Jessica McCaskill defeats Erica Anabella Farias via majority decision

Jessica McCaskill fought Erica Anabella Farias in a rematch of their 2018 super lightweight title fight. The second match was uglier but ended similarly.

One year ago, Chicago’s Jessica McCaskill (8-2, 3 KOs) made her dreams come true by defeating Erica Anabella Farias (26-4, 10 KOs) to win the WBC super lightweight title. On Saturday, Oct. 12, she fought Farias in a rematch in front of her hometown Chicago and gave them something to cheer about on the undercard of Oleksandr Usyk vs. Chazz Witherspoon.

McCaskill and Farias were active in round 1. They swung for the fences but missed their most powerful shots. They had a hard time finding their distance and clinched several times throughout the round.

McCaskill found a home for her left hook in round 2. She landed it early, but Farias returned with her own. The clinching resumed in the final minute, but McCaskill landed a left, right combination that scored.

McCaskill and Farias traded to start round 3. Farias retreated and made it hard for McCaskill to hit her with anything cleanly. Every time McCaskill got in close, Farias held. She was savvy defensively but offered up nothing on offense.

Farias held excessively in round 4 and was deducted a point. McCaskill was able to land her left hook after the deduction, and she started to beat Farias up, but the holding reappeared. It was a strong round for McCaskill.

McCaskill established her jab in the fifth round. She opened up her arsenal and connected on left uppercuts and hooks to Farias’ body. The clinch fest resumed when they came head to head.

Things got closer on the scorecard after McCaskill was deducted a point in round 6 for hitting behind the head. Her frustration over being held manifested itself in a self-destructive way. The referee never offered McCaskill a warning, and he allowed Farias to continue holding.

McCaskill hit Farias with an overhand right to begin the seventh but was held immediately after. Both women looked fatigued, but McCaskill connected with the heavier hands. Her left hook thudded Farias’ head at the closing bell.

Farias’ holding became laughable in round 8. She bent McCaskill in half while in leaning on her in the clinch. McCaskill pounded her body out of anger. She also mixed in uppercuts while at close quarters.

Farias tackled McCaskill in round 9, then complained of being hit behind the head even though McCaskill didn’t throw a punch. After some ugliness, McCaskill and Farias traded hooks with each woman landing. It was the best action of the fight.

In the final round, Farias looked exhausted and held McCaskill some more. When she traded with McCaskill, she ate left hooks for her trouble. Farias’ clinching made this bout hard to watch. After the final bell, Farias raised her hand, and the crowd showered her with boos.

When the judges’ scores were read, McCaskill was the winner via majority decision. The Chicago crowd cheered in celebration over their hometown fighter. It wasn’t a pretty fight to watch, but McCaskill successfully defended her titles and ups her status as a champion.