Female boxing world champion Shannon Courtenay has been forced to drop her WBA bantamweight title ahead of defence against Jamie Mitchell, after missing weight.
Courtenay was due to defend her bantamweight title on Saturday night but was stripped on Friday after coming in too heavy for the weight.
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The 28-year-old came in at 120.5 lbs for the 118 lbs limit. She had a two hour window from the initial weigh in to lose the final two and a half pounds but Eddie Hearn revealed she wouldn't be attempting it.
After being stripped of the title, the former champion, who won the title after defeating Ebanie Bridges in April, took to Instagram to explain an earlier start to her menstrual cycle had caused the weight gain.
"Thank you to everyone that’s been messaging to check on me & send me love.
"We had no weight issues during camp & all week I’ve been in a really good place & ready.
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"We was on weight & ready to go yesterday & then last night [Thursday] unexpectedly my menstrual cycle started which for obvious reasons makes woman gain weight.
"To say I’m devastated is understatement because this has never happened before I’m always professional but this was physically out of my control.
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"It’s happened & I can’t change it but what I can do is go out there tomorrow night get the win & get my belt back straight after & that’s exactly what I’m going to do. I'm switching off now I have a fight to get ready for."
Mitchell will still be fighting for the title on Saturday night, on the DAZN card from Liverpool, that is headlined by Liam Smith vs Anthony Fowler, with Smith having to strip down behind a towel to make the weight.
Courtenay will not be able to win the title back against Mitchell, which was due to be her first defence, and the title will remain vacant if she wins the fight.
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Ahead of the fight the challenger, Mitchell, claimed she would 'devastate' her opponent. "I’m called 'The Miracle' because I have endured so much in my life that others would never survive," the American said of her nickname.
"On October 9 there is nothing that Shannon Courtney can do to me that I haven’t already experienced. I plan to take all of my anger, all of my frustration and all of my ill will out on her body.
"I go to the gym every day to train my body. I go to the gym every day because the voices in my head tell me to. I go to the gym to hurt people and I go to the gym to take out my frustration. I fully believe that my work ethic is unmatched and I have full belief that my team and the voices will guide me to victory.
"I have learnt many things in my years of boxing and I feel that my toolbox is a lot bigger than Shannon’s, and if for some unforeseen reason it’s not, I will take that toolbox and use it on her too! With my God-given talent and the voices and in my head, Shannon Courtney is going to need a miracle to escape this fight without choking on her own blood.
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"I plan on making it a dark and devastating night for her. Halloween is 22 days after my fight so I’m going to make sure Shannon doesn't need any makeup!
"My message to Shannon is that the voices in my head are telling me you have something I want. What I want is that shiny new black and gold WBA belt. That’s what’s going to make us happy and that's what is going to happen on October 9. I guarantee it!"
Featured Image Credit: PATopics: Boxing
