Female Flyweight Division Opens Up With McMorrow’s Win Over Kentikian

Northern California’s Melissa McMorrow (7-3-3) shocked Susi Kentikian (29-1, 16 KOs) with a majority decision win to capture various flyweight world titles in Germany on Wednesday.

That’s the kicker. It happened in Germany.

Meanwhile, last weekend WBC flyweight titleholder Mariana Juarez (34-5-3, 16 KOs) knocked down and defeated former IBF flyweight titleholder Arely Mucino (15-2-1, 8 KOs) by split decision in Mexico City. That sets up a possible showdown of the three best flyweights.

Before the upset win it wasn’t even thinkable to have a form of flyweight tournament between champions. Kentikian’s refusal to fight any where but Germany messed up any thoughts of a tournament. Instead, it was merely a pipe dream. That’s all over now.

The other two premier flyweights are Mexico’s Juarez and another Northern Californian Ava Knight, who now holds the IBF world title.

Juarez welcomes a fight with either Northern Californian.

“I feel that both have qualities. Melissa is a tank but Ava is quality boxer,” says Juarez, 32, who has defended the title six times in a year including her win over Mucino last Saturday in Mexico City.

Juarez is no stranger to fighting in the United States and Knight is no stranger to fighting in Mexico. The San Francisco-based fighter’s last engagement took place in Los Cabos, Mexico on March 31. She beat Hongfah Tor Buamas by technical knockout.

“I think Mariana would be tougher. Her style and experience may outweigh a pushy style for me. I've met McMorrow in the ring three times (as an amateur) and already know my strengths over hers. She may have changed a bit and become more of a brawler, but that is my opposition of choice,” said Knight, 23, who also fought Mucino and knocked her out to win the world title last year. “They are both game, and hopefully we will be meeting them soon in the ring.”

McMorrow’s win over Kentikian on Wednesday opens up the door to discover the true flyweight world champion of the world.

“Both fighters are quality fighters and both would be good fights,” said Juarez.

Indeed.

Other boxing chatter

Ventura’s Maureen Shea (18-2, 11 KOs), formerly of New York City, fights Cynthia Munoz (6-0, 3 KOs) on Thursday May 17, in Morelia, Mexico. In a junior flyweight match, Esmeralda Moreno (22-6, 9 KOs) fights Guadalupe Bautista (3-3-1).

Peru’s Kina Malpartida (13-3, 3 KOs), the WBA junior lightweight titleholder, defends against Sriphrae Nongkipahuyuth (11-1-1, 4 KOs). This will be the Peruvian superstar’s fifth consecutive title defense. The fight will take place in Callao, Peru.

WBC flyweight world titleholder Mariana “Barbie” Juarez (34-5-3, 16 KOs) won by split decision over former flyweight champion Arely Mucino (15-2-1, 8 KOs) on Saturday May 12. The match between Mexican flyweights took place in Mexico City. It was Juarez’s sixth consecutive title defense. The scores were 98-90, 96-91 for Juarez and 95-94 for Mucino.

WBC, WBA junior welterweight titleholder Monica Acosta (17-0-2) knocked out Dayana Cordero (8-2) at the end of round five to retain the world titles. Their match was held in Cordoba, Argentina on Friday May 11.

Riverside’s Sindy Amador (8-0) defeated San Diego’s Amaris Quintana (6-1-3) by decision in a junior flyweight fight. It was a nip and tuck fight that could have been decided in Quintana’s favor. She landed the cleaner punches but the judges preferred the busier Amador. Both agreed to a rematch in San Diego before the fight.

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