By Thomas Gerbasi

Given the Wild Wild West nature of women’s boxing, it really should be no surprise that the biggest Stateside fight that could be made at the moment came together suddenly in a matter of days after years of buildup.

And while the August 21 meeting between longtime rivals Heather Hardy and Shelly Vincent at the Ford Amphitheater in Coney Island won’t get the long promotional push it deserves, it is happening, it’s on television, and neither fighter is complaining.

“I was surprised, and also not surprised,” Hardy said of the fight finally coming together. “I was surprised that they're only giving it four weeks, but then when I heard about the show and who was on the show and the opportunity, then it was, 'Okay, it makes sense.'”

“I was surprised how fast it happened,” added Vincent. “I had a trip planned to Bolivia, but we switched all that around, and made it happen. I've been waiting for it.”

If you follow women’s boxing, you’ve been waiting for it as well. Almost from the time the two featherweights turned pro, it seemed like Brooklyn’s Hardy and Providence’s Vincent have been linked. And as each built their undefeated record on the local circuit, each region’s fans began calling for a bout. Soon, “The Heat” and “Shelito’s Way” began verbally jousting, and it’s been going on like this for a couple years now.

Back then, with each under different promotional banners, the two ticket sellers wanted a fight to happen on their own turf. But eventually, the fighters united as members of the DiBella Entertainment roster, and the fight drew close, but not close enough.

Lou DiBella, who has several female fighters under contract, was correct in wanting to wait until television was involved, but with no networks willing to take that chance, Hardy-Vincent was stuck in limbo, at least until Vincent defeated Christina Ruiz last month. Then, with DiBella putting together an undercard for the Errol Spence Jr. vs. Leonard Bundu event, he had his opportunity.
 
“I wanted to do something that people in Brooklyn knew and that would bring people to Coney Island to see a fight that's been building,” DiBella said. “And maybe this is the time. Shelly just had a hard-fought win in Foxwoods. It was a terrifically exciting fight and everyone there was clamoring for Shelly and Heather to happen. So it just sort of fell together. And I was given the opportunity by PBC to put this on NBC Sports Net, and I think that's a big thing for women's boxing to get the opportunity to have a fight like this on television.”

It’s not big NBC, where Spence and Bundu will do their thing, but it’s a start for a sport that boasts the highest talent level its ever had, and that deserves a shot on television, and not just because of the in the ring action, but because of the compelling stories of the ladies lacing up the gloves. And when it comes to the execs at NBC, there wasn’t any wailing or gnashing of teeth at the idea of women fighting each other.

“If there was any push back, I didn't hear of any,” DiBella said. “People were supportive, and forget about women's boxing - I don't think there's anyone who's been at the Barclays Center or Broadway Boxing shows, anyone who's seen Heather and Shelly, anyone who knows their history, that doesn't think it's going to be a good fight.”

And though Hardy and Vincent may appear to be complete opposites, they are kindred spirits in the reality that neither was given any breaks on the way to this moment. And that’s not just in boxing, but in life. That’s compelling television, and hopefully it will be the first of many opportunities given to those competing in the sweeter science.

Plus, when it comes to boxing, this matchup promises action. As DiBella said at a recent media event to announce the bout, “If (Amanda) Serrano is on the pound-for-pound list, these ladies are Gatti-Ward.”

Those are high expectations, and where the two differ from that storied pair is that unlike Gatti and Ward, Hardy and Vincent aren’t likely to become best buddies after they throw hands. While in NYC, the two kept it civil, but only agreed on one thing, and that’s they couldn’t wait to punch each other.

They get their chance soon, and given the animosity built up over the years, it’s no surprise that each accepted the fight on short notice.

“I'm not surprised she took it because of the opportunities that come along with this fight,” said Hardy, 34. “She thinks she can beat me, but it's going to be put on television, so for everything we've been fighting for, it doesn't make sense that she wouldn't.”

“It was time,” Vincent, 37, added. “I've been waiting for it, and it was the perfect opportunity to get television. I think the outcome's going to be the same regardless, and at least the whole world will be able to see it.”

Finally. And if DiBella has his way, it won’t be the last time – and not just for women’s boxing, but for Hardy and Vincent, the best New York-New England rivalry since the Yankees and Red Sox.

“I think that there's a very good chance that if this fight's as good as I think it's going to be, that there will be a rematch, and that rematch could always happen in New England,” he said. I've always thought that this would be a home and away kind of series, so I can see the first one here and the next one at Foxwoods.”

In the meantime, clear the big stage and welcome Heather Hardy and Shelly Vincent.
 
“It's a huge step for women's boxing,” Vincent said. “This hasn't happened in years, and me and Heather are going to be the first ones, probably since Laila Ali and Christy Martin, so it's going to be huge for the sport.”