We Speak Boxing
Nothing But Sportz Backs Maureen Shea’s Chase of Another World Title at The Social Fight Night
Women’s boxing is experiencing one of the most important periods in its history, and on Saturday, October 24, 2026, Nothing But Sportz will put another trailblazer center stage.
Brought to you by Ronald Johnson’s American Dream Presents, THE SOCIAL FIGHT NIGHT will feature two-time world champion Maureen “The Real Million Dollar Baby” Shea as the featured attraction, live from the Sport of Kings at Gulfstream Park & Casino in Hallandale Beach, Florida.
For Shea, October 24 is not a farewell. It is another step toward the goal that continues to drive her: winning another world championship.
The Real Million Dollar Baby
Long before women’s boxing regularly headlined major arenas and stadiums, Shea was building a career and a story uniquely her own. Her connection to Hollywood history began during the making of Clint Eastwood’s Academy Award-winning film Million Dollar Baby. Shea worked with Hilary Swank during Swank’s preparation to portray boxer Maggie Fitzgerald, serving as a key sparring partner and helping bring authenticity to the actress’s transformation into a fighter. The experience helped give Shea the nickname that has followed her throughout her professional career: “The Real Million Dollar Baby.”
But Shea’s story was never simply a Hollywood connection. She went on to become a champion herself, competing during an era when female fighters often had to fight for opportunities, television exposure and recognition that today’s generation is finally beginning to receive. Now, as women’s boxing enjoys unprecedented attention, Shea wants to add another chapter to her own career.
This Isn’t a Farewell
Shea’s appearance at Gulfstream Park represents the next step in a campaign designed to move her toward another world-title opportunity. Fighters such as Katie Taylor, Amanda Serrano and Claressa Shields have helped elevate the sport to new heights, building on the work of generations of women who competed before those opportunities existed. Shea belongs to that bridge between eras.
“Maureen Shea represents exactly what this night is about. She was part of women’s boxing before the sport had the spotlight and opportunities it has today. This isn’t about bringing Maureen back for a farewell. She believes there’s another world championship in her, and I believe she deserves the opportunity to go after it. American Dream Presents has always been about creating opportunities and telling stories that matter, and on October 24, we get to help Maureen write another chapter of hers,” said Ronald Johnson, President of American Dream Presents and Head of Boxing for Nothing But Sportz.
A Deep Supporting Card at Gulfstream Park
“Women’s boxing has shown the world that it belongs on the biggest stages in sports. Maureen Shea is part of the generation that helped make this moment possible. At Nothing But Sportz, we want to recognize the athletes who helped build the sport while also giving today’s fighters a platform to create what comes next. Maureen isn’t looking backward — she’s chasing another world title, and we’re proud to have her headline this event,” said Steven Marcano, CEO of Nothing But Sportz.
The October 24 lineup is scheduled to feature Akeem Cheatham; Kenzell “Give Em Hell” Williams; Luis Hernandez; South Florida’s Eric Tudor; rising prospect Chris “Slim Reaper” Biggs; Gavonne Bess; Giezwa Pierre Monarch Jr.; Australian standout Taylah Robertson; undefeated Abdulazeez Khaled Alamoodi; and Daishaun Bundrage, son of former world champion Cornelius “K9” Bundrage. Also scheduled to make his professional debut is viral internet sensation Emmanuel “Cujo” Valencia.
Together, the card reflects the concept behind THE SOCIAL FIGHT NIGHT — different generations, personalities, audiences and stories coming together through boxing. But on October 24, the spotlight belongs to Maureen Shea: The Real Million Dollar Baby, chasing another world championship.
Event Information: THE SOCIAL FIGHT NIGHT, Saturday, October 24, 2026, Sport of Kings at Gulfstream Park & Casino, Hallandale Beach, Florida. Doors open 6:00 PM, first fight 7:00 PM. Tickets are available through EventCartel.
We Speak Boxing
GLORY COLLISION 10: Mory Kromah Defends Heavyweight Title Against Antonio Plazibat on December 12
ARNHEM, Netherlands — The stage is officially set for one of the biggest heavyweight kickboxing fights of the year, as GLORY COLLISION 10 will feature reigning GLORY Heavyweight World Champion Mory Kromah defending his title against Croatian knockout artist Antonio Plazibat.
The championship showdown takes place Saturday, December 12, inside the iconic GelreDome, one of Europe’s premier stadium venues, promising a spectacular night of elite kickboxing action. The same card also features an eight-man Welterweight Grand Prix, where champion Chico Kwasi’s belt will be defended through the tournament, and a clash between Tarik Khbabez and Mohamed Touchassie.
Kromah (38-3-1, 25 KOs) enters his second heavyweight title defense after an unforgettable performance at GLORY COLLISION 9. The champion retained his crown in spectacular fashion by knocking out Milos Cvjeticanin with a devastating flying knee that quickly became one of the year’s most viral combat sports highlights — according to GLORY, the knockout generated more than 10 million views across the promotion’s social media platforms, helping establish Kromah as one of kickboxing’s fastest-rising global stars.
The rivalry needs no selling. At a promotional staredown in Rotterdam in September, the two men had to be separated in a scuffle that left a security guard on the canvas, and they were put in the same room again at the GLORY 110 fan zone in Antwerp this past weekend.
“Plazibat thinks he is coming to take my belt. He can think again,” Kromah said. “He already had his time in GLORY. This is a new era, the Mory Kromah era. When my knee connects to his chin, he will go to sleep and only dream of becoming GLORY champion.”
Plazibat (24-5, 17 KOs) secured his opportunity by delivering an emphatic knockout victory over Anis Bouzid at GLORY COLLISION 9, immediately solidifying himself as the division’s No. 1 contender. The Croatian powerhouse made his intentions perfectly clear.
“The plan is simple. I will smash his face and beat him down until he quits,” Plazibat said. “No more playing heavyweight for Mory Kromah. He does not know the world he is entering when he is in the ring with me.”
The heavyweight title Kromah holds was made famous by Rico Verhoeven, who ruled the division for a decade before leaving GLORY for the boxing ring — where he challenged Oleksandr Usyk for a world title in Egypt in May. Verhoeven is back in the headlines this week: the Dutchman says he has accepted an offer to box former WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder on December 11, the night before COLLISION 10, though Wilder’s agreement and the final terms are not yet confirmed.
Tickets for GLORY COLLISION 10 are on sale now through GLORYKickboxing.com.
-
We Speak Music1 week agoFox De La Rose Refuses To Be Defined On ‘Nothing Is Written In Stone’
-
We Speak Music1 week agoDidn’t get tickets to Oasis? Buying for the dad who still talks about that gig in 1996
-
We Speak Dining & Drinks2 days agoOff The Rails Opens in Boston, Bringing Nashville-Inspired Dining, Live Music and High-Energy Entertainment Downtown
-
We Speak Music1 week agoDesire Machines Pair Literary Inspiration With Psychedelic Art-Rock On New Single
