This is Shibata feeling out the ring before the fight...

This is Shibata getting her hands wraped before the fight...

This is Shibata before the fight...

This is Elmont before the fight...

This is Elmont before the fight...

This is Elmont intering the ring...

This is Elmont in the ring...

This is Elmont in the corner...

This is some of the sponcers...

The sponcers wishing the fighters good luck before the fight!!!

The sponcers wishing the fighters good luck before the fight!!!

Ilonka before the start of the fight...

Shibata vs Elmont...action pics!!!!

Shibata vs Elmont...action pics!!!!

Shibata vs Elmont...action pics!!!!

Shibata vs Elmont...action pics!!!!

Shibata vs Elmont...action pics!!!!

Shibata vs Elmont...action pics!!!!

Shibata vs Elmont...action pics!!!!

Shibata vs Elmont...action pics!!!!

Shibata vs Elmont...action pics!!!!

Shibata vs Elmont...action pics!!!!

Shibata vs Elmont...action pics!!!!

Shibata vs Elmont...action pics!!!!

Shibata vs Elmont...action pics!!!!

Shibata vs Elmont...action pics!!!!

Shibata vs Elmont...action pics!!!!

Shibata vs Elmont...action pics!!!!

Shibata vs Elmont...action pics!!!!

Shibata vs Elmont...action pics!!!!

Shibata vs Elmont...action pics!!!!

Shibata vs Elmont...action pics!!!!

Shibata vs Elmont...action pics!!!!

Shibata vs Elmont...action pics!!!!

Shibata vs Elmont...action pics!!!!

Shibata vs Elmont...action pics!!!!

Shibata vs Elmont...action pics!!!!

Shibata vs Elmont...action pics!!!!

Shibata vs Elmont...action pics!!!!

Shibata vs Elmont...action pics!!!!

Shibata vs Elmont...action pics!!!!

Shibata vs Elmont...action pics!!!!

Shibata vs Elmont...action pics!!!!

Shibata vs Elmont...action pics!!!!

Shibata vs Elmont...action pics!!!!

Shibata vs Elmont...action pics!!!!

Shibata vs Elmont...action pics!!!!

Shibata vs Elmont...action pics!!!!

Shibata vs Elmont...action pics!!!!

Shibata vs Elmont...action pics!!!!

Shibata vs Elmont...action pics!!!!

Shibata vs Elmont...action pics!!!!

Shibata vs Elmont...action pics!!!!

Shibata vs Elmont...action pics!!!!

Shibata vs Elmont...action pics!!!!

Shibata vs Elmont...action pics!!!!

Shibata vs Elmont...action pics!!!!

Shibata vs Elmont...action pics!!!!

Shibata vs Elmont...action pics!!!!

Shibata vs Elmont...action pics!!!!

Shibata vs Elmont...action pics!!!!

Shibata vs Elmont...

Shibata vs Elmont...

Winner Shibata...

Winner Shibata...

Winner Shibata...

Winner Shibata...

Must have been a WAR! Cool pics Flame - thanks.

Great pics as always. Sure looks like Shibata hits very hard!

Shibata out worked Ilonka but I don't think Ilonka was ever hurt!!! I still think Ilonka is stronger but Shibata showed so much heart never giving up...it was a great fight...

Congratulations Shibata and Team!!!

Nice pictures!

Looks like Shibata kept Ilonka in her own corner most of the fight. I've seen Shibata fight over here in Oz and she is truely a little bull dog, she just keeps going.
Congratulations to her!

Ilonka stronger than Shibata.
No way.
Ilonka sat in the corner for 2 or 3 rounds.
Ilonka literally layed on the ropes.
And when she tried to move away from the ropes around the 4th round her legs were jelly.
Ilonka hit Shibata with her best shot and Shibata took it well.
The ref allowed Ilonka to sit on the ropes like that and I was disgusted.
Shibata came forward always.
The ref allowed Ilonka to hit on the break constantly.
On a couple of occasions when the ref separated them he held Shibata and Ilonka hit her, once even with an elbow in the back of the head.
Looka at Ilonka dancing around before the fight and look at the expression on Shibata's face in one of the first pictures.
Ilonka was disrespectfull.
Look at the picture before the decision. People pushed them close together for the pictures and Ilonka put her elbow out intentionally. Look at Shibata's expression again.
Alot of people don't say anything but what the hell, I'm saying it now.

Hi Barney,

Too bad you read the fight like that. But since the fight is available on internet everyone can judge for themselfs. (Think Ax-TV has it aswell)

Obviously however it was the first time you saw Ilonka fight on a show. Personally I don't think Ilonka was disrespectfull to Shibata. Ilonka's entrance dance is something that she has done everywhere in the world, and normally appreciated very much by the audiance.
During the fight Ilonka indeed had lots of problems. Shibata played it out smart and deserved the win.

In some countries doing a fight one week before a Worldtitle fight is concidered disrespectfull to: the paying audiance, the promotor, your opponant. But who will complain if you don't get injured a week before and do win the Worldtitle??? No one. Winner always is right.
Anyway, my point is Shibata did a great job and deserved to win.
Ilonka's loss had lots of unforseen factors and we are sure she will do much better next time.
But why bring up "disrespectfull" ? If you really think that, I suggest you go to shows more often. Pref. international shows.

Ps. Tomorrow (03/26) Ilonka will make here boxing debute vs. Linda Ooms from Holland (also her debute) in Rotterdam at "BIG BOSS BOXING" . Very curious how that goes. Personally I would have prefered to see these 2 girls in a MT-fight.
Hopefully that will follow soon. I wish both goodluck & hopefully can post some pictures on the off-topic board.

Ilonka was throwing knees and elbows.
I'm not going to justify your statements and argue with you.
I was not a fan of female fighting.
But this fight changed my opinion.

This fight was under full MT-rules. Elbows where allowed.

I've seen lots of comments and questions about this fight, but besides yours I haven't seen any comment so far on unfair, unsportive or disrespectfull behaviour whatsoever. And this was a fight which has been followed worldwide very closely by everyone interested in the women's worldtop. Also not one comment on that from people present there. And Las Vegas was neutral grounds for both fighters.