Female Fight News for week of April 4, 2017 Mariana Juarez and more
By David A. Avila
In Mexico City, female prizefighting saw history made when that country’s boxing queen fought for the bantamweight world title and won. Across the Atlantic Ocean, in Germany, the middleweight queen remained undefeated to set up a possible showdown with an Olympian.
But first, Mariana “La Barbie” Juarez, 37, fought Zambia’s Catherine Phiri on Saturday before a massive crowd of more than 50,000 people at El Zocalo. She convincingly defeated the champion by unanimous decision. It was a record-setting win in more than one way as Juarez became a three-division world champion; and the massive crowd was the largest ever to see a female main event in Mexico.
“I want to thank this great champion Catherine Phiri for giving the fans such a great fight,” said Juarez after the fight. “It’s only through the grace of God that this could happen.”
For nearly three decades Juarez has journeyed from Mexico to the United States and back to Mexico to find challenges. She is a former flyweight and super flyweight world champion. Her primary goal was to promote female boxing to its greatest heights. Along the way she became the queen of Mexico and its most popular and recognizable female athlete.
Juarez, a very knowledgeable boxing observer, keeps an eye on other parts of the world and applauds other athletes such as Katie Taylor, Christina Hammer, Amanda Serrano, Layla McCarter and Claressa Shields. Female boxing remains her crusade and she supports her fellow female warriors with equal fervor.
Other female fighters around the world also applaud her achievement.
“I think it’s great,” said Mia St. John who sparred with Juarez when Juarez was living in California.
Kaliesha West is another who sparred Juarez and was equally happy about Juarez’s victory.
“It definitely doesn’t surprise me,” said West a former bantamweight and super bantamweight world titlist. “She’s an entertaining fighter and she knows how to box.”
In Germany, the middleweight world champion Christina Hammer kept her world titles in defeating Maria Lindberg by unanimous decision after 10 rounds to retain the middleweight titles. The match took place in Dortmund, Germany and was a rematch between the two.
Now Hammer could possibly face America’s Claressa Shields in a middleweight world title showdown. The middleweight champion Hammer has eagerly admitted it’s a fight she wants.
Other action around the world saw Melissa St. Vil return to her native Haiti to fight Mexico’s Jessica Gonzalez. But a clash of heads resulted in a cut over Gonzalez’s eye and the fight ended in a technical draw when the Mexican girl was ruled unable to continue. On the same card, former champion Alicia Ashley was victorious.
This weekend, in England, former two-time Olympian Nicole Adams makes her pro debut. Like Shields, she also captured two gold medals. The British boxer hopes to follow the successful footsteps of Ireland’s Katie Taylor in the pro ranks. Many expect Adams to vault to the top of the pecking order in little time.
Female fight news
Argentina
Maria Cano (1-2) beat Laura Salazar (0-4) by decision after four rounds on Friday March 31. The light flyweight fight took place in San Juan.
On Saturday April 8, in Neuquen, super featherweights Alejandra Oliveras (32-3-2) and Lesly Morales meet in a 12 round clash; also featherweights Mayra Gomez (17-5) and Micaela Lagos (5-1) meet in 10 three-minute rounds; and lightweights Maria Maderna (15-13-3) and Alejandra Morales (2-15-3) meet in four three-minute rounds.
Canada
Jessica Camara (1-0) beat Heidy Martinez (2-2) by decision after four rounds on Thursday March 30. The welterweight fight took place in Montreal.
Colombia
Enis Pacheco (17-4-2) beat Celia Sierra (6-4) by technical knockout in the ninth round on Friday March 31. The super lightweight contest took place in Puerto Colombia.
Costa Rica
Yokasta Valle (13-0) remained undefeated by unanimous decision against Yaditza Perez (9-12-1) after 10 rounds on Friday March 31. The minimum weight fight took place in San Jose, Costa Rica.
Finland
On Saturday April 8, in Hameenlinna, middleweights Sanna Turunen (2-0) meets Yuliya Smyzhina (0-1) in a six round affair.
France
Angelique Duchemin (13-0) defeated Taoussy L’Hadji (5-6) by decision after 10 rounds on Saturday April 1 to win the EBU title. The super featherweight title fight was held in Issoudun, Indre, France.
On Saturday April 8, in Montlucon, a 10 round lightweight fight between Isabelle Pare (5-0) and Bilitis Gaucher (5-8-2) takes place.
On Saturday April 8 in Haute-Loire, a six round lightweight fight between Elhem Mekhaled (4-0) and Pauline Leconte (1-0-1) is planned.
Germany
Beke Bas (8-0) vanquished Petra Castkova (1-4) by decision after six rounds on Sunday April 2. The featherweight fight was held in Hamburg, Germany.
WBC WBO titlist Christina Hammer (21-0) defeated Maria Lindberg (15-2-2) by unanimous decision after 10 rounds to retain the middleweight titles on Saturday April 1. The match took place in Dortmund, Germany and was a rematch between the two. Hammer, 26, fights out of Germany and has been middleweight champion since 2010. Lindberg, 40, fights out of Sweden.
Joanna Koelin (6-0) beat Carina Foelsch (0-1) by decision after four rounds on Saturday April 1. The super featherweight bout was held in Luebeck, Germany.
Haiti
Melissa St. Vil (9-2-4) fought to a technical draw with Jessica Gonzalez (7-3-2) after he fight was suspended in fifth round due to head gash on the Mexican fighter on Friday March 31. The super featherweight WBC Silver title fight took place in Petionville. Also, Alicia Ashley (24-11-1) defeated Liliana Martinez (20-17) by decision after eight rounds in a featherweight fight.
Hungary
On Saturday April 8, in Budapest, an eight round super flyweight fight between Alexandra Lakatos (2-0) and Kleopatra Tolnai (12-10) takes place.
India
Anika Shyamlal (1-0-1) beat Pinky (0-2) by decision after four rounds on Saturday April 1. The light flyweight match was held in New Delhi, India.
Japan
Fuka Komura (3-0) beat Ploypaolin Saithonggym (0-1) by technical knockout in the fourth round on Sunday April 2. The light flyweight fight was held in Osaka, Japan.
Yumemi Ikemoto (3-0) defeated Petchprajeen Saithonggym (0-2) by unanimous decision after four rounds on Sunday April 2. The flyweight bout took place in Nakagami, Okinawa.
Mexico
Mariana Juarez (45-9-4) defeated WBC bantamweight titlist Catherine Phiri (12-2) after 10 rounds to take the world title and become a three-division world champion on Saturday April 1. The historic fight took place in Mexico City. Juarez, 37, fights out of Mexico City. Phiri fights out of Zambia. Also, WBC heavyweight titlist Alejandra Jimenez (7-0, 6 KOs) knocked out Carlette Ewell (16-9-1) in the first round; Jazmin Gonzalez (9-2) defeated Sonia Osorio (8-4-1) in a six round flyweight bout; Angelica Monserrat (3-3) beat Lizeth Zacarias (4-3) in a light flyweight fight. More than 50,000 people saw this fight card held in the Zocalo.
Jacqueline Coutino (4-2) beat Norma Vazquez (2-6) by technical knockout in the fifth round of their fight on Saturday April 1. The flyweight bout was held in Chiapas and was held in three-minute rounds instead of two-minute rounds.
On Friday April 7, in Ciudad Neza, bantamweights Ana Mayumi (2-0) and Miriam Rosales (0-2-1) meet in a six round bout.
On Saturday April 8, in Cancun, a six round flyweight bout features Yesenia Gomez (13-4) and Jacky Calvo (10-2).
On Saturday April 8, in Nezahulacoyotl, a six round bantamweight clash between Karina Hernandez (8-1-3) and Adela Romero (0-0) occurs. Also, flyweights Mari Rodriguez (0-0) and Angela Nolazco (0-1) meet in a four round fight.
Panama
Laura Ledezma (9-0) beat Rosana Colmenarez (2-2) by decision after six rounds on Saturday April 1. The bantamweight fight took place in Panama City.
Carlota Santos (7-4-5) beat Yurisel Linares (0-1) by technical knockout in the second round on Friday March 31. The middleweight fight was held in Colon City.
Singapore
On Saturday April 8, in Singapore, featherweights Nurshahidah Roslie (5-1) and Nongoum Por Niramon (1-1) meet in a six round fight; Marija Malenica (0-0) and Jen Norris (0-0) meet in four round lightweight match; and Ai Jin (0-0) meets Kongsang Phalum (0-1) in four round flyweight contest.
Slovakia
Judit Hachbold (2-1) beat Eva Pakozdi (0-7) by decision after four rounds on Monday April 3. The flyweight bout took place in Sturovo.
South Africa
Bukiwe Nonina (11-3-1) defeated Alesia Graf (29-6) by decision after 10 rounds to capture the WBF title on Friday March 31. The bantamweight title fight took place in Western Cape South Africa.
Spain
Miriam Gutierrez (1-0) defeated Vanessa Caballero (0-1-1) by unanimous decision after five rounds on Friday March 31. The lightweight fight took place in Madrid.
Sweden
On Saturday April 8, in Haninge, middleweights Elin Cederros (0-0) and Sanja Ostojic (1-1) meet in a four round bout.
Switzerland
Ema Kozin (6-0) beat Ivana Mirkov (0-11) by technical knockout in the fourth round of their fight on Saturday April 1. The middleweight fight took place in Burgdorf and were three-minute rounds.
United Kingdom
Kristen Fraser (1-0) beat Lana Cooper (0-9) by decision after six rounds on Friday March 31. The super featherweight fight took place in Aberdeen, Scotland.
On Saturday April 8, in Manchester, England, former Olympian Nicole Adams (0-0) makes her pro debut against Virginia Carcamo (4-2-1) in a four round flyweight fight.
USA
Sonja Fox (6-0) defeated Laura Ramsey (10-7) by unanimous decision after six rounds on Saturday April 1. The heavyweight fight took place in Grand Forks, North Dakota.
On Friday April 7, in Lincoln, Rhode Island, welterweights Aleksandra Lopes (16-4-2) and Paty Ramirez (11-3) meet in an eight round contest.
On Saturday April 8, in Denver, Colorado, super featherweights Patricia Juarez (2-0) and Angela Hayes (1-1-1) meet in a four round fight; and super middleweights Tonya Gallegos (4-9) and Martha Herrera (0-0) meet in a four round fight.
On Saturday April 8, in Richmond, California super flyweights Irene Contreras (0-0) and Shurretta Metcalf (1-1) meet in a four round fight.
On Sunday April 9, in Los Angeles, California, a six round middleweight bout features Maricela Cornejo (6-2) and Sydney LeBlanc (4-0-1).
Venezuela
Keren Batiz (1-0) beat Emma Suarez (0-1) by unanimous decision after four rounds on Friday March 31. The battle of debuting featherweights took place in Petare, Venezuela.