Erica Farias: record, next fight and profile →
The stateside tour continues for one of the sport’s very best. Japan’s Naoya Inoue is set to make his third defense of at least one bantamweight title as the pound-for-pound entrant faces Philippines’ Michael Dasmarinas. Both boxers made weight for their scheduled 12-round main event Saturday evening, airing live on ESPN and ESPN+ from The Theater at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas.
Mayer, Farias, Lopez, Dogboe Final Press Conference Photos Gallery - Naoya "Monster" Inoue is a man of few words, but his devastating knockouts, climb up the pound-for-pound rankings and cult hero status among combat sports fans have elevated the Japanese prodigy to main event status. (photos by Mikey Williams)
There was never a moment for as long as she has been a boxer where Mikaela Mayer couldn’t envision herself one day becoming world champion. The only thing that didn’t go according to plan on the night she brought that to fruition were the surrounding parts. Her one-sided ten-round unanimous decision victory over previously unbeaten Ewa Brodnicka was a performance befitting a title-winning effort last Halloween at MGM Grand Conference Center in Las Vegas. Only, it came without fans in attendance due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and the post-fight celebration lacked an actual title to hoist in the air due to botched communication between the Nevada State Athletic Commission and the WBO.
Mikaela Mayer’s first world title defense is coming on a monster card. Mayer, the 2016 U.S. Olympian from Los Angeles, will put her WBO female junior lightweight title on the line against former two-weight world champion Erica Farias on Saturday, June 19 at The Theater at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas.
McCaskill, Farias Fight Photos Gallery - In front of a packed crowd of 9,073 at the Wintrust Arena in Chicago, former undisputed cruiserweight world champion Oleksandr Usyk (17-0, 12 KOs) turned in a commanding performance in his first professional fight in the heavyweight division. Usyk notched a technical knockout victory at the end of the seventh round over the battle-tested Chazz Witherspoon (38-4, 29 KOs). (photos by Ed Mulholland)
The second time around wasn't nearly as entertaining, but it was barely enough for Jessica McCaskill to score a repeat win over Erica Farias. An even verdict of 94-94 was trumped by scores of 97-91 and 96-92 in favor of McCaskill who defended two junior welterweight titles Saturday evening at Wintrust Arena in Chicago, Illinois.
It wasn’t the first choice of an opponent for her next fight, but returning to the site where her career soared to new heights was enough to ultimately sell Jessica ‘CasKILLA’ McCaskill on the prospect of return business with Erica Farias.
Oleksandr Usyk's heavyweight journey is officially underway. The 2018 Fighter of the Year former World cruiserweight king weighed a career heaviest but well proportioned 215 pounds for his official heavyweight debut. Ukraine's Usyk faces Chazz Witherspoon, who looked every bit the part of a late replacement as he checked in at a fleshy 242 pounds, also a career heaviest weight.
Doheny, Simms, McCaskill, Farias, Biyarslanov Training Photos Gallery - Oleksandr Usyk will face Chazz Witherspoon on his Heavyweight debut at the Wintrust Arena in Chicago on Saturday night, live on DAZN in the US and on Sky Sports in the UK. (photos by Ed Mulholland)
Jessica McCaskill will defend her WBA and WBC World Super-Lightweight titles against old foe Erica Farias at the Wintrust Arena in Chicago on Saturday October 12, live on DAZN in the US and on Sky Sports in the UK.