Tori Nelson wins the WIBA Welterweight Title

by Mark A. Jones – September 16, 2013

(SEPT 16)  On September 13 at the Twin River Event Center, Lincoln, Rhode Island, CES Boxing presented an action packed boxing card titled, “Champion Breed” featuring as the main event, a WIBA welterweight title bout between Tori “Shu Nuff” Nelson, 147, Ashburn, Virginia, and Aleksandra Magdziak Lopes, 145.5, Marshfield, Massachusetts, by way of Gliwice, Poland.

The already exciting welterweight division became more so when Nelson (7-0-3, 0 KOs), the former WBC middleweight and current WIBA middleweight title holder moved down to welterweight spoiling the world title hopes of Lopes (10-2, 1 KO) winning a unanimous decision and the WIBA welterweight title by the scores (100-90/100-90/98-92).

The fight, consummated on a high level was more closely contested than the score cards might otherwise suggest. The assigned judges favored the forward-moving aggression, and counter right cross of Nelson to the deft left jab and long-range technical boxing of Lopes.

With the win Nelson moves to (3-0-2) in world title fights and vaults into elite status at welterweight becoming a recognized challenger to titleholders, Eva Halasi (IBF) and Cecilia Braekhus (WBC, WBA, and WBO).

Lopes entered her first world title experience with a high ranking at welterweight (IBF-1, WBA-2, WBC-3, and WIBA-2) and the momentum from winning each of her previous ten bouts, the last five in a 13-month span that elevated her into title contention. The loss to a well-respected champion likely does nothing to tarnish her reputation as an elite contender.

During the intermission, it was announced by Jimmy Burchfield, Sr., the President and CEO of CES Boxing, that on November 2, at the Twin River Event Center, former two-division champion, Jaime “The Hurricane” Clampitt (21-5-1, 7 KOs) would resume her career after a more than a three-year hiatus from the ring. 

Clampitt holds victories over women’s boxing pioneers, Mia St John and Jane Couch. Her first of two battles with Couch was named “Women’s Fight of the Year” by The Ring Magazine in 2004. The card will also boast Shelly “Shelito’s Way” Vincent (9-0), a Twin River fan-favorite and an emerging contender in the super-bantamweight division.

Venue: Twin River Event Center
Promoter: Classic Entertainment & Sports, Inc.
Matchmaker: Michael Parente
Attendance: 1,000 (estimate)