In a thrilling weekend for women’s boxing, two seasoned champions defied the odds and made history in Detroit, while a rising heavyweight prospect dazzled fans with a display of power and showmanship. The Little Caesars Arena was buzzing as Soledad Matthysse, at 45 years old, reclaimed world championship glory, and Danielle Perkins, 43, seized the WBA light heavyweight title with a knockout victory. Meanwhile, Pryce Taylor continued his ascent in the heavyweight ranks with a dominant stoppage win.
On February 24, 2026, the spotlight shone brightest on Edith Soledad Matthysse. Entering the ring as the underdog against undefeated Samantha Worthington, the Argentine veteran faced a daunting task. Worthington, 30, boasted an unblemished 12-0 record with 7 knockouts, and many saw her as the next big star in the super lightweight division. But Matthysse, with a career ledger of 21-16-1 and just 4 knockouts, brought something to the ring that numbers can’t always capture: experience, resilience, and a champion’s heart.
From the opening bell, it was clear that Matthysse wasn’t content to play the role of gatekeeper. She pressed forward with relentless determination, using her ring IQ and veteran savvy to keep Worthington off balance. As the rounds wore on, Matthysse’s pressure began to tell. Worthington, who had never tasted defeat, found herself unable to match the Argentine’s pace and grit.
By the ninth round, the momentum was all Matthysse’s. Sensing her opponent was wilting, she unleashed a barrage of punches that forced the referee to step in, awarding Matthysse a technical knockout victory. With this win, Matthysse captured the interim WBA super lightweight world championship and, remarkably, became the oldest Argentine boxer ever to be crowned world champion. The achievement adds another chapter to a storied career that already included reigns as WBA featherweight world champion in 2013 and WBC featherweight champion in 2015. Matthysse’s family legacy in boxing also grew stronger—she is the sister of former welterweight world champion Lucas Matthysse.
After the fight, Matthysse credited her success to her rigorous preparation and the unwavering support of her trainer and husband, Mario Narváez. Her journey back to the top was fueled by sheer willpower and a refusal to let age define her. It’s a testament not only to her skill but to her indomitable spirit—a quality that has endeared her to fans worldwide.
Just one night earlier, on February 23, 2026, another veteran made her mark in the same city. Danielle Perkins, fighting out of Houston, Texas, had a point to prove. After suffering a loss to Claressa Shields a year prior in a bid for the undisputed heavyweight crown, Perkins reinvented herself by dropping down to the light heavyweight division. Facing Australia’s Che Kenneally—who was unbeaten and fresh off capturing the vacant WBA light heavyweight belt in July 2024—Perkins knew she had to deliver on her pre-fight promise to test Kenneally with relentless pressure.
“This weight class is small,” Perkins told BoxingScene before the bout. “It doesn’t have an extended talent bench.” But Perkins brought plenty of talent and experience to the table. At 43, she was determined to show she still belonged among the elite.
The early rounds saw Kenneally hold her own, landing sharp right hands as Perkins advanced. But by the second round, Perkins found her rhythm, connecting with clean shots and asserting control. The third round saw Perkins’ left cross find its mark, though Kenneally responded with a combination of her own. The action was intense, with both fighters exchanging heavy blows and neither willing to back down.
In the fourth and fifth rounds, Perkins added a touch of showmanship, channeling Emanuel Augustus with her “drunken master” moves, aiming to break Kenneally’s composure. The psychological warfare seemed to take its toll, and by the sixth round, the tide had fully turned. Kenneally, now on the offensive, rushed forward but left herself open. Perkins capitalized, landing a crushing shot that sent Kenneally to the canvas. Though Kenneally beat the count, the referee saw she was in no condition to continue, waving off the fight at 1:45 of the sixth round.
With the win, Perkins captured the WBA light heavyweight title—a remarkable achievement for a fighter who had recently challenged for heavyweight supremacy. The victory not only reaffirmed Perkins’ status as a force in women’s boxing but also opened the door for potential future showdowns, including a possible clash with Germany’s Sarah Scheurich, the reigning IBF champion at 7-0 (4 KOs).
Women’s boxing continues to evolve, with sanctioning bodies still ironing out the distinctions between light heavyweight and heavyweight divisions. The WBA, for example, only recently established a women’s heavyweight division, while the WBC considers anyone above 168 pounds a heavyweight. These ongoing changes add intrigue to the sport, as fighters like Perkins navigate shifting landscapes in search of championship glory.
The action-packed weekend also featured a heavyweight showcase, as Brooklyn’s Pryce Taylor improved his record to 11-0 (7 KOs) with a fifth-round technical knockout over James Evans of Toledo, Ohio. Taylor, 29, put on a clinic, dropping Evans three times and even sending the referee to the canvas in a chaotic fourth round. Taylor’s confidence was evident—he broke out the Ali Shuffle after dominating the opening stanza, and his showboating continued as he battered Evans with hooks, uppercuts, and relentless pressure.
Evans, 33, showed heart but couldn’t withstand Taylor’s onslaught. After a left uppercut and right hand put Evans on one knee in the fifth, the referee mercifully called a halt to the contest. Taylor’s victory keeps him undefeated and positions him as a rising star in the heavyweight division, while Evans, now 9-3-1 (7 KOs), will have to regroup.
The weekend’s events in Detroit underscored the depth and excitement of the current boxing landscape, especially for women’s divisions that have often been overlooked. Veterans like Matthysse and Perkins proved that age is just a number, while prospects like Taylor showed that the future is bright. Fans left the arena buzzing, eager to see what’s next for these warriors—whether it’s a unification bout, a title defense, or another chance to defy expectations under the bright lights.
As the dust settles, one thing is clear: Detroit witnessed a weekend of boxing that won’t soon be forgotten, with champions old and new staking their claim to greatness in the ring.