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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