Big Female Fight Card in Tecate, Mexico – Mucino and Robles Look For World Title Shots, Enriquez Stood Up
At the beginning of this year, an unofficial announcement for the third annual WBC All-Female boxing convention was spread through social networks for mid-February. The convention was to be held in the capital of one of the largest Mexican states, Hermosillo, Sonora, but it was postponed for a later date yet not set. Traditionally the convention is closed with a mega-fight card featuring a number of world class fighters from all-around the world.
At last year’s event in Rosarito, Mexico, about 20 miles south of San Diego, California, we saw the WBC bantamweight title exchange hands when Zambia’s Catherine Phiri upset tough Mexican Yazmin Rivas, Raja Amasheh beat Eileen Olszewski to defend her then WBC Silver 112-pound title, Ana Arrazola capture the vacant WBC light flyweight title over Yanely Hernandez, Silvia Torres beat Joselyn Reza and Sandra Robles stop Luz Rodriguez.
When this year the convention was postponed, the return of the legendary Jackie Nava, planned to be the main event at the convention was rushed one week. Last Saturday near Mexico City Nava scored a workwoman-like unanimous decision over the game Ana Maria Lozano. The rest of the fighters were distributed elsewhere which turned out to be good news for the fight fans of Tecate, Baja California, Mexico, when two of the proposed fights landed in the small border enclave.
Co-headlining the Zanfer promoted fight card this Saturday, February 11th, and broadcast live in Mexico on the Azteca channel in Mexico and Bein Deportes in the United States will be three-time flyweight world champion Arely “Ametralladora” Mucino (22-3-2, 10KO) of Monterrey, Mexico, in a ten rounder against late-sub Kandy Sandoval (9-7, 2KO).
Also featured on the card will be highly ranked and former title challenger Sandra “Perla Negra” Robles (16-2, 8KO) of Tijuana as she takes on Maria Soledad Vargas (4-1) of Mexico City in a keep-busy light flyweight six.
Former WBO flyweight champion Kenia Enriquez (17-1, 8KO) was also scheduling to return the card but because of weather her opponent was not able to get to Tecate in time for the official weigh in.
The 27-year-old Mucino is looking to make history this year as she is in hot pursuit of the WBO strap at 112 pounds, the only title she has not captured in her division. In early 2014 with a fourth round TKO of Chantal Cordova, Mucino won the vacant IBF belt, her first world title. She captured the interim WBA version in 2012 with a split decision over Melissa McMorrow and in late 2014 with a win over Japan’s Shindo Go she added the WBC belt. She lost it her in her first defense against current world titlist Jessica “Kika” Chavez.
A rematch against Go was first programmed for this Saturday but late-sub Sandoval was called up instead from the bullpen. Sandoval, 37, of Xochimilco, Mexico, is 3-2, 1KO, in her last five fights with her last a unanimous decision loss to the aforementioned Yazmin Rivas in August of 2015.
“I know I have a tough fighter in front of me, she is a three-time world champion, but I came here to fight,” Sandoval stated at the final press conference held this past Thursday. “I know she comes forward and I go forward as well so we are going to have to meet in the middle of the ring. It’s going to be a great fight.”
Mucino stated during her time at the podium she is ready to go after that coveted WBO world title, held by Louisa Hawton (7-0, 3KO) this year. “I want to make history this year by capturing that belt but first I need to get past Sandoval. She can’t stand in my way, one thing I can tell you is when Arely Mucino steps in the ring, it is guaranteed fireworks and the people of Tecate are going to see that this Saturday night.”
On the night of September 5th, 2015, Tijuana’s Sandra Robles flew down to Mexico City to challenge the considered best 105-pound fighter in the world. The career junior flyweight was fighting under her natural weight class for the first time. Despite a respectable effort, a cut over Ortiz’s left eye in the sixth forced it to the cards which had Robles down losing her only world title opportunity via technical decision.
Since suffering only the second loss of her career she has been on a tear winning her next five, three by knockout, although against marginal opposition. Vargas of Mexico City is not as experienced as the southpaw Robles but is coming off a regional tournament win. The bout will Vargas’ first scheduled for six rounds.
“I learned a lot from that loss against Ortiz, I know what it takes now to be a world champion,” Robles stated. “I am ready for it now. I just need the opportunity and I hope it comes this year. The next time I won’t let it go to waste.”
Enriquez bout scratched
A late addition to the card was Enriquez who has not seen action since last August when she took a unanimous decision over the tough Brenda “Muñeca” Ramos over six rounds. Enriquez was out due to a medical issue which now has been resolved. Programmed in a keep busy fight, the 23-year-old former champion, ranked #2 by the WBC and WBA at junior flyweight while the IBF has her at #11, is anxious to get back to the top of her division.
Enriquez, a skilled but aggressive boxer, captured the NABF 108lb title with a seventh round stoppage of the tough Jolene Blackshear in April of 2014 and a little over a year later the vacant WBO flyweight strap with a lopsided unanimous decision over the experienced Ana Arrazola.
Enriquez lost it in her first defense via a close and disputed close decision to Melissa McMorrow some months later.
“This year is my year, I want to get another world title or die trying,” Enriquez said confidently. “I just need to get back in the ring and get back to fighting. I am ready to challenge any of the 108-pound champions. I will fight anyone of them anywhere.”
Unfortunately as stated before, Enriquez’s opponent did not make it to the weigh in due to travel issues so now Enriquez is tentatively scheduled for early March in her hometown of Tijuana, Mexico.