Claressa Shields puts female boxing on the map

Sub Lead12-Mar-17by John J. Raspanti

By Anthony "Zute" George

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In front of a jubilant Detroit crowd, and fighting for only the second time as a professional. two-time Olympic gold medalist Claressa “T-Rex” Shields captured the NABF middleweight title by slugging Szilvia Szabados into oblivion. The fight was officially stopped at the 1:30 mark of round four. Shields improved to 2-0 while Szabados fall to 15-9.

Shields has been a household and a marketable star long before her pro debut. The boxing powers that be recognized this, and rewarded Shields with the main event on a premium cable channel, the first ever for a female boxer, and a piece of hardware; the NABF middleweight title.

Shields flourished on the big stage and appears to have it all. Charm, charisma, good looks, determination, superior boxing skills and yes, she can fight. It appears as if “T-Rex” has it all.

With that said, there is one thing that she might be lacking, viable competition.

Szabados was packaged as a fighter with a lot of experience, but the only skill she showcased was the ability to block punches with her face. Boxing fans are too savvy, and they will not endorse mismatches for that long.

Regardless of how popular a fighter may be.

The Shields gravy train can probably roll on for a few more bouts, but sooner or later boxing fans will demand something competitive.

If the female crop at middleweight is only as good as Szabados, Shields’ popularity will die a slow death. Even with the males, only a select few could consistently draw a crowd for a fight that is a forgone conclusion, Mike Tyson comes to mind. GGG is a modern example of such a fighter; although he pays the price in terms of negative press clippings for fighting mismatches.

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There is plenty of talent in female boxing, making the sport worthy to follow.

Heather Hardy and Shelly Vincent fought in a 10-round donnybrook last year; a fight I felt should have received more fight of the year recognition, but received virtually none. Amanda Serrano is a killer puncher; the ultimate rarity in female boxing. Cecilia Braekus might be the best kept secret in all of boxing; a marvelous talent who has received virtually no American Press.

However, except for Cecilia, none of these fighters are even close to Shields’ weight class, and Cecilia fighting at middleweight is a stretch.

A savvy promoter could package together an all-female card with Shields headlining and the aforementioned female talent as viable co-stars.

That would sell, and provide and Shields with a longer shelf life of mismatches. There is power in the undercard despite what some top boxing writers think.

As celebrated as this fight was, and deserved to be, it was a gross mismatch. There are only so many of those you can get away with in boxing. Sooner or later Shields will need a formidable foe to sustain interest and ticket sales.

Does such an opponent exist for her?

Time will tell.