Zulina Munoz Wins by KO and other fight chatter

In perhaps this year’s leading “Fight of the Year” candidate Zulina “La Loba” Munoz engaged Argentina’s fearless Vanesa “La Negra” Taborda in a fierce fire fight that ended in a knockout win for the Mexican female.

WBC super flyweight titlist Munoz (47-1-2, 28 Kos) met the always tough Taborda (8-7-3) and traded knockdowns with the Argentine before winning by knockout on Friday July 1, in Chihuahua, Mexico.

Munoz, 28, fights out of Mexico City and willingly traveled to the northern Mexican state of Chihuahua to meet Taborda. Though the Argentine woman had not won a fight since beating Maria Rivera in 2014, she has clashed in many fierce fights the past two years. Two of those fights came against Mariana “Barbie” Juarez, and the others against Yesica Bopp, Jessica Chavez, Paola Benavidez and Leonela Yudica.

The opening round saw Munoz exchange early with Taborda and catch her flush with a left hook that sent the Argentine woman tumbling backward and down from the blow. Taborda didn’t look amused.

In the second round Taborda discovered she could land a counter left hook against Munoz who wobbled slightly from the blow. It was a wake-up call for the Argentine.

After seeing what her counter left hook could do, Taborda engaged in another exchange with Munoz and this time connected with a left hook and down went the Mexican woman. She nodded and smiled knowing it was a knockdown and returned to action.

Munoz seemed intent on trading some more with Taborda and went in for the kill. She exchanged blows and retreated. Then she returned for another exchange and this time connected with a sidewinder right cross that caught Taborda walking into the punch. Down went the Argentine fighter for good at 1:25 into the fourth round.

It definitely deserves a nod as an early Fight of the Year candidate and also Knockout of the Year candidate.

Perhaps a showdown with Mexico City’s Mariana “Barbie” Juarez will finally be made. After waiting for more than two years Juarez decided to move up a division. Maybe after this decisive win Munoz will decide to face Juarez. Many fans are unaware that Juarez has sought the fight but has been ignored by Munoz.

“Here I am and I fought with the best,” said Juarez on Facebook on Saturday. “But hey, how easy it is to talk.”

Argentina

In Moron, a super lightweight clash between Natalia Reynoso (5-0-1) and Cintia Larrosa (5-0-1) ended in a draw after four three-minute rounds on Sunday July 3. Reynoso, 29, fights out of Campana, Argentina. Larrosa, 24, also fights out of Campana.

In Lujan, a super bantamweight clash saw Laura Griffa (12-0) retain the Argentine title by unanimous decision after 10 rounds against Guadalupe Maldonado (8-5) on Saturday July 2. It was Griffa’s first defense of the title.

Laura Valdebenito (1-1) meets Romina Cumicheo (0-0) on Saturday July 9, in a super flyweight bout set for six rounds. The fight takes place in Mainque, Argentina. Valdebenito, 23, fights out of Mainque, Argentina. Cumicheo is from Puerto Montt, Chile.

Australia

In Punchbowl, a minimum weight battle for the vacant WIBA and GBU titles saw Gretchen Abaniel (17-8) emerge the winner after 10 rounds against Thailand’s Petcharas Superchamp (6-1) on Saturday July 2.

China

In Beijing, a lightweight contest saw Xiaohuan Gao (1-0) win her pro debut by decision over Can Zhang (0-1) after four rounds on Wednesday Jun 29.

Melissa St. Vil (7-2-3) faces Katy Wilson Castillo (18-1) in a super featherweight bout set for 10 rounds on Saturday July 9. The match takes place in Chengdu, China. St. Vil, 32, fights out of Brooklyn, New York and holds the WBC silver super featherweight title. Castillo, 25, is the former IBF super bantamweight titlist and fights out of the Dominican Republic. This is her first fight in three years.

Germany

In Luneburg, a super lightweight match saw Joanna Koelln win her pro debut by knockout of Marion Farkas (0-1) also making her debut. The knockout came at 1:01 of the second round on Sunday July 3.

Japan

In Zama, a bantamweight clash ended in knockout when Tenkai Tsunami (23-11) stopped Thailand’s Sophita Nuetkrathok (0-4) in the second round. Their fight took place on Saturday July 2. Tsunami is one of the top bantamweights in the world.

Sarasa Ichimura (2-1-1) meets Akari Arase (2-2) in a bantamweight fight set for four rounds on Saturday July 9. The match takes place in Osaka, Japan. Ichimura, 20, fights out of Osaka. Arase, 34, also fights out of Osaka.

Mexico

In Mexico City, a light flyweight bout saw Jessica Plata (18-1) defeat Jasseth Noriega (17-4-2) by unanimous decision on Saturday July 2. Plata, 21, fights out of Mexico City. Noriega, 25, fights out of Mazatlan and fought to a draw with Ava Knight in her previous fight. In another light flyweight bout, Alaejandra Soto (0-1-1) and Joselyn Reza (2-8-1) fought to a draw after four rounds.

In Juarez, a super flyweight battle saw WBC titlist Zulina “La Loba” Munoz (47-1-2, 28 Kos) knock out Argentina’s super tough Vanesa Taborda (8-7-3) at 1:25 of the fourth round in a see saw exchange on Saturday July 2. In another female bout, a light flyweight bout saw Silvia Torres (11-0-1) and Guadalupe Bautista (6-9-2) fight to a draw after six rounds.

In Tangancicuaro, Michoacan, a super flyweight match saw Leticia Uribe (3-6) snap a two-fight losing streak with a win over Roxana Alanis (5-4) on Saturday July 2. A minimum weight bout saw Anahi Torres (14-14-1) beat Sol Trevino (6-6) after eight rounds. A flyweight bout ended with Lizeth Zacarias (3-2) beating  Laura Marroqui (0-2) by decision after six rounds.

In Tijuana, a light flyweight clash saw Kenia “La Gema” Enriquez (17-1) dominate Brenda Ramos (8-3) over eight rounds to win by unanimous decision. Enriquez, 22, fights out of Tijuana. Ramos fights out of Monterrey, Mexico. The fight took place on Friday July 1.

In Monterrey, a light flyweight bout saw Carolina Garcia (1-3) defeat Linda Vazquez (2-3) by split decision after six rounds on Tuesday June 28.

New Zealand

Rebecca Jennings (4-1) faces Alex Sorthis (0-0) in a four round featherweight bout on Saturday July 9. Jennings, 33, fights out of Wellington, New Zealand. Sorthis,20, fights out of Whakatane, New Zealand.

Panama

In Boquete, a flyweight bout saw Luiciel Quiel (8-2) win a majority decision over Yaditza Perez (8-11-1) after eight rounds on Saturday July 2. Quiel, 24, fights out of Panama City. Perez, 30, fights out of David, Panama.

Serbia

In Nis, a super featherweight clash saw Milena Svonja (2-0) win by unanimous decision over Sara Marjanovic (1-5) after six rounds on Wednesday June 29. In another female bout, Ajla Lukac (1-0) won her pro debut by decision over Jasmina Nadj (5-13-3) after four rounds in a super bantamweight match.

USA

In Mashantucket, Conn. a super lightweight match saw Jennifer Salinas (19-3) knock out Angel Gladney (9-12-1) at 1:51 of the fourth round on Thursday June 30. Salinas, 34, now fights out of Providence, Rhode Island and holds the UBF super featherweight title. It was their second clash and second win by Salinas over Gladney.

By The Prizefighters.com staff