Women's Boxing Wowed in 2022

​There has always been a ton of talent in women’s boxing, but 2022 was a truly special year for our sport.  In the men’s sport there are a lot of struggles making the big fights, because different fighters are signed with different promoters who often refuse to work together.  Not so in women’s boxing.  Women (and their promoter’s) are far more eager to fight one another and they are finally finding the venues and the paydays to do so.  The biggest and the best fight of the year was Katie Taylor from Ireland vs. Puerto Rican Amanda Serrano who fought at Madison Square Garden on April 30th.  Irish and Puerto Rican boxing fans are known for loud support of their fighters and their noise and excitement were in full effect at the sold-out venue.  The fight lived up to all the hype.  It was an incredible hard-fought fight that saw Katie Taylor get hurt badly in the 5th round only to regain ground in the late rounds to pull out the win.  The judges had it 97-93 and 96-93 for Taylor and 96-94 for Serrano.  I thought the fight could have gone either way and would have been okay if it had been called a draw.  Both women realized the importance of the moment (It was the first-time women had headlined a fight at Madison Square Garden) and fought their hearts out.  It was a thrilling fight that has been considered by most as the fight of the year, not just for women, but  THE fight of the year, men or women.  Both women received 7 figure paydays (another first for women's boxing) and were so gracious and articulate about the pride they felt for themselves and for women’s boxing at the end of the fight.  It was a huge win for all women boxers especially Serrano and Taylor.

​The second big fight televised on ESPN+ took place across the pond at the O2 Arena in London.  It was an all-women’s card that also sold out and featured 2-time Olympic gold medalist Claressa Shields against the only opponent to ever beat her, Britain’s Savannah Marshall.  The co-main event featured Alyssa Baumgardner vs. Mikaela Mayer.  The ring walks of these fighters were absolutely awesome.   Mayer had dancers behind her and Claressa Shields actually performed a little number with a dance crew that was so much fun. The Baumgardner-Mayer fight was a good fight, but both fighters seemed to hold back. It was a close fight that could have gone either way but was awarded to Baumgardner.  To Baumgardner’s credit she is the breakout star of the year and scored a fantastic knockout of Terri Harper earlier in the year that earned her a spot in this fight, but I thought Mayer slightly outboxed her and won the fight.  The more exciting fight was Claressa Shields vs. Savannah Marshall.  Shields always fights with a fierceness that is hard to match, but to Marshall’s credit, she fought with the same intensity.  Although Shields was never in trouble of losing the fight, both put on a wonderful show that comes a close second to fight of the year.

​I can’t wait to see what 2023 brings for women’s boxing!  There are so many amazing possibilities on the horizon and the talent and audience for women’s boxing just keeps growing.