Sammy Worthington: “It’s been incredible working with Claressa.”

Sammy Worthington: “It’s been incredible working with Claressa.”

Sammy Worthington was unbeaten in eight fights when I first spoke to her over Zoom in June of last year. Worthington had just become the first fighter to be signed to T-Rex Promotions, the new promotional company formed by Claressa Shields. Three fights and three wins in rapid succession. The partnership has been fruitful and rewarding for all sides.

“I am very proud to be 11-0 now and have three wins under T-Rex and Salita Promotions,” Worthington says of that working relationship. “I feel like I am in a great position, being number one in the WBA and top five in all the other sanctioning bodies. A prime spot for a title fight in the near future.

“It’s been incredible working with Claressa. Working with someone as knowledgeable and successful as Claressa is such a high honour but then throw in the fact that we’re close friends, and it just makes everything so much fun.

“Claressa not only allows me to see what it’s like to be at the top but also lets me know what it will be like once I’m there. But she also gives me the confidence and assurance that I’m where I’m supposed to be because she truly believes in me. She’s also a great coach! She’s already taught me a lot about what I need to improve on as I’m moving up to the elite level.”

The love and respect for the multi-time undisputed champion of the world and two-time Olympic Champion is obvious. “Mainly in the perspective on the things I can add to my arsenal to take my career to the next level,” Worthington says of what Shields gives her. “She has so much experience fighting at the world championship level, so watching film with her and training alongside her has helped me to hone my skills in a way I didn’t have before.”

Worthington took her resume to eleven fights unbeaten when she outpointed the tough Vaida Masiokaite earlier this month in Flint, Michigan, on the undercard of Claressa Shields adding the undisputed heavyweight crown to her already beyond impressive resume. Masiokaite, a much better fighter than her record would suggest, gave Worthington some much-needed experience and a few little problems to solve on the way to win number eleven.

“I learn so much every fight,” Worthington told me. “There is always something I glean from the entire experience but Vaida has been the first opponent to give me trouble getting my combinations off like I normally do so, both in the fight and now watching it back. I’ve been able to learn areas that I will improve on with distance and range as well as cutting off the ring and truly using tools I already have in a more efficient way. It was cool to fight someone with so much ring experience and get to elevate my skill set because of it.”

“Some well-deserved downtime,” Worthington says of what’s next. “I’m actually going on a cruise with my family tomorrow for a week, which will be nice to take a breath and enjoy myself, but then it’s back to work. Everything is super calculated in my career now, so each move is intentional, and my team has some exciting things in mind as we plan for the world title fight that is in my future.”

The unbeaten super-lightweight contender is chasing a shot at the world title. Katie Taylor currently holds all of the belts at 140, but Worthington thinks her opportunity is less than twelve months away.

“I believe it will happen within a year for sure,” Worthington says of when she thinks that chance will arrive. “We’re truly just biding our time until we get that opportunity by working on perfecting my craft and getting me the experience to dominate at that level like I know I will.”

Sammy Worthington is clearly enjoying her boxing right now. After struggling somewhat away from the bright lights, the hook-up with the GWOAT has changed everything for her. But boxing runs even deeper than world titles. “It gives me JOY, Worthington says of what boxing gives her. “I feel like God gives me purpose, which I’m thankful for. I just really love the sport and feel so at home in the ring.”