Shelly Vincent is an undefeated female boxer (17-0) on the rise. She has an aggressive style and a likeable personality. Correction she has a lovable personality. To watch Shelly fight is to appreciate her, to speak to her, to know her story; as Elvis Presley once said, You Can’t Help Falling in Love. Shelly’s life has not been easy. Things she has experienced and suffered through, many would not have survived from. Shelly did survive and has made her ‘Way’ into the boxing circuit.
Shelito’s Way, her eloquent alias, is set to fight on July 21st at Foxwoods Resorts in Connecticut. ‘Shelito’s Way’ visited RingNews24 Boxing Radio recently and reported that she did not want to reveal who the opponent is until all the official paperwork is in.
Shelly revealed she channels her past problems to prepare herself for the raw combat & violence needed to succeed once the gloves are laced up. Shelly explained that she does not know most of the females she has fought, so she needs to find her edge through her life’s horrors to perform at the level this sport requires. There is one female fighter that Shelly does not have to use her past to conjure up the gumption needed to punch in the face, however. That fighter is Heather The Heat Hardy.
Shelly explained that Hardy and herself have a genuine dislike for one another. “We really want to kill each other,” said Vincent. I have witnessed Shelly and Heather when they have been in the same room and I can attest to the genuine hatred Shelito’s Way has described. The big question is when will a Hardy vs. Vincent showdown happen? Both females are stellar talents, both 17-0, and both are more than marketable. So what is the holdup?
This fight has been simmering since January, when Shelly signed with Lou DiBella, and made her New York City debut at the cavernous BB Kings Blues Bar and Grill in Manhattan. DiBella wants to make sure the fight finds its proper place on television. Back in January DiBella expressed the desire to have this fight air on ShoBox. When RingNews24 Boxing Radio asked Shelly when she thinks the fight will happen, she reported the fight is “Closer than anybody thinks.” That would be fantastic. On television, for everyone to see on TV, would be groundbreaking.
I know boxing fans hate when I bring up MMA, however, I must bring up the fact that MMA, in particular, the UFC, is way ahead of the curb in showing female fighters on television. And it is not just Ronda Rousey getting TV time. Boxing has a great crop of female talent and fans should not have to do their best impression of Indiana Jones to watch it. There is a heavy quantity of televised boxing in the U.S.A. The fact that there are virtually no female boxing matches as part of that programming is disgraceful. Heather Hardy vs. Shelly Vincent could be the icebreaker the television networks need as evidence that female boxing is a viable product. Heather last fought in late June. Shelly fights July 21st. This fight can find its way on television sometime at the end of 2016, or early 2017. Lou DiBella seems to recognise the market value for this female showdown. What network will take the bait?
Listen to this week’s podcast interview with Shelly here: Ringnews24 Boxing Radio Show