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Female Fight Update: Mexico Taking Lead in Female Boxing
Mexico seems to be leading the world when it comes to female professional boxing.
A decade ago it was Germany behind Regina Halmich and Daisy Lang who heralded the women’s fight movement.
But since the two talented German blondes retired the girls in Mexico led by Mariana “Barbie” Juarez, Jackie “Aztec Princess” Nava and many others seem to have taken the lead when it comes to outstanding bouts.
On a weekly basis Mexican girls are defending their titles as main events in their country and in countries like Japan.
Other countries like Argentina have thrown their hats into the ring but seem reluctant to go to other countries. Instead they offer $3,000 purses to extremely talented fighters like Layla McCarter. Of course they’re rejected.
Lately, European countries like France, Denmark, Poland and Spain have also gained interest. Only the U.S. failed to gain momentum in staging female fight cards in 2015.
Here’s what’s happening this week in female boxing:
WBA female bantamweight titlist Irma Garcia (12-1-1) faces veteran Maria Elena Villalobos (13-13-1) in a 10-round contest on Friday Dec. 18. Both Garcia and Villalobos live and train in Mexico City. The fight will take place in the warm climate of Cancun, Mexico.
Seven female bouts are scheduled to take place in Tlalnepantla, Mexico on Friday Dec. 18. The large card also features several male bouts. Those female fighters participating will be Guadalupe Bautista, Jasseth Noriega, Joselyn Reza, Itzayana Cruz, Marlen Sandoval, Vianey Ortega, Giovanna Ledezma, Eloisa Martinez, Valeria Perez, Rosa Olvera, Itzel Paredes, Nancy Vazquez and Maria Martinez are all scheduled to fight on the large card. It’s an impressive showing and exemplifies the drawing power of female fighters in Mexico.
Alondra Garcia (13-2-1) meets Karla Mora (3-4-1) for the vacant WBC female International light flyweight title on Friday Dec. 18. Garcia, 20, lives and trains in Guadalajara, Mexico. Mora is from Tepic, Mexico. The title fight happens in Guadalajara, Mexico.
Japan’s Nana Yoshikawa (4-1) travels to Mexico City to face Denisse De La Cruz (0-1) in a mini flyweight match set for four rounds. The female fight takes place on Saturday Dec. 19. Yoshikawa last fought in April and lost her world title bid against WBA world champion Anabel Ortiz by decision in Japan.
Nina Stojanovic (8-0) is set to face Mirela Barudzic (1-5) in a flyweight bout set for six rounds. Their contest takes place on Friday Dec. 18 in Budva, Montenegro. Stojanovic, 23, lives in Serbia and Marudzic, 22, also lives in Serbia.
Ewa Brodnicka (9-0) fights Elfi Philips (6-2-3) for the vacant EBU female lightweight title on Saturday Dec. 19. Their title fight will be held in Lomianki, Poland. Brodnicka, 31, lives and trains out of Warsaw. Philips, 22, lives and trains out of Belgium.
In Sri Lanka, Nao Ikeyama (16-3-1) faces off with Jujeath Nagaowa (13-15-1) for the WBO atom weight title on Saturday Dec. 19. Nagaowa, 28, fights out of the Philippines. Ikeyama, 46, lives and trains out of Kyoto, Japan. She has a five-fight winning streak.
Rachel Clarke (6-6-1) is set to fight Brittany Inkrote who is making her pro debut. The female middleweight match takes place Saturday Dec. 19, at Hanover, Penn. Clarke, 32, is a southpaw out of Fayetteville, North Carolina. Inkrote lives in York, Penn. It’s set for four rounds.
In Colonia, Uruguay, Paola Ibarra (3-3) meets Amanda Lopes (0-1) in a featherweight bout set for four rounds. Ibarra, 31, lives and trains out of Montivideo, Uruguay. Lopes lives and trains out of Santa Catarina, Brazil.
WBC female minimum weight titlist Yuko Kuroki (14-4-1) defends the belt against Nancy Franco (14-6-2) on Sunday Dec. 20 in Fukuoka, Japan. The southpaw Kuroki, 24, is making her third world title defense. Franco, 26, is the current IBF minimum weight titlist and fights out of Guadalajara, Mexico.
Female Fight results from Around the World Caroline Andre (2-2) defeated Stella Cecilia (0-1) by technical knockout at 1:30 of the sixth and final round of their super lightweight match. Cecilia was making her pro debut. Andre, 34, fights out of Luxembourg where the contest took place.
In Buenos Aires, Argentina, Maria Rivera (7-4-3) defeated Luna Torroba (9-3-2) by unanimous decision after 10 rounds to win the vacant South American super flyweight title. The match took place on Saturday Dec. 12.
In Perry Park, Australia, Arlene Blencowe (4-4) defeated Nongfah Sithjaepung (0-1) by stoppage at 2:00 of the second round. The fight was scheduled for six rounds. Blencowe, 32, lives in Penrith, Australia. Sithjaepung was making her pro debut.
In Denmark, Dina Thorslund (5-0) defeated Jasmina Nadj (5-12-2) by unanimous decision after six rounds.The super bantamweight bout took place in Brondby, Denmark. Thorslund, 22, lives and trains in Denmark. Nadj, 31, fights out of Serbia.
Dahiana Santana (35-7) defeated Diana Garcia (14-22) unanimous decision after eight rounds in a super featherweight bout. Super bantamweight Liliana Martinez (20-15) won by technical knockout at 52 seconds of the first round over Mima Batista (0-12). Diafana Salazar (3-0, 3 Kos) stopped winless Zuleidiy Mejia (0-16) at 1:14 of the first round in their welterweight bout. It was her second fight against Mejia and second knockout. All three fights took place Saturday in Santa Domingo, Dominican Republic.
Stephanie Ducastel (6-3-1) captured the vacant WBF female featherweight title by technical knockout over Gabriella Mezei (4-4-2) on Saturday Dec. 12. Ducastel stopped Mezei at the end of the sixth round of their title fight held in Strasbourg, France. Also, Angelina Panza (0-0-1) and Licia Boudersa (2-1-1) fought to a draw in a lightweight contest.
Taoussy L’Hadji (3-2) captured the vacant French super featherweight title by split decision over Cindy Bonhiver (5-9) after eight rounds. The title fight took place in Nord, France on Saturday. L’Hadji, 38, and Bonhiver, 32, both live in France.
WBC female flyweight titlist Jessica “Kika” Chavez (25-4-3) retained the belt by technical decision after nine rounds against Italy’s Simona Galassi (23-5-1) on Saturday in Mexico City. The fight was stopped 45 seconds into the ninth round and the winner was determined by the score cards. Chavez, 27, won her second consecutive world title defense. She is also a former mini flyweight world champion.
Also, Lourdes “Lulu” Juarez (13-2) won by split decision over Jazmin Gonzalez (4-1).
Tamara Nunez (6-4-3) defeated Maria Capriolo (5-5-3) by majority decision after six rounds in a lightweight contest on Friday Dec. 11. The match took place in Cordoba, Argentina. Both fighters live and train in Argentina.
In Santa Fe, Argentina, Isabel Gutierrez (4-3) defeated Laura Martinez (0-3) by unanimous decision after six rounds. The super featherweight match took place on Friday. Both female fighters live and train in Argentina.
Etsuko Tada (15-2-2) won the vacant IBF minimum weight world title by unanimous decision over Kareli Lopez (8-6-3) on Friday in Kobe, Japan. Lopez, 27, fights out of Mexicali, Mexico.
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Avila Perspective, Chap. 303: East Coast Fight Cards Seize the Spotlights
By David A. Avila
Once upon a time Olympic gold medalists provided America’s next great wave of fighters.
No longer.
Keyshawn Davis represents the new breed of American fighters that fell short of gold in the Olympics, but command respect as a professional.
The undefeated Davis (11-0, 7 KOs) meets Argentina’s rugged Gustavo Lemos (29-1, 19 KOs) on Friday, Nov. 8, at the Scope Arena in Norfolk, Virginia. ESPN+ will show the lightweight battle set for 10 rounds on the Top Rank card.
The brash lightweight from Norfolk managed to win a silver medal in the 2021 Olympics but for many, he looked like the winner. Since then, he’s blazed his way through whoever Top Rank put in front of him.
Not winning gold in the Olympics is not a blemish, especially with the East European dominated judging. Unless an American wins by knockout they are not going to be awarded a decision.
It’s a major reason that boxing may not be a sport in the L.A. Olympics.
The pro fight world offers a true glimpse of a boxer’s talent. Capricious judging can be eliminated by a knockout with smaller gloves and no head gear. The hurting game is ruthless and no amount of biased judging can stop a deadly left hook.
Davis has a nonapologetic thirst for ripping through easy trials and sipping success against top tier talent. He wants success and wants it now even against dangerous opponents like Lemos.
“It’s not going to be beautiful. There’s going to be blood everywhere. His nose might be a little lopsided after,” said Davis. “But, I respect you, Gustavo. You are an amazing fighter. I appreciate you for taking the fight in my hometown, but I’m going to f**k you up.”
Lemos, who recently lost a very close and much debated decision to another East Coast American fighter, is happy to be offered another opportunity to showcase his Argentine style.
“I have a strong opponent, and I’m going to take advantage of this opportunity,” said Lemos who lost a spirited battle to Richardson Hitchins in Las Vegas last April. ““I’ve always said that he (Davis) is a good opponent and that we’re going to have a beautiful fight.”
Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder.
Davis will be joined on the fight card by his brothers Keon Davis who makes his pro debut and Kelvin Davis who fights Yeis Solano in a welterweight bout.
Also on the same card will be elite fighters in featherweight contender Ra’eese Aleem and hot lightweight prospect Abdullah Mason.
Saturday in Philly
Two world champions Jaron Ennis and Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez headline an impressive fight card in Philadelphia.
IBF welterweight titlist “Boots” Ennis (32-0, 29 KOs) once again meets Ukraine’s Karen Chukhadzhian (24-2, 13 KOs) but this time with a world title at stake on Saturday, Nov. 9, at Wells Fargo Center in Philly. DAZN will stream the Matchroom Boxing card.
Their first encounter was not easy for either and resulted in a decision win for Ennis. But that was back in January. Whoever adjusts quicker will be the winner in this competitive-on-paper world title fight.
Chukhadzhian, 28, can take a punch and has a deceptive style of counters and attacks that seem simple but is effective. In their first match 11 months ago Ennis quickly discovered the Ukrainian fighter’s durability and slipped into a boxing mode to utilize speed and mobility. It proved effective but will it be enough this time?
Ennis, 27, has a world title and seeks more lucrative fights but could stumble if not prepared for another tough clash. But he’s confident that his skills can help him evade any kind of slip.
The Philly fighter filled the arena last time when he defeated David Avanesyan by knockout in the fifth. This time he’s joined by another young gun in Bam Rodriguez, a fellow world titlist.
“He’s going crazy right now. Going up and down in weight divisions. I’m blessed to have him on this card,” said Ennis. “I’m here to steal his fans and he’s here to steal mine.”
Rodriguez (20-0, 13 KOs) 24, meets former world titlist Pedro Guevara (42-4-1, 22 KOs) a Mexican veteran who wants to take away Bam’s WBC super fly title.
“I’m trying to go undisputed at 115 and then go on from there,” said Rodriguez. “I’m only 24 so I still have some strength to gain.”
Both will be joined by another hot prospect from Pomona, California named Tito Mercado, an undefeated lightweight.
Mercado (16-0, 15 KOs) is a tall and fast lightweight with power who recently signed with Matchroom Boxing. He has a knockout streak of five and meets Mexican banger Jesus Saracho (14-2-1, 11 KOs) in a 10-round fight. At 23, he’s fought impressive competition and handled it easily.
Puerto Rico
Former super welterweight world titlist Subriel Matias (20-2, 20 KOs) meets Mexico’s Roberto Ramirez (26-3-1, 19 KOs) on Saturday. Nov. 9, at Bayamon, Puerto Rico. Ramirez is jumping up three weight classes for this fight. PPV.COM will stream the fight card live.
Fights to Watch
Thurs. ESPN+ 3:30 p.m. Osleys Iglesias (12-0) vs Petro Ivanov (18-0-2).
Fri. ESPN + 3:20 p.m. Keyshawn Davis (11-0) vs Gustavo Lemos (29-1);
Sat. PPV.COM 3 p.m. Subriel Matias (20-2) vs Roberto Ramirez (26-3-1).
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With Olympic Boxing on the Ropes, Three Elite U.S. Amateurs Shine in Colorado
Three USA boxers won gold medals at the recently concluded World Boxing U19 tournament in Pueblo, Colorado. The tournament, restricted to boxers aged 17 and 18, attracted contestants from 30 nations and a contingent from French Polynesia.
The U.S. team, represented by eight male and six female boxers, secured 11 medals in all, an impressive haul.
The three U.S. gold medalists appear to have very bright futures if they choose to remain in the sport. They are:
Light heavyweight (80 kg) ELIJAH LUGO (Marrietta, GA)
Lugo has purportedly scored 42 stoppages in his amateur career, the most since USA Boxing began keeping track. The record was previously held by his older brother Nathan Lugo who is currently 2-0 (2 KOs) at the professional level. The Lugo brothers are represented by David McWater (Split-T Management). One of boxing’s most influential facilitators, McWater’s clients include Teofino Lopez.
Middleweight (75 kg) JOSEPH AWININGYA JR (Joliet, IL)
The son of a Ghanaian immigrant who had a brief career as a professional boxer, competing as a cruiserweight, the precocious Awiningya, mature for his age, is a college student majoring in marketing who once aspired to become a nurse like his mother.
Flyweight (50 kg) LORENZO PATRICIO (Waianae, Hawai)
One of eight children. Patricio (our poster boy for this story) comes from a boxing family. Two of his sisters are involved in the sport.
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In addition to the three gold medalists, the U.S. men’s team garnered two silver and three bronze. The U.S. women managed only three bronze, somewhat of a disappointment. Lightweight Shamiracle Hardaway (Lagrange, GA), considered one of the favorites, fell to England’s Ella Lonsdale in the semifinals. Ms. Lonsdale has a wonderful surname for a British boxer.
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The best showing was by fast-rising India which had 17 medal winners including four golds. Although boxer Mery Kom (aka Mary Kom) is one of the most popular sports personalities in India, the South Asian nation, the world’s most populous country, has never had a large presence in boxing, amateur or pro. Ten of the 17 Indian medalists, including three of the gold medal winners, were female.
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Tournament organizers noted that the Pueblo event was the first major tournament in the next Olympic cycle. Left unsaid was that boxing as an Olympic sport is on the ropes (pardon the pun). As it now stands, boxing, one of the original Olympic sports, is not on the docket for the 2028 Summer Games in Los Angeles.
The International Olympic Committee de-frocked the International Boxing Association, the governing body of amateur boxing, in 2023. The decision was upheld in April by the Court of Arbitration for Sport, an agency headquartered in Lausanne, Switzerland.
A new body, World Boxing, emerged from the fallout. The Pueblo tournament bore the imprint of the new organization.
The chairman of World Boxing’s “Olympic Commission” is Gennadiy Golovkin who is also the president of Kazakhstan’s National Olympic Committee. A former Olympic silver medalist whose primary residence is in the Los Angeles area, “GGG” is reportedly fluent in four languages. He is tasked with repairing the rent between boxing and the International Olympic Committee so that boxing can continue to be an Olympic sport. A decision is expected next year.
If successful, it is possible that things may revert to the days when professional boxers were ineligible to compete for Olympic medals.
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Floyd Schofield Wins a Banger and Gabriela Fundora Wins by KO
Floyd Schofield Wins a Banger and Gabriela Fundora Wins by KO
LAS VEGAS-Shades of Henry Armstrong and Baby Arizmendi. If you don’t know those names, look them up.
Floyd Schofield battled his way past Mexico’s super tough Rene Tellez Giron who walked through every blow the Texan could fire but lost by decision on Saturday.
It was a severe test and perfect matchmaking for Schofield who yearns for the big bouts against the lightweight giants roaming the world.
Schofield (18-0, 12 KOs) remains undefeated and won the war over thick-necked Mexican Tellez Giron (20-4, 13 KOs) who has never been knocked out and proved to be immune to big punches.
In the opening rounds, the Texas fighter came out firing rapid combinations from the southpaw and orthodox stances. Meanwhile the shorter Tellez Giron studied and fired back an occasional counter for two rounds.
Tellez Giron had seen enough and took his stand in the third stanza. Both unleashed blazing bombs with Schofield turning his back to the Mexican. At that moment referee Tom Taylor could have waved the fight over.
You never turn your back.
The fight resumed and Schofield was damaged. He tried to open up with even more deadly fire but was rebuked by the strong chin of Tellez Giron who fired back in the mad frenzy.
For the remainder of the fight Schofield tried every trick in his arsenal to inflict damage on the thick-necked Mexican. He could not be wobbled. In the 11th round both opened up with serious swing-from-the-heels combinations and suddenly Schofield was looking up. He beat the count easily and the two remained slugging it out.
“He hit me with a good shot,” Schofield said of the knockdown. “I just had to get up. I’m not going to quit.”
In the final round Schofield moved around looking for the proper moment to engage. The Mexican looked like a cat ready to pounce and the two fired furious blows. Neither was hit with the big bombs in the last seconds.
There was Tellez Giron standing defiantly like Baby Arizmendi must have stood in those five ferocious meetings against the incomparable Henry Armstrong. Three of their wars took place in Los Angeles, two at the Olympic Auditorium in the late 1930s as the U.S. was emerging from the Great Depression.
In this fight, Schofield took the win by unanimous decision by scores 118-109 twice and 116-111. It was well-deserved.
“I tried to bang it out,” said Schofield. “Today I learned you can’t always get the knockout.”
Fundora
IBF flyweight titlist Gabriela Fundora needed seven rounds to figure out the darting style of Argentina’s Gabriela Alaniz before firing a laser left cross down the middle to end the battle and become the undisputed flyweight world champion.
Fundora now holds all four titles including the WBO, WBA and WBC titles that Alaniz brought in the ring.
Fundora knocked down Alaniz midway through the seventh round. She complained it was due to a tangle of the legs. Several seconds later Fundora blasted the Argentine to the floor again with a single left blast. This time there was no doubt. Her corner wisely waved a white towel to stop the fight at 1:40 of the seventh round.
No one argued the stoppage.
Other Bouts
Bektemir Melikuziev (15-1, 10 KOs) didn’t make weight in a title bout but managed to out-fight David Stevens (14-2, 10 KOs) in a super middleweight fight held at 12 rounds.
Melikuziev used his movement and southpaw stance to keep Pennsylvania’s Stevens from being able to connect with combinations. But Stevens did show he could handle “The Bully’s” punching power over the 12-round fight.
After 12 rounds one judge favored Stevens 116-112, while two others saw Melikuziev the winner by split decision 118-110 and 117-111.
Super middleweight WBA titlist Darius Fulghum (13-0, 11 KOs) pummeled his way to a technical knockout win over southpaw veteran Chris Pearson (17-5-1, 12 KOs) who attempted the rope-a-dope strategy to no avail.
Fulghum floored Pearson in the first round with a four-punch combination and after that just belted Pearson who covered up and fired an occasional blow. Referee Mike Perez stopped the fight at 1:02 of the third round when Pearson did not fire back after a blazing combination.
Young welterweight prospect Joel Iriarte (5-0, 5 KOs) blasted away at the three-inch shorter Xavier Madrid (5-6, 2 KOs) who hung tough for as long as possible. At 2:50 of the first round a one-two delivered Madrid to the floor and referee Thomas Taylor called off the beating.
Iriarte, from Bakersfield, Calif., could not miss with left uppercuts and short rights as New Mexico’s Madrid absorbed every blow but would not quit. It was just too much firepower from Iriarte that forced the stoppage.
Photos credit: Cris Esqueda / Golden Boy
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