Female Fight News for week of Feb. 6, 2017 Jackie Nava and more
Jackie Nava, the former super bantamweight world champion turned Mexican Senator, returned to the boxing ring after a two-year absence to win the vacant WBC International title by decision on Saturday.
After the long absence, the Tijuana-based prizefighter known as the “Aztec Princess” returned to face Venezuela’s Ana Lozano. Although the venue changed in the last minute from its Rosarito Beach location, Nava was able to perform strongly in front of a crowd in Cuautitlan, Mexico near the capital.
In the opening rounds Nava seemed slow to the trigger as the very capable Lozano decided to box and move instead of trading the usual bombs. The Venezuelan fighter is quite capable in the knockout department and had stopped Spain’s undefeated Melania Sorroche in the second round last October in Madrid, Spain. But maybe she discovered something early.
Lozano was moving quite well as Nava tracked her like a guided cruise missile. Around the fourth round the Mexican fighter began cutting off Lozano’s path to the left. That’s when Nava’s combination began hitting the target with force.
Several times during the fight Nava connected solidly with clean up left hooks. Once Lozano took care of that, the overhand rights and lefts to the body followed from Nava.
Neither fighter was ever hurt by the other. But the more rounds they fought the quicker the pace Nava instituted. Although the fight seemed closer than the final scores indicated, Nava never slowed and with her very final left hook connected solidly. A scowl came over Lozano’s face; perhaps knowing that blow cost her the round or that it might have inflicted pain.
The final scores read 97-93 twice and 99-91 for Nava.
It was a quick-paced second half and the win opens the door for a possible showdown with other talented super bantamweights in the world.
(Special note: immediately after posting this story Mariana Juarez said she would love to challenge Jackie Nava in a Mexico City versus Tijuana fight. It would be a battle of the two most recognized and revered female fighters in that country.)
In other parts of the globe Belgium and France saw action and in the U.S. a fight between talented lightweight newcomers ended in a draw.
Rumors in the U.S. also were bouncing around about American Olympian Claressa Shields possibly fighting in March on Showtime. But nothing had been finalized by deadline.
Another rumor flying about has new Southern California promotion group Ringstar Sports signing a female fighter to a promotional contract. But at press time the promotion company had not substantiated the claim.
Here is some of the action for the week of Feb. 6, 2017:
Female Fight News
Australia
Aimee Addis (2-0) defeated Sarah Dwyer (1-2) by decision after five rounds on Saturday Feb. 4. The welterweight battle was held in Mackay, Queensland, Australia. Addis fights out of Queensland.
Belgium
Jill Serron (2-0) beat Wendy Vincent (0-3-1) by decision after six rounds on Saturday Feb. 4. The bantamweight fight took place in Limburg, Belgium. Serron, 23, fights out of Limburg, Belgium. Vincent, 26, fights out of France.
On Friday, Feb. 10 in Pamel-Roosdaal, super middleweights Femke Hermans (4-0) and Dajana Vukelja (1-1) meet in a six round contest.
On Saturday Feb. 11, in Lembeek, featherweights Djemilla Gontaruk (12-3-1) and Katarina Vistica (1-6) meet in a six round contest. This is a rematch of a fight from last November. Gontaruk won that fight but lost a fight by knockout to Amanda Serrano in 2015.
Canada
On Thursday Feb. 9, in Montreal, welterweights Marie Eve Dicaire (6-0) and Lisa Garland (15-6) meet in an eight round contest. Dicaire, 30, is a southpaw who fights out of Terrebonne, Quebec. Garland, 38, fights out of York, South Carolina and has not lost a fight in five years.
France
Bilitis Gaucher (5-7-2) defeated Suzana Radovanovic (1-28) by decision after six rounds on Saturday Feb. 4. The lightweight clash took place in Saint Maur, France. Gaucher, 27, fights out of Vendome, France. Radovanovic, 40, fights out of Serbia and has not won a fight in nearly seven years. She has a 19-fight losing streak.
Ghana
Gifty Ankrah (6-4-1) won by technical knockout of Geralmne Agman (0-3) in the sixth round on Saturday Feb.4. The super welterweight fight took place in Accra, Ghana.
Mexico
Guadalupe Martinez Castillo (2-5) beat Guadalupe Solis (4-1) by decision after six rounds on Saturday Feb. 4. The bantamweight fight took place in Cancun, Mexico. Martinez, 18, fights out of Pachuca, Mexico. Solis fights out of Chiapas, Mexico.
Jackie Nava (33-4-3) defeated Venezuela’s Ana Lozano (13-6-1) by unanimous decision after 10 rounds on Saturday Feb. 4. The super bantamweight fight was held in Cuauhtitlan, Mexico. It was Nava’s first fight in more than two years. She is currently a Senator in Mexico. Lozano, 31, fights out of Caracas, Venezuela. In another female bout, Joselyn Casilla Martinez (4-1) beat Judith Vivanco (0-2) by decision after six light flyweight rounds.
On Friday Feb. 10, in Iztacalco, Mexico City, lightweights Aurora Ramirez (0-0) and Alondra Gonzalez Flores (2-0) meet in a four round bout. Also, Rosa Olvera (0-1) and Yocelin Martinez (0-1) meet in a four round light flyweight match.
On Saturday Feb. 11, in Mexico City, super flyweights Lourdes Juarez (18-2) and Jazmin Gonzalez (7-2) meet in an eight round bout. Juarez, 30, is the younger sister of Mariana “Barbie” Juarez. In her last fight she defeated Noemi Bosques by knockout. Gonzalez is 24 and fights out of Monterrey, Mexico. This is a rematch. In their first meeting Juarez won by split decision in December 2015.
Philippines
Jessebelle Pagaduan (9-1-1) beat Christine Latube (1-11-2) by unanimous decision on Monday Jan. 30. The minimum weight fight took place in Bacoor, Philippines. Pagaduan, 32, is a southpaw who fights out of Baguio, Philippines.
South Korea
On Saturday Feb. 11, in Chuncheon, minimum weights Eun Young Huh (7-4-1) and Hee Jung Shin (1-1) battle in an eight round bout for the vacant South Korea title.
United Kingdom
Lynn Harvey (2-1) stopped Agnes Draxler (9-14) in the first round to win by technical knockout on Saturday Feb. 4. The flyweight bout took place in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Harvey fights out of Dublin, Ireland. Draxler, 21, fights out of Hungary.
USA
Katonya Fisher (1-0-1) and Lisa Porter (1-0-1) fought to a majority draw after four rounds on Friday Feb. 3. The lightweight match took place in Los Angeles. Fisher, 28, fights out of Bakersfield, Calif. Porter, 28, fights out of Sun Valley, Calif. The female clash was held in a private club and not open to the public.