Samantha Worthington demonstrated her tenacity and skill, securing the interim WBA junior welterweight title after a demanding contest against Victoire Piteau. The bout, held at Detroit's Little Caesars Arena, culminated in a majority decision in Worthington's favor, with judges' scores recorded as 99-91, 96-94, and one surprising 95-95.
From Lexington, Kentucky, and now representing Folsom, California, the 29-year-old Worthington, co-promoted by Claressa Shields and Salita Promotions, visibly outsized Piteau. Her initial strategy revolved around delivering powerful, effective blows, which established an early dominance. In the subsequent rounds, Piteau attempted to counter by focusing on straight punches, but Worthington's persistent body shots and sheer power proved too formidable. The dynamic of the fight shifted in the later rounds, with Worthington's earlier high work rate and punching power diminishing, allowing Piteau to stage a rally in the seventh, eighth, and ninth rounds. However, Worthington managed to withstand the pressure, engaging in a back-and-forth exchange in the final round to seal her victory. This win elevates Worthington's professional record to an impressive 12-0 (7 KOs), while Piteau's record now stands at 14-3 (2 KOs). Worthington now holds the interim WBA title, positioning her as a contender for the undisputed champion, Katie Taylor.
The event also showcased other notable boxing matchups. Tony Harrison, a former junior middleweight champion from Detroit, made a triumphant return to the ring in his middleweight debut, overcoming Edward Diaz of the Dominican Republic by a unanimous 10-round decision (96-93, 98-91, 97-92). Despite a knockdown in the ninth round that highlighted some ring rust after a two-and-a-half-year hiatus, Harrison improved his record to 30-4-1 (21 KOs). In the heavyweight division, Brooklyn's Pryce Taylor secured a dominant unanimous decision (80-72 across all cards) against Robert Simms of Michigan, advancing his undefeated streak to 9-0 (6 KOs). Additionally, Montreal's Caroline Veyre emerged victorious in a 10-round unanimous decision (99-91, 99-91, 98-92) over Licia Boudersa of France in a WBC featherweight final eliminator, making Veyre, now 10-1, the mandatory challenger for the WBC title. These victories underscore the competitive spirit and skill present across various divisions in professional boxing.
These contests exemplify the dedication and relentless pursuit of excellence inherent in professional boxing. Each fighter's journey, marked by perseverance through adversity and strategic prowess, serves as an inspiration, highlighting the importance of hard work, adaptability, and unwavering commitment to one's goals. The victories attained are not merely statistical achievements but testaments to the human spirit's capacity to overcome challenges and reach for greatness within and outside the boxing ring.