(JUNE 6) WARWICK, RHODE
ISLAND – Jaime "The Hurricane" Clampitt (25-6-2, 7 KOs) returns
to Mohegan Sun Arena for one last fight on June 15th, when she
battles Canada’s Kandi Wyatt (12-6, 3 KOs) in an 8-round
lightweight contest on CES Boxing's 'Championship Jackpot 2024'.
The fight caps off an incredible hall-of-fame career for
Clampitt that saw her win four (4) world titles in two weight classes,
defeating the likes of Jane Couch, Mia St. John, and many others
along the way.
Photo Credits: Will Paul / CES
Boxing / press release
Clampitt vs. Wyatt is part of a
massive doubleheader on Father’s Day weekend featuring 11 pro
bouts, headlined by hometown favorite Chordale "The Gift"
Booker. The pro card is preceded by ‘Jimmy Burchfield’s Classic
Invitational,’ a card showcasing many of the best amateurs in
the United States. Pricing for this epic 2-for-1 show starts at
$72 and can be purchased at CESFight.com or Ticketmaster.
"I’ve seen her fight some great champions and she’s very tough,"
said the Warwick resident of Wyatt, a 4-time title challenger
who has shared the ring with the likes of current and former
champions Natasha Jonas, Jessica McCaskill, Christina Linardatou
and Kali Reis. "She’s a lot bigger than me. I’ve been closer to
130 lbs. my last few fights, and she'll probably come in a
little over 135 for this one. Earlier in my career, I fought as
high as 140, but I haven’t fought in that weight class for a
long time."
Indeed, Clampitt began her career in 2000 as a lightweight,
winning titles at 135 and 140 lbs before retiring in 2013 to
start a family. Eight years later, the urge to return to the
Sweet Science became too tempting for Clampitt to deny. With the
explosion of women’s boxing in full swing, The Hurricane
returned to the ring in 2021, competing mostly in the Super
Featherweight division in search of one last title. In Wyatt,
Jaime will be facing a naturally bigger fighter who is also 12
years her junior.
"A lot of people look at my age as a downfall," admits the
47-year-old," but I look at it as something that is going to
help me win this fight. I've been in there with a lot of great
champions myself, so I’ll be bringing my experience into the
ring. I feel like I've also got a lot of speed, and this is it,
so I gotta get in there and give 100%. She’s a young fighter and
she’s still got time, but I don't, so my mindset is a little
different."
That realization made Clampitt and trainer Steve Maze extend
their training camp to ensure that Jaime was ready for anything
Wyatt brings on June 15th.
"This has been a longer camp," agrees Clampitt. "In the
beginning of training camp, we didn't have Kandi as an opponent,
so we were just working hard and getting back into it. The last
6 to 7 weeks we've really been focusing on her style and what we
need to do to get the win on the 15th."
What makes the final fight against Wyatt even more fitting is
that Clampitt will be ending her career against a fellow
Canadian.
"I looked her up and she's actually from the gym that I trained
at when I lived in Calgary, Alberta, Canada," laughs Clampitt.
"I think it's cool that that's the way it's going to end because
Calgary is really where my career started taking off. I became a
national champion and turned pro in Calgary – that's where
things really started happening for me, so it's a bit of a
storybook ending."
Clampitt fought her first 3 fights in Canada before CES founder
Jimmy Burchfield, Sr. brought her to the United States to face
Elizabeth Mueller for the vacant IBF Lightweight title at
Foxwoods Resort Casino in 2001. Clampitt lost a razor-thin
decision in her opponent’s backyard that night, but her
performance impressed Burchfield so much that he offered her a
promotional contract and a chance to move to the United States.
A few months later, Jaime settled in Warwick, Rhode Island,
where she went on to win several world titles under the CES
Boxing banner and blazed a trail way before women’s boxing
became the popular and lucrative sport that it is today. In
addition to winning multiple titles across 2 weight classes,
Clampitt was one of the first women to appear on national
television in high profile fights against fellow hall-of-famers
Jane Couch, Mia St. John, and Holly Holm.
"I don't think I’ve missed anything," said Clampitt when asked
if she’s ‘completed’ boxing. "This is what I chose to do since I
was 15. I love what I do, I love going through training camp.
I'm a happier person when I'm in training camp. This is what I
love so I really don't have any regrets. As a fighter, I always
worked really hard, and I always had a big heart and gave it as
much as I could in the ring. That's how I want to be remembered
in the sport."
And while Clampitt is content with what she’s accomplished since
returning from retirement, the only thing she would have liked
to have done was to match her skills against some of today’s top
female talents.
"It would have been nice to go for a title again, but I honestly
have no regrets," says Clampitt. I would love to have fought
other top 2 or top 3 135 or 130 lbs women just to see where I'm
at more than anything. Katie Taylor is one of them. I had the
opportunity to spar with her at one point, and she’s such an
amazing champion and person. Alicia Baumgardner is another one,
I would have loved to measure where I'm at in this point in my
life and my career against her."
While Clampitt is steadfast that she will not return to the ring
after June 15, the question is whether her answer would change
if she wins impressively and such an opportunity presents
itself.
"I don’t think so," says Jaime. "Unless I get a call for that
big one, which was the plan when I came out of retirement. If
not, I think at this stage of my life, I have two children and
both my kids are very involved in their activities and I think
the focus needs to be on letting them live out their dreams now.
I feel very satisfied with what I've done. I know it's hard to
say goodbye, but I want to leave the sport with love and
whatever happens, that's what I need to do right now."
What Jaime would like to focus on after that final bell rings is
her kids, her On the Ropes Boxing and Fitness gym, and possibly
an interest in commentating. Other than that, she’ll be happy to
encourage the future female stars of CES Boxing, including
lightweight Stevie Jane Coleman (5-1, 2 KOs) and super
bantamweight Melanie Costa (3-0, 1 KO).
"I sparred with both girls – they’re both incredible and very
different fighters," says Clampitt of the next generation of
female CES Boxing stars. "Melanie is absolutely exciting to
watch, she just goes for it. I’ve known her since she was a
little kid, and it’s been amazing watching her develop through
the years. She's so good for the sport because she's very well
spoken and carries herself very well. She’s also a police
officer. I have to say though – I've been watching Stevie on the
Boston Butchers, and something changed in her. She looks so
smart in there; her technique is unbelievable. I was so
impressed watching her set everything up. She was really
focused, and I could tell there was a shift. She's only in her
early 20s, so to have that maturity in the ring really impressed
me."
But before Jaime can turn her attention to other endeavors, she
has one final piece of business to attend to on June 15th.
"I have a lot to think about in the next few weeks, but right
now I’m just focused on Kandi Wyatt," insists Clampitt. "I'm
training my hardest. I know it's going to be a really tough
fight. She's been in there with some great champions and I'm not
taking her lightly. I just gotta give it 100%, which I've been
doing the entire camp. I'm excited, I'm nervous, but I'm just
ready to go in there and give it everything I got."
Clampitt vs. Wyatt takes place on June 15th from Mohegan Sun
Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut and live on Swerve Combat TV.
Purchase your tickets now at CESFight.com or Ticketmaster.
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