For years, Heather Hardy had proven herself to be one of the top American women's boxers, but had never been able to call herself a world champion.
That could all change in less than two months when Hardy, a star in New York's always explosive boxing scene, fights on October 27 for the WBO women's featherweight title. Hardy will fight Shelly Vincent on a stacked boxing card at the Theater at Madison Square Garden that will also feature two other world title fights.
For Hardy, this will be her first attempt at winning a world title. Hardy is undefeated as a pro and has won a number of regional titles throughout her career, but never the world title. The 36-year-old Hardy returned to the ring in April after a brief stint in Bellator MMA where she won two of her three fights.
Vincent, on the other hand, won't just be fighting for a world title, but she's also fighting to avenge the only loss in her pro career. Hardy and Vincent had fought already back in 2016 in New York where Hardy came out victorious with a majority decision and walked away with the vacant WBC International title. The two boxers who have been feuding for some time will be fighting once more for a title, but this time, it's a world title that is at stake.
The WBO title is currently vacant after it was held by both Amanda and Cindy Serrano in 2016 and 2017. The last time the title was defended was in May 2017 when Cindy Serrano defeated Iranda Paola Torres.
The other two world title fights taking place at Madison Square Garden are Alberto Machado vs. Yuandale Evans for Machado's WBA "regular" super featherweight title and Daniel Jacobs vs. Sergiy Derevyanchenko for the vacant IBF middleweight title. Jacobs vs. Derevyanchenko will be the main event of the televised portion of the card being broadcast on HBO.