Feminine boxing was large this yr, very large. Although the game is just not for everybody, feminine boxing has grown and grown in reputation, this one thing that didn’t appear attainable again when feminine boxing was struggling for acceptance, not to mention seeking to pull in large 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 enormous 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 choose 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 The unbeaten 36 yr outdated from Eire fought Amanda Serrano in April, in what was for some The Struggle of the Yr no matter gender. It was an enormous occasion, filling Madison Sq. Backyard. The battle lived as much as the appreciable hype, with Taylor having to dig deep to drag out the break up resolution 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, compared, a reasonably simple and simple night time’s work for Taylor, as she pounded out a unanimous resolution win. Subsequent yr, Taylor goals to have a monster of a sell-out battle at Eire’s huge Croke Park. As in style 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 battle at.
Taylor sees out 2022 with a 22-0(6) report.
Claressa Shields, the self-proclaimed “Biggest Lady of all Time,” additionally boxed twice this yr and, as was the case with Taylor, considered one of her two fights was a large occasion. Again in February, in Cardiff, Wales, Shields fought Ema Kozin, getting the ten spherical UD. This battle was merely a warm-up, nevertheless – for an enormous battle with the unbeaten Savannah Marshall in what could be a middleweight unification showdown. A rematch of kinds (Marshall having overwhelmed Shields within the amateurs means again in 2012) the October battle actually did seize the eye of the general public. Going out on common Sky Sports activities, not Field-Workplace, the battle pulled in large numbers.
It was additionally an excellent battle, with 27 yr outdated Shields backing up all of her trash-talk; her scorching abilities dazzling each Marshall and the followers, her unanimous resolution victory most deserved. There’s already speak of a rematch, with Shields disputing the truth that there was a rematch clause in place (Marshall lately said that she has activated the rematch clause). Shields has loads of different choices and she or he 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) report.
So who was the higher total fighter of the yr in relation to Taylor and Shields, unified champions each? It’s a tricky one to name, however I’m going Shields. Simply.