Shelly Vincent, Heather Hardy can’t wait to punch each other in the face

Heather Hardy/Photo courtesy of DiBella Entertainment

 

Heather Hardy and Shelly Vincent don’t like each other. On Aug. 21 – they’ll get the chance to do something about that mutual discord when the undefeated contenders square off in a 10-round featherweight bout from Coney Island in New York City (on NBC Sports Network).

Hardy, of Brooklyn, is 17-0. Vincent, of Providence, R.I., is 18-0. Their unblemished records are on the line, but that doesn’t seem to be the most important thing to them. Rather, that would be teeing off on the other.

“I really can’t wait to punch Shelly right in the face,” Hardy said this week. “… Shelly started her career a little bit before me. She started showing up at my fights with all these antics from almost my pro debut and talking about wanting to fight me.

“It was inappropriate at the time, but then she signed with (promoter) Lou (DiBella) and we’ve both developed in our careers. Hats off to her, it worked. I’m ready to brawl.”

Vincent is equally anxious to throw down with her rival.

“I can’t wait to get in there and hit Heather,” she said. “She thinks there’s no pop in my punches, but she’ll be surprised on fight night. Heather and I really just don’t like each other. I’ve tried to make this fight for years and she wouldn’t take the fight.

“I’ve seen her lose some of these fights. I don’t believe she’s undefeated. I feel like she’s avoiding me.”

Hardy is ranked No. 1 by the WBC at super bantamweight. Vincent is No. 7 at featherweight. They will square off underneath the welterweight main event between Errol Spence Jr. (20-0, 17 KOs) and Leonard Bundu (33-1-2, 12 KOs), which will be on NBC.

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Carl Frampton confident he can leave ring with Leo Santa Cruz’s title

Carl Frampton/Photo by Ed Diller, DiBella Entertainment

 

Carl Frampton will have his hands full Saturday night at Barclays Center in Brooklyn when he challenges Leo Santa Cruz (32-0-1, 18 KOs) of Lincoln Heights for his featherweight world title (on Showtime). But the former super bantamweight champion from Northern Ireland who is moving  up in weight has no doubt he can emerge with Santa Cruz’s belt.

“Leo is a great fighter,” Frampton said. “He’s world class. Easily the toughest opponent that I’ve faced so far. But I think I’m Leo’s best opponent as well. I think this has all the ingredients to be a top quality fight. I’ve had a hard training camp and I’m ready to leave everything in the ring.
“I’ve got a game plan. I’m not going to blink. We’re hoping that game-plan ‘A’ will work. But if not, I’ve got a few tricks up my sleeve.”
The way Frampton (22-0, 14 KOs) sees it, he has nothing to lose in this one.
“All the pressure is on Santa Cruz,” he said. “Everyone is expecting him to win. I’m going to come in there and upset him. I’m here to put on a great performance and bring the belt back home.”

 

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