Shurretta Metcalf Leaves As IBF Champ in Miyo Yoshida Rematch
At the Madison Square Garden Theater in New York City, the IBF women’s bantamweight title was on the line as defending champion Miyo Yoshida battled mandatory challenger Shuretta “Chiccn” Metcalf. Yoshida has been a stalworth in the lower-weight divisions. In December 2023, the fighting pride of Japan captured the bantamweight strap with a surprisingly one-sided win over the Ebanie Bridges.
Metcalf previously defeated Yoshida in November 2023. Coming into this contest feeling she was the uncrowned champion, the challenger was on a mission to leave the ring with the IBF belt around her waist.
USING HER ASSETS
Metcalf (14-4-1, 2 KOs) was the taller and longer fighter. She was intent on boxing and keeping the defending champion at the end of her left jab. In the early rounds, Yoshida (17-5) did a decent job getting inside the challenger’s reach and landing with right hands to the chin.
Round four saw Chiccn fighting more in the center of the ring. The change in strategy was immediate for Metcalf as she began to land with two and three-punch combinations. She continued to do so until the final bell. The defending champion had difficulty landing her shots. Metcalf controlled the second half of the contest.
In a competitive and fiery scrap, the judges scored the fight by a unanimous decision (96-94, 97-94, 99-91) in favor of the challenger in what was the most satisfying win of her career.
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