Latest news with #GWOAT
Yahoo
07-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
BBC Sport's British women pound-for-pound rankings
Friday's all-female card at London's Royal Albert Hall will mark International Women's Day by celebrating the depth of women's boxing in the United Kingdom. The event is headlined by the unification fight between welterweight world champions Natasha Jonas and Lauren Price. Unbeaten lightweight champion Caroline Dubois defends her WBC title against Bo Mi Re Shin. In homage to the female code, BBC Sport - with the help of Scotland's former middleweight champion Hannah Rankin - has compiled the top 10 pound-for-pound rankings for active British fighters. "These rankings are not solid, though", Rankin says. "In women's boxing, unlike the men, the best always fight the best. So there are a number of fighters who can shoot up or down the list after one good win or a bad performance." 'Uncalibrated' scales drama as Jonas & Price weigh in 'Chin up, kid, it all works out in the end' - Jonas' 'sliding doors' moments I want to be the best in the sport - Price 10. Nina Hughes (Former WBA bantamweight champion – 6 wins and 1 loss; age 42) 9. Rhiannon Dixon (Former WBO lightweight champion – 10 wins, 1 loss; age 29) 8. Sandy Ryan (Former WBO welterweight champion – 7 wins, 2 losses and 1 draw; age 31) 7. Caroline Dubois (Current WBC lightweight champion, 10 wins and 1 draw; age 24) 6. Terri Harper (Three-weight and current WBO lightweight champion – 15 wins, 2 losses and 2 draws; age 28) Newport-born Price is flying the flag for Welsh boxing. After capturing gold at Tokyo 2020, she made the transition to the paid ranks with real ease. In just her seventh fight, Price become her nation's first professional female boxing world champion and 14th world title holder beating welterweight champion Jessica McCaskill. Price would raise her profile even further with a win over veteran Jonas. "I've sparred hundreds of rounds with Lauren and to see her achieve everything she has done in such a small time is incredible," Rankin says. "Put simply, I've not seen her put a foot wrong in any of her fights." Knockouts are generally tough to come by in women's boxing, but Hartlepool's 33-year-old Savannah Marshall is the exception to the rule. The former undisputed super-middleweight world champion, who also won a title at middleweight, has stopped 10 opponents in 13 fights. "It's what makes Savannah so special," Rankin says. "It's why we all tune in - you're expecting the knockout blow at any point." Marshall is the only woman to beat the self-proclaimed GWOAT, Claressa Shields, as an amateur. Shields did avenge that defeat in 2022, though, which is the only blemish on Marshall's record. "I'd be excited to see the rematch between her and Claressa, maybe even at heavyweight. I think we would see a different Savannah," Rankin says. Londoner Ellie Scotney is an unbeaten WBO and IBF super-bantamweight champion who quietly goes about her business. Unlike Marshall, there is a lack of knockout power with all of 10 of her bouts going the distance. But the 26-year-old more than makes up for that with some exceptional boxing ability. She is a fluid mover who glides around the ring and, as Rankin puts it, "showcases what being a boxer is all about." Scotney retained her title in October and has eyes set on Australia's WBC featherweight champion Skye Nicolson. "Ellie has been matched so hard throughout her career - she's never had an easy fight. She has fought different styles of fighters and has improved and shown something different in each of her wins," Rankin says. "I think she could become two-weight, undisputed world champion and leave a real mark on the sport. Natasha Jonas is is a fighter who has crossed eras in women's boxing. In London 2012 she became the first British female boxer to compete in the Olympics. She, alongside the likes of Ireland's Katie Taylor, has spearheaded the sport's rise in popularity ever since. The 40-year-old - who has won 16 pro fights, lost two and drawn one - is now enjoying a golden period in the twilight of her career. After capturing the much-sought-after world title in February 2022, she has not taken a step back. Her next two wins were in unification bouts and she then moved to light-middleweight to win two more titles. "Natasha is a real role model for all young fighters. She suffered a crippling defeat early on in her career and rebuilt, showing just what it takes to overcoming adversity," Rankin says. "She is so knowledgeable about the sport. Natasha is just an asset to the sport." The top spot goes to Chantelle Cameron - a former undisputed world champion with 20 wins and one draw and a fighter who stunned the great Katie Taylor in her own backyard. Cameron, 33, is a terrific boxer with a solid jab, timing and ability to control the distance. She won her first world title- the WBC light-welterweight strap - in her 13th fight to very little fanfare. She would become England's first undisputed champion in the four-belt era, but still very few were talking about the Northampton fighter. Cameron's breakout moment, however, came in the most emphatic fashion when she inflicted a first career defeat on Taylor in 2023. "I had absolutely no hesitation in putting Chantelle at number one," Rankin says. "They say 'to be the man you have to beat the man'- the same applies to the women. Katie is regarded one of the world's best female fighters, maybe of all time. For Chantelle to beat her was incredibly impressive." Boxing schedule and results 2025 Watch every Born to Brawl episode Notifications, social media and more with BBC Sport
BBC News
07-03-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
BBC Sport's British women pound-for-pound rankings
Friday's all-female card at London's Royal Albert Hall will mark International Women's Day by celebrating the depth of women's boxing in the United Kingdom. The event is headlined by the unification fight between welterweight world champions Natasha Jonas and Lauren Price. Unbeaten lightweight champion Caroline Dubois defends her WBC title against Bo Mi Re homage to the female code, BBC Sport - with the help of Scotland's former middleweight champion Hannah Rankin - has compiled the top 10 pound-for-pound rankings for active British fighters. "These rankings are not solid, though", Rankin says. "In women's boxing, unlike the men, the best always fight the best. So there are a number of fighters who can shoot up or down the list after one good win or a bad performance." 10 to 5. Hughes, Dixon, Ryan, Dubois & Harper 10. Nina Hughes (Former WBA bantamweight champion – 6 wins and 1 loss; age 42)9. Rhiannon Dixon (Former WBO lightweight champion – 10 wins, 1 loss; age 29)8. Sandy Ryan (Former WBO welterweight champion – 7 wins, 2 losses and 1 draw; age 31)7. Caroline Dubois (Current WBC lightweight champion, 10 wins and 1 draw; age 24)6. Terri Harper (Three-weight and current WBO lightweight champion – 15 wins, 2 losses and 2 draws; age 28) 5. Lauren Price - the Olympic golden girl Newport-born Price is flying the flag for Welsh boxing. After capturing gold at Tokyo 2020, she made the transition to the paid ranks with real ease. In just her seventh fight, Price become her nation's first professional female boxing world champion and 14th world title holder beating welterweight champion Jessica would raise her profile even further with a win over veteran Jonas. "I've sparred hundreds of rounds with Lauren and to see her achieve everything she has done in such a small time is incredible," Rankin says. "Put simply, I've not seen her put a foot wrong in any of her fights." 4. Savannah Marshall – the knockout queen Knockouts are generally tough to come by in women's boxing, but Hartlepool's 33-year-old Savannah Marshall is the exception to the rule. The former undisputed super-middleweight world champion, who also won a title at middleweight, has stopped 10 opponents in 13 fights. "It's what makes Savannah so special," Rankin says. "It's why we all tune in - you're expecting the knockout blow at any point." Marshall is the only woman to beat the self-proclaimed GWOAT, Claressa Shields, as an amateur. Shields did avenge that defeat in 2022, though, which is the only blemish on Marshall's record. "I'd be excited to see the rematch between her and Claressa, maybe even at heavyweight. I think we would see a different Savannah," Rankin says. 3. Ellie Scotney - the masterful boxer Londoner Ellie Scotney is an unbeaten WBO and IBF super-bantamweight champion who quietly goes about her business. Unlike Marshall, there is a lack of knockout power with all of 10 of her bouts going the distance. But the 26-year-old more than makes up for that with some exceptional boxing ability. She is a fluid mover who glides around the ring and, as Rankin puts it, "showcases what being a boxer is all about." Scotney retained her title in October and has eyes set on Australia's WBC featherweight champion Skye Nicolson. "Ellie has been matched so hard throughout her career - she's never had an easy fight. She has fought different styles of fighters and has improved and shown something different in each of her wins," Rankin says. "I think she could become two-weight, undisputed world champion and leave a real mark on the sport. 2. Natasha Jonas - the veteran Natasha Jonas is is a fighter who has crossed eras in women's boxing. In London 2012 she became the first British female boxer to compete in the Olympics. She, alongside the likes of Ireland's Katie Taylor, has spearheaded the sport's rise in popularity ever since. The 40-year-old - who has won 16 pro fights, lost two and drawn one - is now enjoying a golden period in the twilight of her capturing the much-sought-after world title in February 2022, she has not taken a step back. Her next two wins were in unification bouts and she then moved to light-middleweight to win two more titles. "Natasha is a real role model for all young fighters. She suffered a crippling defeat early on in her career and rebuilt, showing just what it takes to overcoming adversity," Rankin says. "She is so knowledgeable about the sport. Natasha is just an asset to the sport." 1. Chantelle Cameron - the woman who beat the woman The top spot goes to Chantelle Cameron - a former undisputed world champion with 20 wins and one draw and a fighter who stunned the great Katie Taylor in her own backyard. Cameron, 33, is a terrific boxer with a solid jab, timing and ability to control the distance. She won her first world title- the WBC light-welterweight strap - in her 13th fight to very little fanfare. She would become England's first undisputed champion in the four-belt era, but still very few were talking about the Northampton fighter. Cameron's breakout moment, however, came in the most emphatic fashion when she inflicted a first career defeat on Taylor in 2023. "I had absolutely no hesitation in putting Chantelle at number one," Rankin says. "They say 'to be the man you have to beat the man'- the same applies to the women. Katie is regarded one of the world's best female fighters, maybe of all time. For Chantelle to beat her was incredibly impressive."
USA Today
01-03-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Claressa Shields says she's never used weed. Did secondhand smoke cause failed drug test?
Claressa Shields says she's never used weed. Did secondhand smoke cause failed drug test? Show Caption Hide Caption Claressa Shields on the benefits of fighting as a heavyweight Boxer Claressa Shields prepares to take on Danielle Perkins as a heavyweight. She tells USA TODAY Sports the benefits of fighting at that level. The saga of boxer Claressa Shields is unfolding. She is a two-time Olympic gold medalist. A three-time undisputed world champion. But, at 29, the self-proclaimed "GWOAT" (Greatest Woman Of All-Time) is facing a question involving her integrity. Could Shields have tested positive for marijuana even if she never used the drug? According to Shields, that's what happened after her last boxing match, a victory over Danielle Perkins Feb. 2 at Dort Financial Center in her hometown of Flint, Michigan. The drug test results have not been publicly released, but Shields has said a saliva test detected "trace" amounts of marijuana, a prohibited substance in competition for professional fighters in Michigan. Ten days after dominating Perkins in a fight that improved Shields' record to 16-0 and elevated her to undisputed heavyweight champion came the gut punch. She was suspended by the Michigan Unarmed Combat Commission (MUCC), which regulates boxing in the state, and such discipline generally is upheld by other states. But she'll soon get a chance to contest the decision. On March 6, during a pre-hearing meeting before an assistant attorney general, Shields will request her suspension be revoked, according to her lawyer, David Slutsker. "We will present evidence ... and be open to any questioning they have,'' Slutsker told USA TODAY Sports. Depending on the outcome, a formal hearing could follow. For now, Shields faces a 90-day suspension, a possible fine and newly surfaced claims about her possible exposure to the drug. Other boxers tested positive Shields was not the only boxer on the Feb. 2 card to test positive for marijuana. Eight of the 16 boxers on that night's card were drug tested by swab, and three tested positive for marijuana, according to Dmitry Salita, the promoter of the show, and Shields' attorney, Slutsker. "That number is highly unusual for a single boxing event, particularly one featuring Claressa and other elite athletes,'' Salita said. "Given the circumstances, it's important to review the testing protocols to ensure consistency and fairness.'' Joe Hicks, a middleweight from Michigan, confirmed to USA TODAY Sports that he tested positive for marijuana. Salita said the other boxer who tested positive for marijuana was Skylar Lacy, a heavyweight from Indiana, who did not respond to USA TODAY Sports' requests for comment left by voicemail, text message and social media. Hicks, who is 12-0 as a pro boxer, said he worried about potential consequences because he works for an insurance company where "you can lose your job for taking any drugs without a prescription. "When they called, I was, like, wow," he said of learning of the results. "I don't take drugs." Adding he was also surprised to hear Shields tested positive, Hicks speculated that marijuana smoke inside the Dort Financial Center in Flint triggered the positive tests. "Oh man, it was everywhere," he said. "I'm not exaggerating. ... I was getting dressed to take pictures with my family; it was like a big cloud of weed. When you go in the bathroom, it's just a big cloud of smoke that hits you. You smell nothing but marijuana." Marijuana is legal in Michigan but banned at Dort Financial Center. However, Salita and Shields' manager, Mark Taffet, said the smell was noticeable. "The hallways smelled horrible," Taffet said. "... Like where (Shields) took the post-fight (drug) test, that sort of ring of hallway around the building, that smelled terrible." Jeremy Torrey, general manager of the Dort Financial Center, declined to comment to USA TODAY Sports. Secondhand smoke a risk? Whether secondhand smoke can cause a non-smoker to test positive for THC, the active ingredient in marijuana that produces a psychoactive effect, depends on the exposure conditions, according to a 2015 study published in Journal of Analytical Toxicology. The study, which focused on "extreme cannabis smoke exposure conditions tolerable to drug-free nonsmokers,'' reported, "Positive tests for THC in oral fluid and blood were obtained for nonsmokers up to (three hours) following exposure.'' But the study also concluded, "positive tests are likely to be rare, limited to the hours immediately post-exposure, and occur only under environmental circumstances where exposure is obvious.'' A 2004 study published in the Journal of Analytical Toxicology reported, "Passive exposure to cannabis smoke in an unventilated room has been shown to produce a transient appearance of THC in oral fluid for up to 30 (minutes). However, it is well known that such factors as room size and extent of smoke exposure can affect results.'' Salita, the promoter, said, "The amount detected was negligible and consistent with potential secondhand exposure rather than personal use.'' Shields had said the saliva test showed "trace" levels of marijuana in her system, but she has not publicly released the test results. What Shields may challenge Victor Conte, who describes himself as a "dietary supplement and training adviser'' for Shields, said the boxer told him she had concerns about how her saliva test was administered after her fight Feb. 2. According to Conte, Shields told him the drug testing kit was torn before the test was administered. Conte also said Shields told him the man who administered the test had no backup kit and used a towel to "push it back together.'' "I don't want to get into all the irregularities,'' Conte said, adding, "They didn't follow protocol.'' Shields has drawn criticism for working with Conte, who was the mastermind behind the BALCO steroids scandal that two decades ago tarnished the reputations and accomplishments of Barry Bonds, Marion Jones and dozens of other professional athletes. Conte has since repositioned himself as a leader in the anti-doping movement and works with multiple champion boxers, including Terence Crawford. Shields is sponsored by SNAC, Conte's supplement company, and the deal includes financial support, according to Conte. Conte indicated another issue likely to be addressed at the hearing is Michigan's use of saliva tests, also known as oral fluid tests and conducted with a swab. 'Swab tests have a number of disadvantages compared with urine and blood analysis,'' James Fitzgerald, head of media relations for the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), told USA TODAY Sports. 'They are less accurate and do not allow quantitative analysis, more limited in the number of substances that can be identified, and more prone to contaminations. They have never been considered robust enough for the level of scientific quality required under the World Anti-Doping Code.'' How drug testing works in Michigan The MUCC, which regulates boxing in the state, contracts a third-party testing company to provide the "oral fluid" drug tests so a fighter can be tested immediately after the contest, according to Abby Rubley, director of communications for Michigan's licensing and regulatory affairs. The agency assists the MUCC with drug testing and other matters. "These tests are processed by a globally recognized laboratory with all the appropriate controls and procedures in place,'' Rubley said by email. "A positive specimen is always independently verified by a medical review officer to determine if the positive result has a legitimate medical explanation and ensure the accuracy of the testing process. "Additionally, oral fluid testing is best at detecting recent drug use, which supports the overall purpose of the drug testing laws and rules to prevent those with the presence of controlled substances, alcohol, enhancers, etc., from competing in unarmed combat events in this state.'' But last week, Shields' manager posted on Facebook a copy of a lab result indicating Shields took a urine test that detected no marijuana in her system. The urine sample, according to what Shields posted, was collected Feb. 8, six days after the post-fight saliva test showed marijuana in her system. Marijuana can be detected in urine for between three and 30 days after use, according to Mayo Clinic Laboratories, and detected in saliva for up to 24 hours after use, according to the Council on Drugs and Alcohol. "The moment I received the saliva test result, I acted immediately to schedule a follow-up urine test to ensure complete clarity,'' Shields wrote on Instagram and provided a timeline of the drug testing. In hopes of clearing his name, Hicks said, he also paid for a urine test. A copy of the results shared with USA TODAY Sports shows no marijuana was found in Hicks based on a urine sample collected Feb. 14, two weeks after the event. Confusion in Michigan WADA tests for marijuana and allows a threshold of 150 ng/mL – about 50 times the amount Shields' camp has said drug test results show was in her system. But the Michigan boxing commission has no allowable limit. In Michigan, marijuana is legal for recreational and medicinal use. But according to Weatherspoon, marijuana is prohibited for contestants at boxing events because the drug is illegal under federal law. 'So the fighters, who don't really know about the federal guidelines, they think it's OK,'' Weatherspoon said. The Michigan commission posts a list of prohibited substances on its website. Boxing is regulated state-by-state, and "numerous'' state boxing commissions do not test for marijuana anymore, said Mike Mazzulli, president of the Association of Boxing Commissions. The change has occurred as legalization of marijuana for recreational use has expanded to 24 states. Salita, the promoter, said Shields has never tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs or marijuana. Before Shields' fight in February, according to Salita, she was enrolled for testing with the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA), which uses urine and blood tests. 'The results confirmed both fighters tested negative for PEDs,'' he said. VADA does not test for marijuana. Shields is offering no apologies. "I stand by who I am, a clean athlete with nothing to hide,'' she said in a statement provided to USA TODAY Sports. "While this situation is frustrating, I'm confident the truth will come out. I'm grateful to my family, team, fellow athletes, and everyone who's shown support – your belief in me means everything. I'll continue to fight with pride as the people's champion and The GWOAT."
