Mobile Home | Desktop Version




Female boxing pioneer Maureen Shea seeks justice after being passed over for world title fight

PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 29 Mar 2023


Maureen Shea.
NEW YORK — The recent announcement that Cherneka Johnson will defend her International Boxing Federation (IBF) junior featherweight title against Ellie Scotney has left the team of Maureen Shea perplexed and looking for answers.

Shea (30-2-1, 13 knockouts), rated no. 2 by the IBF, and Scotney, rated no. 1, had been ordered by the IBF on February 7 to face off in an interim title fight, which Scotney’s promoter Matchroom Boxing proposed for April 29 in Sheffield, England. Johnson suffered a major head gash during her most recent title defense against Susie Ramadan in October and was ruled unlikely to be ready to make a mandatory defense until at least June.

Shea and manager Luigi Olcese reached an agreement with Matchroom for the interim title fight. Shea’s team signed and returned the contracts to Matchroom on February 18, but the contracts were never executed by Matchroom and returned to the IBF before the deadline.

Now Shea is seeking justice after being pushed aside for a title opportunity that she has waited a long time for.

“This is bad for every female boxer out there. The IBF needs to step in. Matchroom did not negotiate in good faith or intend to make this fight. Matchroom’s economics should not dictate the opportunities to the sanctioning bodies,” said Shea, a native of The Bronx, N.Y. who now resides in Delray Beach, Fla.

As it stands, Johnson (15-1, 6 KOs) is expected to make her second defense of the belt against Scotney (6-0) on May 20 at the 3Arena in Dublin, Ireland. Shea, who is also half Irish, believes she should be next in line at the winner after being unfairly skipped over.

“Maureen should get an immediate shot at whoever wins this fight. We should get that in writing because we negotiated in good faith. We could have moved in a different direction but we didn’t. We passed over an opportunity to stay busy for this,” said Olcese. “This is bigger than Maureen Shea because it happened to her in this instance, but it’s happening to other females as well.”

Shea, a pioneer of the sport, is a former WBC interim featherweight champion who has been unbeaten for the past 14 years.

She last fought in May of 2022, outpointing veteran Calista Salgado in Queens, N.Y.



Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • Shakur Stevenson and David Morrell Face "Crossroad Fights" This Saturday in Queens
    By Ralph Rimpell, Wed, 09 Jul 2025
  • Christy Martin’s “Mayhem in Music City 2” to Feature Undefeated Vic Hernandez Facing Jayvon Garnett for NABA & Jr. NABF Featherweight Championships
    Wed, 09 Jul 2025
  • James Perkins & Anthony Andreozzi Headlines “Oceanside Prize Fights”
    Wed, 09 Jul 2025
  • GORST PURSUES GOLDEN GLORY IN JEDDAH, DEFENDING WORLD POOL CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE IN SAUDI ARABIA, 21–26 JULY
    Wed, 09 Jul 2025
  • Hovhannisyan and Barrientes Set for High-Stakes Showdowns July 18 on DAZN
    Tue, 08 Jul 2025
  • UNBEATEN PROSPECT KENNETH LLOVER TO FACE FORMER TWO-DIVISION CHAMPION LUIS CONCEPCION IN MANILA
    Mon, 07 Jul 2025
  • Yoseline Perez Concludes World Boxing Cup Astana 2025 with Silver Medal
    Mon, 07 Jul 2025
  • GM Gonzales finishes second in Penang Makruk chess meet, pockets silver medal
    By Marlon Bernardino, Mon, 07 Jul 2025
  • THRILLA IN MANILA GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY 10 - ALI WINS OVER PATTERSON, EVADES VIETNAM WAR DRAFT
    By Maloney L. Samaco, Sun, 06 Jul 2025
  • Jack Catterall Defeats Harlem Eubank Via Technical Decision After Fight Stopped Early Due to Cuts
    By Dong Secuya, Sun, 06 Jul 2025
  • Good Fortune for Manny
    By Joaquin Henson, Sun, 06 Jul 2025
  • Rimar Metuda Bows to Kuntae Lee in Japan
    By Carlos Costa, Sun, 06 Jul 2025
  • BA President Umar Kremlev makes heavyweight icon Tyson Fury an offer for ‘beautiful farewell fight’ for IBA heavyweight title
    Sun, 06 Jul 2025
  • Yoseline Perez Advances to Gold Medal Bout at World Boxing Cup: Astana 2025
    Sun, 06 Jul 2025
  • Catterall vs Eubank: Jack’s Experience Gap Too Wide?
    By Chris Carlson, Sat, 05 Jul 2025