Claressa Shields made more history at Little Caesars in Detroit, as she stopped Joanne Lepage-Joanisse in two rounds to take the WBC heavyweight title, and the vacant WBO light heavyweight title in the Motor City.
Shields (15-0, 3 KOs) came into the fight with Lepage-Joanisse having reigned as undisputed world champion at both super welterweight and middleweight, but had recently been campaigning between boxing and MMA.
Lepage-Joanisse (7-2, 2 KOs), won the vacant WBC heavyweight title in March, taking a split decision win against Abril Argentina Vidal in Montreal.
Not a noted puncher, Shields made this one look easy, swarming over the champion in round two with hard punches to score the first knockdown of the fight.
Lepage-Joanisse survived the count, but was down once again shortly after from a chopping right hand, and although she made it to her feet, another slashing right hand forced the referee to stop the fight just as the Canadian was dropping to the canvas for a third time.
Former world title challenger Shohjahon Ergashev (24-2, 21 KOs) was upset on the undercard, as Julian Smith (9-2, 5 KOs) scored a knockdown on the way to a split decision win over ten rounds at super lightweight. Ergashev was dropped in the fifth, and was lucky not to be counted earlier on in the fight. Two scores of 95-94 for Smith won him the fight, against a third card at the same tally for Ergashev.
Michel Rivera (25-1, 14 KOs) also took a split decision, although it’s unclear what a third judge was watching as he defeated Hugo Alberto Roldan (22-3-1, 7 KOs). Rivera knocked Roldan down in the final round, and took scores of 99-90 and 98-91 from two judges, with a third somehow ruling the contest 95-94 in Roldan’s favour.
Ernesto Mercado (16-0, 15 KOs) became the first to halt Hector Edgardo Sarmiento (21-3, 14 KOs), as he took a third round stoppage win in their super lightweight meeting, and Samantha Worthington (9-0, 7 KOs) forced Edina Kiss (16-21, 9 KOs) to retire after two rounds of their clash, also at super lightweight.
At super welterweight, Gordie Russ II (6-2, 6 KOs) was upset by Josiah Shackleford (4-2, 2 KOs) at super welterweight, with Shackleford taking a six round points win. Also at 154 pounds, Husam Al Mashadi (10-1, 9 KOs) dropped Bruno Leonardo Romay (2-14, 1 KO), twice en route to a win inside a minute.
The action is heating up 🥊🔥#ShieldsJoanisse | TONIGHT | Live on DAZN pic.twitter.com/IxMqcM0Vx3
— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) July 28, 2024
Danielle Perkins (5-0, 2 KOs) took a wide points win over six against Christianne Fahey (2-2, 2 KOs) at light heavyweight, and Jaquan McElroy (1-0, 1 KO) won on points over four against Travis Floyd (1-10-2, 0 KOs) in their middleweight attraction.
