Another Bogus World Title Fight on the Books – 2004

By Sue TL Fox – May 21, 2004

(MAY 21) This weekend, there will be an all women’s boxing card staged in Japan on May 23rd, where the main event will feature local star and current WIBA World Featherweight champion Emiko Raika against Shelby Walker in Raika’s defense of her belt.

This is the kind of world title matchup — especially in the shadow of a great flyweight matchup like Wendy Rodriguez against Anissa Zamarron, also this weekend, but in Louisiana and for the North American Boxing Association belt — that makes absolutely no sense and damages the credibility of the sport and those in it.

WBAN did a little research, using both subjective federation ratings and objective computerized rankings, to see how Walker stacks up. The U.S. boxer was not rated in the top ten by the IFBA, WIBF, NABA, or the GBU. There were no ratings available on the net for the IWBF, and the IBA does not have a rankings system for women boxers.

Two different computerized rankings paint a similar picture. Walker is ranked No. 24 in the world by Boxrec.com, while the independent efforts of Dee Williams — former operator of the Women’s Boxing Page — have Walker slotted in at No. 17. In fact, the only organization which recognizes Walker as an even remotely world-class opponent is the WIBA (#10).

Clearly, and especially in women’s boxing, there are fighters with respectable records like Walkers — 6-3-1 — who could and should be considered worthy of a title opportunity. Six wins, while not overwhelming, can still be the foundation for a quality world title bout. Such is not the case with Walker.

Shelby’s first five wins, with her opponents record at the time of their fight in parentheses, follow: Christmas Davis (0-0), Diane Thompson (0-0), Miranda Lynch (0-0), Tricia Silotta (0-1-0) and Lanisha Hinson (0-0). See a pattern here? Even her draw came against a pro debuter, Ninfa Herrera. Walker’s one respectable win came over Renee Douglas, who herself is still ranked only 21 by Boxrec, and who scored her 11 wins over opponents with a combined record of 13-35. One of Walker’s most recent of her three losses came in June of 2003, against a 2-4 fighter, by fourth round TKO. (record stats were taken off of the records site boxrec.com)

Sitting idle this weekend is the WIBA No. 1 ranked featherweight, Jo Jo Wyman. Contacted by WBAN, Wyman said, “Okay what kinda BS is that. I am ranked #1 and they have not even offered me that fight with Emiko.  Who is Shelby Walker anyway? She wouldn’t even fight me. Last year they were looking for a fight for her and they declined me. What ever happened to mandatory fighting?”

Wyman Ranked #1 in the world with the WIBA

Wyman said that the WIBA had been calling her though to fight Australian Sharon Anyos in Anyos’ home country for a whooping $2000.00.  “I am done with fighting anyone, anytime, anywhere. My record will take another loss, for no less then 15,000.00. I should of had my belt back when I got robbed against McCarter in 2000. I will tell you—-I have lost a lot of heart and drive because of all the BS. I tell you all, call me when you have a serious, neutral fight and your fighter/husband is not promoting the card in your hometown,” added Wyman.

WBAN also contacted the #2 WIBA ranked boxer, Kelsey Jeffries .  Jeffries said that she was never offered the fight with Emiko.

If people involved in this sport want to move it to the next level, they need to step up to the plate to make it credible. This is far from making the sport credible. The only level it’s reaching is lower, not higher, AND in what appears to be someone’s hidden agenda.

Jeffries Ranked #2 in the world with the WIBA in the featherweight division

The WIBA has sanctioned some worthy title fights—-BUT THIS world title fight is way off the mark.

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Updated Story – May 23, 2004:   WBAN apparently was right ON the mark of this matchup.  Walker was STOPPED
in the second round.  Excerpt from report:  

In an all-women’s boxing card, the mainliner ended in an easy win for Japan’s Emiko Raika, when she defended her WIBA World Featherweight title against United States Shelby Walker. The fight was stopped in the second round by TKO in a scheduled 10-round bout.  According to the WIBA (Ryan Wissow), originally, Walker was submitted in a “list” of potential fighters to the promoter in Japan, that would be for an eight-round non-title bout, and that Walker was picked from that list. Then the fight was moved to a non-mandatory (voluntary) world title defense for Raika, with some kind of understanding between the WIBA and the promoter that in Raika’s “Mandatory” defense of her world title that will take place in September, she (Raika) would need to fight against a “top contender.” WBAN’s interpretation: “tune-up” world title fight.