Cecilia Braekhus Leads Heavy Duty Card at StubHub

LOS ANGELES-After days of a dark and cold storm the sun is out.

The sun will be shining when Cecilia Braekhus the undisputed welterweight world champion leads the best female fight card in more than a decade at the StubHub Center on Saturday, Dec. 8. HBO will televise its last boxing event ever.

You could say female prizefighting was hidden behind a cloud of darkness for many decades as it struggled to find a place. Television ignored it and now, HBO in its last boxing telecast, finally opens its camera lenses to the sport.

Tom Loeffler, the head of 360 Promotions that is sponsoring the event, recalled back in 2003 trying to put two female bouts on HBO. The two female prize fights were Lucia Rijker versus Jane Couch and Laila Ali against Valerie Mahfood at the Staples Center. The main event was Lennox Lewis and Vitali Klitschko.

Loeffler tried in vain to put either or both of the female bouts on television that day in 2003.

“I was begging HBO,” said Loeffler during the media day at the Sheraton Gateway on Thursday afternoon. “Laila (Ali) because she could really fight.”

The world never got to see Ali or Rijker on HBO, though both were televised by other networks.

Braekhus

Braekhus’ arrival in the sport has driven attention all over the world.

The Colombian-born and Norwegian raised prizefighter singlehandedly crashed the 30-year ban on boxing in her home country. It’s because of her fame and leadership that Norway now allows boxing. She sells out stadiums.

Braekhus signed with 360 Promotions and trained for this upcoming fight in Los Angeles under much warmer conditions than accustomed.

Opposing Braekhus (34-0) will be Aleksandra Magdziak-Lopes (18-4-3) who fights out of Massachusetts and has beaten Kali Reis who has the claim of being the only one to knock down the welterweight world champion.

When you see Braekhus in that slight tilting boxing stance and the right hand cocked like she’s about to fire a rocket it’s not a mirage. She has one of the quickest rights I’ve seen from a male or female prizefighter. It’s a burst of power that keeps the opposition leery of attacking.

But fighting American fighters presents a different challenge for Braekhus. Most American fighters do not have the European style with hands high while jabbing and moving. Fighters in the U.S. prefer to move in with power.

Lopes-Magdziak has fought for a world title in Poland but fell short. While not in the boxing ring she’s an attorney at law. She quickly accepted the fight against Braekhus when it was offered.

Women prizefighters are unafraid when it comes to world titles. They will accept.

“I’m sure there are a lot of women that would love this opportunity,” said Lopes during the press conference.

Shields

Dynamic seems to fall short when describing Claressa Shields the WBA, WBC and IBF middleweight titlist.

Ever since arriving from the amateur boxing world with two Olympic gold medals Shields has charged into the female boxing world with a fighting style that’s best described as a tornado of fury.

After whipping every super middleweight put in front of her and taking their world title straps, the Michigan native found more competition in the lower weights. She also changed trainers and slowly subscribed to the more professional style.

“I want knockouts,” said Shields whose speed and skills have put her on another fighting level. “I’m learning to be more patient and set up my shots.”

Belgium’s Femke Hermans (9-1) accepted the world title challenge against Shields without hesitation. Despite the internationally known fighting skills of Shields, the Belgian fighter signed within weeks of the fight.

“It’s very great to fight for three world titles against a great fighter like Claressa Shields,” said Hermans.

Very few male fighters would accept a world title fight weeks before a fight. Female prizefighters are extremely professional and always ready. It’s another reason to check into the female prizefighting world.

Gallo Estrada

Former light flyweight and flyweight world champion Juan Francisco Estrada of Mexico quickly accepted a fight on HBO when it was learned Nicaragua’s Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez was forced to pull out of the boxing card due to a leg injury.

Estrada (37-3, 25 KOs) accepted a fight and his first scheduled foe had to pull out due to injury. Now he’s facing another fighter from his hometown in Victor Mendez (28-3-2, 20 KOs) in a 10 round super flyweight clash. Both fight out of Hermosillo, Mexico.

“I’m happy for this fight in the United States,” said Estrada whose nickname is Gallo. “Victor Mendez is a very good fighter.”

Mendez was set to face Chocolatito and now meets a Mexican rival.

“I was thinking I was going to face Chocolatito so I was getting ready,” said Mendez. “This Saturday is going to be a great opportunity. I believe it’s going to be a war.”

Mexican versus Mexican in the U.S. is usually a war. Perhaps the greatest of all in the StubHub was when Israel Vazquez and Rafael Marquez fought there twice. Both were magnificent if not brutal.

Bang Bang

Though not on the televised portion, Louisa or Lulu “Bang Bang” Lawton (8-2) is set to face Southern California’s Lorraine Villalobos (2-1) in an atomweight fight.

“I had never heard of atomweight before,” said promoter Loeffler adding that it was through Lawton he discovered the 102-pound division.

Lawton was scheduled to fight Mexico’s Brenda Flores in a rematch for the WBC atomweight title but illness forced the Tijuana-based fighter to pull out. Now Lawton meets Villalobos a talented local fighter.

“I’m super hyped to be part of this card,” said Lawton who has more enthusiasm than anyone in the sport of boxing.

The last time the Aussie native fought Flores the two tiny atomweights lit up the arena and stole the show with their vicious exchanges. They completely outshined the two male world title fights that night at the Inglewood Forum on September 8. Though Hawton lost by split decision, she won the hearts and cheers from the fans there who clapped loudly for the two tiny warriors.

It’s definitely a Fight of the Year candidate.

Bohachuk

Another fighter under the 360 Promotions umbrella is Serhii Bohachuk of the Ukraine. So far he’s blown out the competition.

Bohachuk (11-0, 11 KOs) meets Puerto Rico’s Carlos Garcia Hernandez (15-19-1) in a middleweight match set for six rounds. We’ll see if he attains any kind of competition.

The Ukrainian fighter trains in Big Bear with Abel Sanchez and is very heavy handed. He does have boxing skills as most Ukrainians.

A total of 10 pro bouts are scheduled. Tickets for Saturday’s show start at $25 dollars and go up to $125. It’s well worth the value. Go to this link to purchase tickets:

https://www.axs.com/events/365141/braekhus-vs-lopes-tickets

HBO will televise three fights.

Photo credit: Tom Hogan / Hogan photos

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