Mikaela Mayer vs Alycia Baumgardner LIVE: Official result and reaction tonight

The Bomb upset Mayer on a thrilling night of women’s boxing at The O2

Shields shows middle fingers to Marshall fans at London weigh-in

Alycia Baumgardner upset Mikaela Mayer to unify the super-featherweight division and settle their bad blood in a tense and close contest at The O2 in London.

The Ohio woman produced an array of eye-catching power shots, but Mayer appeared incredulous when responding to the split decision, with the former Olympian dropping a decision that saw the Bomb handed the contest twice by a score of 96-95, with Mayer favoured on one car by 97-93.

Mayer’s jab emerged as the dominant punch throughout the 10-round contest, dictating the centre of the ring and routinely landing on Baumgardner.

But ‘AB’ was explosive and countered superbly throughout a cagey affair that lacked rhythm and perhaps fell slightly short of the expectations for a fight where both fighters have been talked about as future opponents for Katie Taylor in the division above.

A rematch may appeal with neither fighter consistently able to shine and a clear winner lacking.

Claressa Shields vs Savannah Marshall

• Baumgardner edges Mayer by split decision to unify division

[15 October 2022 18:10 · Jack Rathborn]

Claressa Shields vs Savannah Marshall undercard: Who else is fighting this weekend?

A landmark night for women’s boxing will play out at the O2 Arena in London this Saturday, as old foes Claressa Shields and Savannah Marshall clash to crown an undisputed middleweight champion.

The pair met in the ring as amateurs, with Briton Marshall outpointing her American rival, who is out for revenge in their rematch this weekend – a month after the fight was postponed following the death of the Queen.

Shields, 27, carries the WBA, WBC, WBF and IBF middleweight titles into the O2 Arena, while Marshall, 31, puts the WBO belt on the line.

[15 October 2022 18:00 · Jack Rathborn]

Deontay Wilder maintains Anthony Joshua fight is ‘biggest in the world’

Deontay Wilder still believes that a potential encounter between the American heavyweight and Anthony Joshua would be “the biggest fight in the world”.

A fight between Wilder and Joshua, two of the world’s leading heavyweights, is yet to materialise.

The pair came close to a unification bout four years ago, but negotiations between the two then-undefeated fighters failed to result in agreement over terms for a fight.

[15 October 2022 17:50 · Jack Rathborn]

Floyd Mayweather claims he was paid $1m to take Deji phone call over exhibition negotiation

Floyd Mayweather has claimed that he was paid $1 million (£892,635) to take a phone call and open negotiations with Deji Olatunji.

The undefeated 45-year-old has agreed to an exhibition match against the British YouTuber, who has a 1-0 record as a professional.

Mayweather and Deji will meet in Dubai on 13 November, continuing a series of exhibition fights for the former five-division world champion since concluding his 50-0 professional career in 2017.

[15 October 2022 17:40 · Jack Rathborn]

Mikaela Mayer vs Alycia Baumgardner: Bad blood, glory and why ‘women always have to do more’

After a turbulent week, boxing is desperately clinging to Saturday’s timely all-female card. It’s a tonic for the sport after the doping episode that prompted the collapse of Chris Eubank Jr vs Conor Benn, and fans will treasure a bill that includes four classy fighters facing off in two mouthwatering scraps at the O2 Arena.

It would be hypocritical to emphasise just the pure matchmaking and fierce competition, as the bad blood provides an enticing element to the sport and quickly sparks chaos once that first bell sounds. Mikaela Mayer vs Alycia Baumgardner, as chief support to Claressa Shields vs Savannah Marshall, offers the right amount of all of those ingredients required for a tremendous fight with the super featherweights poised to collide and unify the division.

[15 October 2022 17:30 · Jack Rathborn]

Claressa Shields vs Savannah Marshall: Boxing set for era-defining night as ‘women show the men how it’s done’

Boxing will get the cleansing enema it needs this weekend when four of the finest female fighters compete for seven world titles at the O2 Arena.

The brilliant all-female card was originally scheduled for the O2 last month, but was dropped 24 hours after the Queen died; three of the four boxers in the two world title fights returned to their homes in America.

A new date was found, the full card was put on notice and after some gentle relaxation, everything is set for Saturday night. It is a great testimony to the promoters, Boxxer, for their direct actions and assurances. I was convinced that one of the two exceptional world title fights would fall victim to circumstances. The men would have fallen down like feathers in the wind and started suing.

[15 October 2022 17:20 · Jack Rathborn]

‘I’m next in line’: Mikaela Mayer eyes super fight with Katie Taylor after Alycia Baumgardner grudge match

Mikaela Mayer has set her sights on a fight against Katie Taylor next should she emerge victorious in her grudge match with Alycia Baumgardner on Saturday.

The IBF and WBO super-featherweight world champion looks to unify the division against her compatriot, who holds the WBC crown, as chief support to Claressa Shields vs Savannah Marshall, in the historic all-female card at The O2.

But after missing out on facing Taylor throughout a fine amateur career, which saw Mayer represent the United States at the Rio Olympics, a step up in weight to battle the legendary Irishwoman is top of her goals beyond this weekend.

[15 October 2022 17:10 · Jack Rathborn]

The Independent’s pound-for-pound boxing rankings

The boxing landscape is arguably as intriguing as it has ever been.

The past few years have seen heavyweight epics for the ages between Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder, they have seen Saul “Canelo” Alvarez establish himself as the face of the sport in the eyes of many fans, and they have seen frequent displays of technical brilliance from champions in lighter weight classes.

There have been upsets, title unifications, and there has been no shortage of drama – Anthony Joshua’s defeats by Andy Ruiz Jr and Oleksandr Usyk standing out as prime examples.

[15 October 2022 17:00 · Jack Rathborn]

Claressa Shields vs Savannah Marshall will be a fight for the ages

After Claressa Shields’s clinical dismantling of Ema Kozin in Cardiff, with 10 brutally one-sided rounds inviting awe and grimaces in equal measure, a more competitive duel erupted at ringside. Throughout the course of the fight, Savannah Marshall had sat in the front row with an expression of theatrical boredom, at one stage even pretending to fall asleep. But as the pair came face-to-face in front of the cameras, their longstanding animosity quickly ignited as a shouting match featured all the grand predictions and angry threats that form the fabric of any legacy-defining bout.

It is a tantalising prospect, and undoubtedly one of the best fights to be made in boxing. Shields is a two-time Olympic gold medallist and holds three of the recognised middleweight world titles. She is an astonishing talent, who perhaps fairly proclaims herself as the greatest female boxer in history, despite still being only 26 years old. Her only defeat as an amateur came way back in 2012, in the build-up to the London Games. It was inflicted by the harder fists of Marshall, who never achieved such distinction as an amateur but now holds the only belt out of Shields’s reach.

It is a rivalry riven with intrigue and hostility. There is an underlying respect for one another’s ability, but also a personal dislike. For Shields, that defeat remains the only blemish on a path she’s blazed through the sport. And as she fielded questions shortly before midnight in Cardiff, the Michigan native was typically bullish. “I haven’t been impressed with any of Marshall’s fights,” she said spikily. “I think her getting a few easy opponents and a few knockouts have really fed her ego the wrong way. She doesn’t know how to be a world champion. I’m glad the confidence is up the roof because I’m going to beat it out of her.”

[14 October 2022 17:04 · Jack Rathborn]

Savannah Marshall and Claressa Shields exchange verbal blows ahead of showdown showdown

Claressa Shields and Savannah Marshall produced fireworks in a war of words at the weigh-in for their middleweight world title unification fight on Saturday.

The American, who holds three of the world titles at the weight, vowed to knock out the Briton, with the pair putting their ‘0’ at risk entering the bout with matching 12-0 records.

On the historic all-female card, Shields is bullish over her chances and eager to win in emphatic fashion.

The 27-year-old from Michigan told Sky Sports: “This is my third undisputed match. I’ve actually been here before. I’m super excited for tomorrow. I’m going to get the job done.