shutout eight-round unanimous resolution (79-72 2x and 80-71). Howard had a degree deducted within the fourth spherical for a shot after the bell, and it didn’t get a lot better for him within the second half of the struggle.
Rowdy Legend Montgomery (7-3-1, 5 KOs) lived as much as his center title. The Southern California tremendous middleweight opened the cardboard with a one-punch knockout over Martez McGregor (8-6, 6 KOs) within the third spherical.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – NOVEMBER 05: Mikaela Mayer (L) and Maiva Hamadouche (R) alternate punches throughout their struggle for the WBO & IBF feminine tremendous featherweight championship at Virgin Resorts Las Vegas on November 05, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada.(Picture by Mikey Williams/High Rank Inc by way of Getty Pictures)
