Connect with us

Featured Articles

Female Boxing Thrives in Latin America, Not in the U.S.

Published

on

Female Boxing Thrives

Female Boxing Thrives – Latin America thrives when it comes to female prizefighting.

Costa Rica’s Hanna Gabriel (15-1-1) defends her WBO super welterweight world title against Uruguay’s Katia Alvarino (8-2-1) on Saturday June 18, at Polideportivo Jose Maria Vargas in La Guaira, Venezuela. It’s not the only female world title fight. Two others are included.

Gabriel is her country’s greatest female athlete and perhaps its best known. She once headlined a fight card in the capital of San Jose, Costa Rica at a soccer stadium in front of nearly 20,000 rabid fans.

No North American female prizefighter can make that claim or even come close.

Gabriel’s country has long backed her and she has become the role model for millions of young females in not just Costa Rica, but throughout Latin America.

In North America, very few major fight cards are hosting female world title fights, especially in the western region of the U.S. where pro boxing thrives.

One of the very few boxing promoters staging major female bouts has been K-2 Promotions.

Two female bouts were included when Gennady “Triple G” Golovkin defended his multiple middleweight titles last April at the Inglewood Forum. K-2 also tagged a female bout to Golovkin’s previous defense in Los Angeles a year earlier.

But other than K-2 Promotions, Shane Mosley’s GoBox Promotions and Bobby D Presents, the large boxing promotion companies have excluded women.

Drought is broken

After exclusion of female bouts for almost four years, Golden Boy Promotions finally staged a female boxing match in downtown Los Angeles when Seniesa “Super Bad” Estrada defeated Christina Fuentes on June 3.

The last time Golden Boy Promotions featured women was a bout in September 2012 between Melinda Cooper and Celina Salazar in Las Vegas. So when Estrada met Fuentes at Belasco Theater in downtown L.A., it made people notice.

Could this signal the re-emergence of female fights on major cards?

American female prizefighters are feared and respected worldwide for their skill and talent. But many American women are forced to fight overseas or in other countries. The U.S. has the talent.

Mighty McMorrow

Melissa McMorrow recently won the WBO flyweight title a second time. She has never been defeated while holding the WBO belt but twice was stripped for inactivity.

It’s a shame.

“They sent me an email to tell me,” said McMorrow of the WBO organization informing her that her title hold was no longer because she could not find a promoter willing to stage her world title fight. Time had elapsed.

McMorrow and most American female prizefighters have long suffered lack of support in their own country. It’s a sad statement but perhaps Golden Boy’s recent inclusion of a female bout marks a change in things.

“I am so thankful to Golden Boy for recognizing the value in us female fighters, and look forward to more fights like these,” said Seniesa Estrada after her fight on June 3.

This Saturday another American will be fighting for a world title in another country. San Diego’s Jolene Blackshear (9-7) challenges WBA minimum weight titlist Anabel Ortiz (20-3) of Tepic, Mexico for the title in Tijuana, Mexico at Auditorio Municipal. Blackshear, 46, is a former light flyweight world champion. Ortiz, 29, is making the seventh defense of the title she first won in July 2013.

But like McMorrow, the San Diego prizefighter is forced to fight on foreign territory.

Ignoring female fighters seems to be a west coast thing. In the east, Heather Hardy and Amanda Serrano both signed with DiBella Entertainment and have participated on major cards in New York.

McMorrow, who lives in the San Francisco Bay area, has fought numerous times overseas and in Mexico, yet has not fought on American shores in four years and not even close to her hometown in seven years.

“I would love to fight in my hometown,” said McMorrow, 34, whose last fight took place 16 months ago when she defeated Kenia Enriquez by split decision for the WBO flyweight title. “It’s difficult to get a fight.”

If Golden Boy Promotions jumps into the female fight game others could follow.

Female Boxing Thrives

 

Comment on this article

Share The Sweet Science experience!
Continue Reading
Advertisement
Avila-Perspective-Chap-330-Matchroom-in-New-York-plus-the-latest-on-Canelo-Crawford
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 330: Matchroom in New York plus the Latest on Canelo-Crawford

Vito-Mielnicki-Whitewashes-Kamil-Gardzielik-Before-the-Home-Folks-in-Newark
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Vito Mielnicki Jr Whitewashes Kamil Gardzielik Before the Home Folks in Newark

Opetaia-and-Nakatani-Crush-Overmatched-Foes-Capping-Off-a-Wild-Boxing-Weekend
Featured Articles4 weeks ago

Opetaia and Nakatani Crush Overmatched Foes, Capping Off a Wild Boxing Weekend

Catching-Up-with-Clay-Moyle-Who-Talks-About-His-Massive-Collection-of-Boxing-Books
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Catching Up with Clay Moyle Who Talks About His Massive Collection of Boxing Books

Fabio-Wardley-Comes-from-Behind-to-KO-Justis-Huni
Featured Articles4 weeks ago

Fabio Wardley Comes from Behind to KO Justis Huni  

More-Medals-for-Hawaii's-Patricio-Family-at-USA-Boxing's-Summer-Festival
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

More Medals for Hawaii’s Patricio Family at the USA Boxing Summer Festival

The-Shafting-of-Blair-the-Flair-Cobbs-a-Familar-Thread-in-the-Cruelest-Sport
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

The Shafting of Blair “The Flair” Cobbs, a Familiar Thread in the Cruelest Sport

Richardson-Hitchins-Batters-and-Stops-George-Kambosos-at-Madison-Square-Garden
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Richardson Hitchins Batters and Stops George Kambosos at Madison Square Garden 

Callum-Walsh-Umar-Dzambekov-and-Cain-Sandoval-Remain-Unbeaten-at-Santa-Ynez
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Callum Walsh, Umar Dzambekov and Cain Sandoval Remain Unbeaten at Santa Ynez

A-Fight-Fan-and-Teremoana-Samson-Junior-Leon-Teremoana
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

A Fight Fan and Teremoana Samson Junior Leon Teremoana

Paro
Featured Articles1 week ago

Liam Paro Returns with a Flourish on Wednesday’s ‘No Limit’ Card in Queensland

Avila-Perspective-Chap-331-Callum-Walsh-Brian-Norman-Galal-Yafai-and-More
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 331: Callum Walsh, Brian Norman, Galal Yafai and More

Jake-Paul-Outpoints-Julio-Cesar-Chavez-Jr-plus-Other-Results-from-Anaheim
Featured Articles7 days ago

Jake Paul Outpoints Julio Cesar Chavez Jr plus Other Results from Anaheim

Brian-Norman-Jr-Bombs-Out-Jin-Sasaki-with-a-Frightful-Left-Hook
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Brian Norman Jr Bombs Out Jin Sasaki with a Frightful Left Hook

A-Closer-Look-at-Mario-Barrios-Poised-to-Wreck-the-Comeback-of-a-Legend
Featured Articles1 week ago

A Closer Look at Mario Barrios, Poised to Wreck the Comeback of a Legend

A-Boxing-Card-in-Alabama-Goes-Pfft-A-True-Tale-from-the-Underbelly-of-the-Sweet-Science
Featured Articles4 days ago

A Boxing Card in Alabama Goes Pfft: A True Tale from the Underbelly of The Sweet Science

Mbilli-Blasts-Out-Sulecki-in-Quebec-Wilder-TKOs-Herndon-in-Wichita
Featured Articles1 week ago

Mbilli Blasts Out Sulecki in Quebec; Wilder TKOs Herndon in Wichita

Avila-Perspective-Chap-332-Jake-Paul-vs-Chavez-Jr-plus-Mbilli-Deontay-and-More
Featured Articles1 week ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 332: Jake Paul vs Chavez Jr., plus Mbilli, Deontay and More

Holly-Holm-Joshua-Edwards-and-Rene-Alvarado-Sparkle-on-the-Paul-Chavez-Undercard
Featured Articles7 days ago

Holly Holm, Joshua Edwards, and Rene Alvarado Sparkle on the Paul-Chavez Undercard

Avila-Perspective-Chap-333-Jake-Paul-JC-Chavez-Jr-Zurdo-and-More
Featured Articles1 day ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 333: Jake Paul, JC Chavez Jr, Zurdo and More

Catterall-vs-Eubank-Ends-Prematurely-Catterall-Wins-a-Technical-Decision
Featured Articles21 minutes ago

Catterall vs Eubank Ends Prematurely; Catterall Wins a Technical Decision

Avila-Perspective-Chap-333-Jake-Paul-JC-Chavez-Jr-Zurdo-and-More
Featured Articles1 day ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 333: Jake Paul, JC Chavez Jr, Zurdo and More

When-Boxing-Was-Big-on-the-Fourth-of-July-A-TSS-Classic
Featured Articles2 days ago

When Boxing was Big on the Fourth of July: A TSS Classic

A-Boxing-Card-in-Alabama-Goes-Pfft-A-True-Tale-from-the-Underbelly-of-the-Sweet-Science
Featured Articles4 days ago

A Boxing Card in Alabama Goes Pfft: A True Tale from the Underbelly of The Sweet Science

Mexico's-Francisco-Rodriguez-Jr-is-the-TSS-Fighter-of-the-Month-for-June
Featured Articles5 days ago

Mexico’s Francisco Rodriguez Jr is the TSS Fighter of the Month for June

Jake-Paul-Outpoints-Julio-Cesar-Chavez-Jr-plus-Other-Results-from-Anaheim
Featured Articles7 days ago

Jake Paul Outpoints Julio Cesar Chavez Jr plus Other Results from Anaheim

Holly-Holm-Joshua-Edwards-and-Rene-Alvarado-Sparkle-on-the-Paul-Chavez-Undercard
Featured Articles7 days ago

Holly Holm, Joshua Edwards, and Rene Alvarado Sparkle on the Paul-Chavez Undercard

Mbilli-Blasts-Out-Sulecki-in-Quebec-Wilder-TKOs-Herndon-in-Wichita
Featured Articles1 week ago

Mbilli Blasts Out Sulecki in Quebec; Wilder TKOs Herndon in Wichita

Avila-Perspective-Chap-332-Jake-Paul-vs-Chavez-Jr-plus-Mbilli-Deontay-and-More
Featured Articles1 week ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 332: Jake Paul vs Chavez Jr., plus Mbilli, Deontay and More

A-Closer-Look-at-Mario-Barrios-Poised-to-Wreck-the-Comeback-of-a-Legend
Featured Articles1 week ago

A Closer Look at Mario Barrios, Poised to Wreck the Comeback of a Legend

Paro
Featured Articles1 week ago

Liam Paro Returns with a Flourish on Wednesday’s ‘No Limit’ Card in Queensland

More-Medals-for-Hawaii's-Patricio-Family-at-USA-Boxing's-Summer-Festival
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

More Medals for Hawaii’s Patricio Family at the USA Boxing Summer Festival

Callum-Walsh-Umar-Dzambekov-and-Cain-Sandoval-Remain-Unbeaten-at-Santa-Ynez
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Callum Walsh, Umar Dzambekov and Cain Sandoval Remain Unbeaten at Santa Ynez

Vito-Mielnicki-Whitewashes-Kamil-Gardzielik-Before-the-Home-Folks-in-Newark
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Vito Mielnicki Jr Whitewashes Kamil Gardzielik Before the Home Folks in Newark

Avila-Perspective-Chap-331-Callum-Walsh-Brian-Norman-Galal-Yafai-and-More
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 331: Callum Walsh, Brian Norman, Galal Yafai and More

Brian-Norman-Jr-Bombs-Out-Jin-Sasaki-with-a-Frightful-Left-Hook
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Brian Norman Jr Bombs Out Jin Sasaki with a Frightful Left Hook

A-Fight-Fan-and-Teremoana-Samson-Junior-Leon-Teremoana
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

A Fight Fan and Teremoana Samson Junior Leon Teremoana

Catching-Up-with-Clay-Moyle-Who-Talks-About-His-Massive-Collection-of-Boxing-Books
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Catching Up with Clay Moyle Who Talks About His Massive Collection of Boxing Books

Richardson-Hitchins-Batters-and-Stops-George-Kambosos-at-Madison-Square-Garden
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Richardson Hitchins Batters and Stops George Kambosos at Madison Square Garden 

Avila-Perspective-Chap-330-Matchroom-in-New-York-plus-the-latest-on-Canelo-Crawford
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 330: Matchroom in New York plus the Latest on Canelo-Crawford

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

Trending