SHAWINIGAN – Canadian boxer Mary Spencer, who dreamed of becoming world champion, lost Friday night in Shawinigan.
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It was the Belgian Femke Hermans (14-4, 5 K.-O.) who played the spoilsport by winning by unanimous decision of the judges (99-91, 97-93 and 96-94). The IBO world super welterweight title was on the line.
Photo Vincent Ethier, Eye of the Tiger Management
It is certainly a great disappointment for the promoter Camille Estephan who, before the start of the evening, dreamed of the following things for Spencer (7-1, 5 K.-O). Estephan had nevertheless indicated that he did not want to sell the skin of the bear before having killed it.
Easy victory
Photo Vincent Ethier, Eye of the Tiger Management
Heavyweight Arslanbek Makhmudov (16-0, 15 KOs) saved the end of the evening by winning easily against Germany’s Michael Wallisch (23-6, 16 KOs), whose corner threw in the towel at the end of the first round.
Photo Vincent Ethier, Eye of the Tiger Management
Before the fight between Spencer and Hermans, Steven Butler (32-3-1, 26 K.-O.) won by unanimous decision of the judges against the American Joshua Conley (17-5-1, 11 K.- O.). Butler won with cards of 99-91, 97-93 and 96-94.
“A good 10 rounds of experience, acknowledged Butler after the battle, he who remains NABF middleweight champion. Conley wasn’t hitting very hard, but he was boxing smartly.”
Intriguing email
Earlier in the day, Estephan foresaw, in the event of a victory for Spencer, a possible duel of unification between his protege and the Briton Natasha Jonas. The name of champion Claressa Shields, who has expressed interest in changing categories, was also put forward.
“Mark Taffet, the manager of Claressa Shields, contacted me on Friday, by email, to ask me if there was an opening to make a fight, had thus informed Estephan. Plan A is [Natasha] Jonas for a unification fight… If not, Claressa Shields is a possibility too.
►During the undercard, Alexandre Gaumont (6-0, 4 KOs) beat the Mexican Pablo Polanco Fernandez (9-12, 3 KOs) by making him visit the floor for 10 seconds during the third round. Luis Santana (8-0, 2 K.-O.) for his part defeated the Mexican Jonathan Uribe Hernandez (4-1-2, 1 K.-O.) by unanimous decision of the judges.