Mitchell Shows She’s the Goods with a Dominant Win Over Skelly
At the Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona, Jamie “The Miracle” Mitchell made the first defense of the WBA Bantamweight title against Carly “Thumper” Skelly. Boxing can often be an escape for men or women who grew up in hard times. That is certainly the case for the defending champ.
Mitchell’s nickname is appropriate given the circumstances she went through growing up in foster homes and in the violent streets of Los Angeles. The fear of going to prison sparked a change in her life. She eventually found her way into boxing and saw it as a haven where she has thrived. Perseverance and hard work in the ring paid off in October of 2021 when she defeated Shannon Courtenay to win the WBA belt.
Now, she took on a Skelly who is living quite the double life of her own. During the day, the fighter from Liverpool, England is a full-time pediatric nurse at a hospital in her hometown. She came to prominence with a unanimous decision over Dorota Norek in October of 2021 to win the vacant WBC International women’s junior featherweight title. When Skelly received the call to fight for a world title at 118, she jumped at the opportunity.
SEIZING THE MOMENT
Understanding that she was in there with a better boxer, the challenger forced the action in the opening round. But, Mitchell is elusive and quick. At the end of the first round, she stunned and put Skelly down.
Mitchell continued to show her superiority in round two. She easily eluded the onward rushes of Skelly and tagged her with sharp combinations to the head. At the end of the second round, a terrific counter right from the champ put Skelly down for the second time in the fight.
Kudus go to Skelly for surviving round three, but you knew the end was near. Hurting her once again in the fourth, Mitchell went into savage mode. After stunning her again, she let loose with a barrage of punches that forced the referee to step in and halt the fistic assault with twenty-seven seconds to go in the round.
MAKING A STATEMENT
Fighting on the expanded platform that is DAZN, Mitchell won in an impressive fashion. She has the look of someone that will be a major player in the women’s bantamweight division. Next up is most likely a rematch with Courtenay.
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By: Michael Wilson Jr.
