BoxRec

Female Referee, Two Female Judges Assigned

The idea initially was to assign three female judges and a female referee to the Claressa Shields-Christina Hammer fight.

When one of the fighters’ handlers objected to one of the three female judges suggested by the New Jersey State Athletic Control Board, they settled on a male judge, Guido Cavalleri, to replace her. Italy’s Cavalleri will join two female judges – Philadelphia’s Lynne Carter and New York’s Robin Taylor – at ringside Saturday night to judge the Shields-Hammer middleweight title unification fight in Atlantic City.

A female referee, Sparkle Lee, also has been assigned to work what has been promoted as the biggest fight in women’s boxing history.

Germany’s Hammer doesn’t care whether the judges are male or female, as long as she has a legitimate shot to beat a two-time Olympic gold medalist from America in the United States.

“Before the fight, I have to be able to win this fight,” Hammer told BS.com. “I have to feel I can win this fight. Not that it’s clear before the fight who’s the winner. It’s very important that it’s clear and neutral, that it’s real sport, no crazy decisions.”

The 28-year-old Hammer admits she feels she must win what figure to be competitive rounds very decisively to beat Shields in Shields’ home country.

“I have to give more than every [other] day,” Hammer said. “I think it has to be a clear decision because I’m a guest here in the U.S. She’s from USA; I’m from Germany. But I don’t feel like she’s a champion and I’m not, that she gets more credit than me – no.”

The Box-Nation-televised unification features four belts as well as the inaugural Ring Magazine crown, leading many to regard this as the biggest ever female fight.

Shields is a double Olympic gold medallist and a two-weight World Champion at the age of 24, while Hammer has been reigning for nine years.

On the undercard, two unbeaten Heavyweights Otto Wallin and Jermaine Franklin are in action. We're live at 1.30am!

Running Order

*Please note, all fights subject to change without notice.

***

10 Round Heavyweight contest
Otto Wallin vs. Nick Kisner

Follows

10 Round Heavyweight contest
Jermaine Franklin vs. Rydell Booker

Follows

IBF, WBA, WBC & WBO, vacant Ring Magazine World Female Heavyweight Titles
Claressa Shields vs. Christina Hammer

***

This afternoon at 2:30 pm ET streaming right here on BLH thanks to Showtime Sports and YouTube, Claressa Shields and Christina Hammer will weigh in for tomorrow’s main event on Showtime.

https://www.badlefthook.com/2019/4/12/1 ... g-weigh-in

Shields: Top Women Would Have More KOs With 3-Minute Rounds

Claressa Shields was taken aback by what a WBC official stated during a press conference four months ago.

He rationalized the supposed need for two-minute rounds in women’s boxing by claiming those that run sanctioning organizations and commissions must protect women fighters from themselves. Unlike male boxers, he claimed women in this sport aren’t built to withstand competing for three full minutes per round.

Shields took exception to that explanation.

“I’m 24 years old,” Shields told BS.com following a press conference Wednesday in Manhattan. “I’ve been grown for a very long time. I don’t need to be protected in boxing. If that’s the case, you also need to protect the men. They have more knockouts because of the three-minute rounds and 12 rounds. If that’s the case, we shouldn’t be in the sport.

“We need to be treated fairly and given the same, equal opportunities. And that’s what three minutes and 12 rounds is. I don’t need someone protecting me and telling me what I can and can’t do. If the rule is to fight three minutes [per round] and 12 rounds, I’m gonna get my ass in the gym and get ready for three minutes and 12 rounds.”

That official’s comments, made two days before her unanimous-decision victory over Femke Hermans on December 8, piqued Shields’ curiosity. Shields determined after doing some research that two-minute rounds actually hurts women who box.

The IBF, WBA and WBC middleweight champion is convinced that two-minute rounds have prevented some of the top women’s boxers in the world from scoring more knockouts.

One of the most common criticisms of Shields is that the two-time Olympic gold medalist doesn’t knock out her opponents. She felt that she hurt Hermans twice during a 10-round fight HBO broadcast from Carson, California, yet Shields (8-0, 2 KOs) ran out of time in both of those rounds to finish the job.

Each of Shields’ past four fights have gone the 10-round distance. Her opponent Saturday night, WBO middleweight champ Christina Hammer, is 24-0, but only 11 of those victories have come by knockout.

They’re hardly alone, according to Shields.

“You look at the top fighters, from myself, Christina Hammer, Cecilia Braekhus, Amanda Serrano – a lot of those girls are big punchers,” Shields said. “Cecilia Braekhus has been dominant for years, but people will say that she’s 38 and 0, or something like that, but she only has nine knockouts. Even with Christina Hammer, she’s bigger and stronger than all the girls that she’s fought. But she’s 24-0, with only 11 knockouts.

“And when you look at that, you’re like, ‘Why isn’t there knockouts? Can’t women knock people out?’ And then I look at myself, and I know for a fact people talk about my power, they talk about my speed and all the girls I fight know that I hit hard. So why aren’t they going to sleep? We don’t have enough time to break them down.”

Shields attends a lot of fights featuring men, particularly those involving male boxers with whom she is friendly. She notices just how much that extra minute means while watching some of those fights up close and personal.

“With the men, that extra minute matters,” Shields said. “Three minutes, it really does matter. And then, even with two minutes, I have to be at a higher pace and I can’t set up the punches the way that I want to because it’s like I’m trying to win a round. So, I can only do so much feinting and stuff to get shots open, when, in three minutes you have more time. So, I think that with the three minutes, you can wear your opponent down.

“And also, your opponent is getting fatigued, fatigued, fatigued. I mean, two minutes, it’s over so fast. Then you get that minute rest and then you’re back out there again for two minutes. I’ve hurt girls right at the end, like 1:51, like the 1:40 mark, and these girls are still surviving because it’s only 10 seconds or only 20 seconds. But could you imagine having to survive a minute and 30 seconds, a whole minute after being hurt? That’s different.”

Shields didn’t always appreciate the need for women fighting three-minute rounds. In the beginning of her career, she didn’t pay that one-minute difference much mind.

Eventually, however, Shields realized that their fight for equal pay and equitable billing has been made more difficult by not allowing women to box three-minute rounds or 12 rounds in championship matches.

The Flint, Michigan, native’s middleweight title unification fight against Hammer is scheduled for 10 rounds Saturday night in Atlantic City, New Jersey. If it is as competitive as many people suspect, viewers and those that attend their Showtime main event at Boardwalk Hall’s Adrian Phillips Ballroom seemingly should want 10 more minutes of action – or 16 additional minutes, if 12 rounds were allowed for women.

“At first,” Shields said, “I was like, ‘I don’t care about fighting two minutes, 10 rounds.’ I was like, ‘Whatever.’ But when I think about the equality of it, equal is equal. So, I can’t wanna get paid like the men, but don’t fight the same amount as the men. And that’s the point that some trolls and some people have made. And I’ll give the trolls their props – they were correct on that, sure. But we can’t control that. Those are not rules that are enforced by us. And I think that the organizations, after this fight, that is a conversation that I would like to have with them.”

The 28-year-old Hammer, of Dortmund, Germany, was less demonstrative than Shields regarding the issue of two-minute rounds. She does agree with her rival regarding perception overpowering reality.

“I don’t like the rule,” Hammer told BS.com. “If they decided that we can do three-minute rounds, OK, I have to prepare for that. But there are rules and I have to follow them. It’s not my idea.”

https://www.BS.com/shields-top ... ds--137883

Box-Nation fans side with Hammer over Shields

The bookmakers believe Shields will come out on top, as do 10 experts polled by Steve Lillis who edge towards the American.

However, our social followers across both Twitter and Facebook believe Hammer will become the seventh boxer to clean out a whole division.

It's fight week! #ShieldsHammer

Who will become the undisputed women's World Middleweight Champion on Saturday night?
— allegedly (@allegedly) April 8, 2019

That 54% figure was replicated on our Facebook page earlier this week after almost 3,000 votes.

2 American judges and an American ref.... Predicting controversy!

Nah.

Shields is far too fast. No controversy necessary.

And while American judges predictably are conveniently viewed cynically by foreign fighters, remember one thing: there were no American judges for Fury-Wilder.

But there was a British judge.

Yet fans continue to blame American judges for the decision. A knee jerk attitude that ignores reality.

One thing is certain: Shields is a b!tch. She may still be a better boxer.

boxing_rocks wrote: ↑12 Apr 2019, 13:45 One thing is certain: Shields is a b!tch. She may still be a better boxer.

Lots of boxers are bitches, bastards and a-holes.

Perfect deportment is not necessary to achieve success.

SenorPipino wrote: ↑12 Apr 2019, 13:49 Lots of boxers are bitches, bastards and a-holes.

Perfect deportment is not necessary to achieve success.

She is a kind of b!tch which doesn't attract viewers. Mayweather was the opposite kind.

She's a name. Probably due to a combination of talent and outspoken personality.

Fans will watch her, especially against Hammer. This fight is attracting a decent amount of media attention.

Seemingly more than Lomachenko-Crolla.

Obviously Shields will never garner the same level of interest as comparably skilled male boxers.

But that's the way it is in women's sports. Except for maybe tennis.

Her outspoken personality attracts NEGATIVE media attention. Like her tweeting "Good job Unc!" after Dirrell's uncle punched Urcategui after the fight or her criticizing Hammer's underware modeling while posing naked
http://www.xgames.com/xgames/gallery/16592208/

Or maybe it is just her boobs being tiny

boxing_rocks wrote: ↑12 Apr 2019, 15:02 Her outspoken personality attracts NEGATIVE media attention. Like her tweeting "Good job Unc!" after Dirrell's uncle punched Urcategui after the fight or her criticizing Hammer's underware modeling while posing naked
http://www.xgames.com/xgames/gallery/16592208/

Or maybe it is just her boobs being tiny

Sexist pig! Claressa would smack you for that.

Positive attention. Negative attention. It doesn't matter.

As long as the media pays any kind of attention to her, it's all good.

Negative press hardly hurt Mayweather's bank account.

lol come on now the girls are getting attention for a ladies fight but this has hardly blown up or anything, will prob be well forgotten after next week after doing some okay but nothing great numbers .

shields does seem really dumb though, just read what she says. she praises sucker punches but then moans about kissus. bashes lingere modelling but poses nude. whines about being a victim all the time , etc and if you dont agree with her your racist and sexist according to her. im not really sure thats selling her at all tbh, as media seems to keep trying the good american girl from nothing narrative

i think they are competitively matched, its hard to see otherwise looking at previous fights. shields is not blazing fast where shes waay faster, but i figure she edges out a decision.

SenorPipino wrote: ↑12 Apr 2019, 15:08 Sexist pig! Claressa would smack you for that.

Nah. I would win by submission.

boxing_rocks wrote: ↑12 Apr 2019, 15:37 Nah. I would win by submission.

MMA vs boxing lady?

That would be ungentlemanly.

boxing_rocks wrote: ↑12 Apr 2019, 15:37 Nah. I would win by submission.

Her fat ass would smother you to death.

True 50-50 fight this.

100% evently matched..

I'm guessing regardless who many think will win, most want Shields to lose.

How to stream Claressa Shields vs. Christina Hammer for free

https://www.dailydot.com/upstream/clare ... -showtime/

* When: Saturday, April 13, at 9pm ET
* Where: Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, NJ
* Streaming: Showtime (free with various streaming service trials)

*******************

1) Sling TV
Claressa Shields vs Christina Hammer live stream free Sling TV Sling TV

Sling Orange + Blue

* Cost: $10 per month for Showtime (after a 7-day free trial)| $25-$40 per month for Sling TV (after a 7-day free trial)
* Sling TV devices: Amazon Fire TVs, Amazon Fire Stick, Apple TV, Android TV, Roku,Xbox One, Google Chromecast, and iOS and Android devices

To get Showtime on Sling TV, it’ll cost you an additional $10 monthly fee after a seven-day free trial. But what really separates Sling TV from its competition is that you can select to receive a la carte channel packages. That means you can pay either $25 or $40 depending on what channels you want. But if you signup in time for the Shields vs. Hammer fight, you’ll actually get 40% off your first three months, bringing your monthly cost down to just $15 or $25. Here’s a complete guide to Sling TV channels and our Sling TV review.


2) Hulu and Hulu with Live TV
Claressa Shields vs Christina Hammer live stream Showtime Hulu Hulu

Hulu with Live TV

* Cost: $10.99 per month for Showtime (after 7-day free trial) | $5.99-$11.99 for Hulu and $44.95 per month for Hulu with Live TV (after a 7-day free trial)
* Hulu devices: Roku, Apple TV, Google Chromecast, Amazon Fire Stick and Fire TV, Xbox One, Xbox 360, Nintendo Switch, and iOS and Android devices

With Hulu, you can watch TV shows and movies on demand while also having the ability to stream live TV. It’s really a great chance for viewers to watch all the shows they might have missed when they were originally broadcast on network TV. Here’s the complete list of Hulu Live TV channels.


3) FuboTV
Claressa Shields vs Christina Hammer Showtime live stream free FuboTV FuboTV

Fubo TV

* Cost: $10.99 per month for Showtime | $39.99 for your first month and $44.99 per month thereafter for FuboTV (after a 7-day free trial)
* Devices: Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Android TV, iOS and Android devices

FuboTV might be the best option for you if you’re a huge international sports fanatic. One of the best parts about FuboTV is that the service continues to improve itself with new sports coverage, including soccer from all around the world, and it showcases some of the best local TV coverage of any streaming service. With Showtime on FuboTV, it’s also a great place to watch movies. Here’s the complete FuboTV channels list.


4) Amazon Prime Video
Claressa Shields vs Christina Hammer live stream Showtime Amazon Amazon

Amazon

* Cost: $10.99 per month (after a 7-day free trial) for Showtime | $119.99 per year for Prime
* Devices: Amazon Fire Stick, Fire TV, Fire tablets, and Fire phone; Roku, Google TV, TiVo, Nvidia Shield, PlayStation 3 and 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Wii

If you want a one-stop shop for all your streaming needs, Amazon is exactly what you need. Plus, you can add Showtime for $10.99 per month from one centralized media center. This is about as easy as it gets to live stream Showtime.


5) Showtime app

Shields vs Hammer Showtime app live stream Showtime

* Cost: $10.99 per month (after a 30-day free trial)
* Devices: Amazon Fire TVs, Amazon Fire Stick, Roku, Xbox One, Google Chromecast, and iOS and Android devices

Using the app can be a good deal because, unlike most of the streaming services, Showtime sometimes gives you an extended free trial of 30 days instead of seven. This, however, is not one of those times. For now, you get a free seven-day trial with the app. After that, it costs $10.99 per month (you can cancel any time). If you want to stream Shields vs. Hammer directly through Showtime, this is the way to do it.

I’m quite a bit pumped for this.

Decent woman’s fight. UNDISPUTED!

There has been quite some hype on this.

Hear just chatting beans as usual. Saying Salita is his friend but he doesn’t have a platform bla bla.

Showtime have bloody done a ‘All Access’ on this bout.

It seems like it’s been pretty heavily hyped.

I bet it does better numbers that Quillin-Truax on FS1.

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑13 Apr 2019, 17:08 I’m quite a bit pumped for this.

Decent woman’s fight. UNDISPUTED!

There has been quite some hype on this.

Hear just chatting beans as usual. Saying Salita is his friend but he doesn’t have a platform bla bla.

Showtime have bloody done a ‘All Access’ on this bout.

It seems like it’s been pretty heavily hyped.

I bet it does better numbers that Quillin-Truax on FS1.

I'm into it, it's showing live free to air here.
We will be cheering on Hammer.

Two things stop me enjoying women's boxing every bit as much as the men.

Strength in depth - which doesn't apply here as they're both good.
and the STUPID 2x mins rounds. Why ? WTF ?! etc.

It completely ruins it, prevents a lot of KO/stoppages and generally makes it rubbish. How does this get changed ?

skanksta wrote: ↑13 Apr 2019, 17:25 Two things stop me enjoying women's boxing every bit as much as the men.

Strength in depth - which doesn't apply here as they're both good.
and the STUPID 2x mins rounds. Why ? WTF ?! etc.

It completely ruins it, prevents a lot of KO/stoppages and generally makes it rubbish. How does this get changed ?

Isn’t it 10 rounds also?

Shields was saying that’s why women never get stoppage wins and they could use that extra minute.

So many fights where male boxers work down an opponent for 2 mins and finally KO an opponent in the final minute. It probably is needed.

For the record, Shields will kill Hammer here. I don't see it as being close. Hammer has a decent jab, but Shields is the athlete. She will just overwhelm Hammer. Mid round stoppage I think. I think Hammer will crumble when her game plan doesn't work.