Melissa Hernandez & Garbatt Rematch In New Mexico

With no apologies to the heavyweight title fight, the most intriguing fight card takes place in New Mexico where Melissa Hernandez the Puerto Rican firecracker and Canada’s Lyndsey “Lethal” Garbatt headline the all-female boxing event.

Garbatt (5-3, 3 KOs) is one of the biggest punching 130-pounders today and attempts to prove again to Hernandez (13-2-2) on Saturday that her first win was no fluke. The rematch takes place at Santa Ana Star Casino and this time the GBU and WIBA junior lightweight titles are at stake. Golden Girl Promotions is staging the fight card.

Hernandez, 30, is considered by many one of the best female prizefighters pound for pound today. She would fight King Kong if he was available. Her talent sometimes allows her to accept a fight without full preparation.

Garbatt, 28, entered the pro ranks at nearly 25 and knows time is scarce. Since arriving she has fought tough customers from the very beginning with her go-for-broke style that’s resulted in three knockouts.

The two met each other in the ring this past June with Garbatt winning a split decision. Many were surprised by the outcome in Indiana. Hernandez accepted the defeat and blamed herself. She’s a fighter not a complainer.

“Im back to being ‘the Huracan’. No more ‘Im the champ’ BS. Just having fun, old school training with my old sparring partners,” said Hernandez who’s captured multiple world titles in her career. “Belinda (Laracuente) is back in my corner with my manager Brian Cohen and my cut man Pete. Even my uniform is back to old school.”

Ironically, the New Yorker is making her third trip to New Mexico. She previously fought Victoria Cisneros there and almost fought Holly Holm there but a discrepancy with hand wraps stopped that fight. The state ruled in Hernandez’s favor. Now she’s back again in the “Land of Enchantment.”

Garbatt has fooled a few fighters on her way up. Nobody takes her lightly now after several big wins.

Tickets are still available for the impressive fight card that also features four other female pro fights including Belinda Laracuente and Monica Lovato in separate fights. Call (505) 750-8326 for tickets or information.

Other boxing chatter

Ontario’s Jonathan Arrellano (4-1) won by decision over Abel Gomez in Tachi Palace Casino in Lemoore. Also winning were former U.S. Olympians Shawn Estrada and Javier Molina by knockouts on Thursday.

Great Britain’s Michael “The Count” Bisping (19-3) faces Japan’s Yoshihiro Akiyama (13-2) in an MMA middleweight bout on Saturday Oct. 16 in Ultimate Fighting Championship 120. England’s Dan “Outlaw” Hardy (23-7) faces New Mexico’s Carlos “Natural Born Killer” Condit (25-5) in a welterweight bout. The UFC fight card takes place in London, England and will be shown on pay-per-view.

WBC heavyweight titleholder Vitali Klitschko (40-2, 38 KOs) defends against former world champion Shannon Briggs (51-5-1, 45 KOs) of New York on Saturday Oct. 16 in Hamburg, Germany. It’s a dangerous fight for Klitschko. Briggs is one of the hardest hitters in the division but is often over weight and has little agility. The title fight will not be televised.

Puerto Rico’s Wilfredo Vazquez (19-0-1, 16 KOs) defends the WBO junior featherweight world title against Mexico’s Ivan “Choko” Hernandez (28-4-1, 17 KOs) on Saturday Oct. 16 in Kissimmee, Florida. Vazquez has four consecutive knockout wins. Hernandez is a former junior bantamweight champion who beat Mark “Too Sharp” Johnson for the title. The fight card will be televised on pay-per-view.

Mexico’s Hugo Cazares (33-6-2, 24 KOs) won the vacant WBA junior bantamweight world title by technical knockout of Alberto Rossel (24-8) of Peru in 31 seconds of the round in Mexico City. It was Cazares third title defense. He is a former junior flyweight world champion too.

Mexico’s Rigoberto Alvarez (26-3, 19 KOs) won a close decision over Japan’s Nobuhiro Ishida (22-6-2) on Saturday in Nayarit, Mexico. Alvarez is the new WBA junior middleweight world titleholder.

Mexico’s Julio “Pingo” Miranda (33-5-1, 26 KOs) defends the WBO flyweight world title for a second time on Saturday Oct. 16 in Monterrey. Challenging Miranda is Colombia’s Michael Arango (31-9-3, 25 KOs).

IBF super middleweight titleholder Lucien Bute (26-0, 21 KOs) defends the title against former Contender television participant Jesse Brinkley (35-5, 22 KOs) on Friday Oct. 15 in Montreal. Bute is proving that his exclusion from the Super Six tournament was perhaps a mistake. The Canadian fighter has been on a roll.

Argentina’s Carolina Gaetes (17-2, 13 KOs) fights for the vacant interim WBA junior bantamweight title against Uruguay’s Soledad Macedo (9-5-1) on Friday in Cordoba, Argentina.

Bantamweight Jenna “Cowgirl” Shiver (12-4-1) moves up in weight and faces undefeated featherweight Evette Collazo (4-0) in a six round bout on Friday Oct. 15 in Tampa, Florida.

Netherland’s Esther Schouten (24-6-1, 13 KOs) defends the WIBF junior featherweight world title against Judy Waguthii (8-4-2) of Kenya. Schouten is making her first title defense. She lost her last fight in a bid for the featherweight world title against Germany’s Ina Menzer.

Australia’s Erin McGowan (14-0) won the vacant WBO lightweight world title by unanimous decision over England’s Lyndsey Scragg (10-3) on Saturday in Joondalup, Australia.

Francisco “Panchito” Arce (31-6-3, 22 KOs) knocked out former world champion Isidro “Chino” Garcia (25-7-2, 8 KOs) at 2:52 of the fourth round to win the vacant NABF junior featherweight title on Saturday. The fight took place in Monterrey, Mexico.