Jasmine Clarkson Prizefighter and Female Fight News Aug. 6, 2018
By David A. Avila
When highly decorated Katie Taylor of Ireland made her American debut her promotional company scoured the U.S. for someone smaller but tough enough to face the former Olympic gold medalist. They found Jasmine Clarkson.
Clarkson, 23, who lives and trains out of the Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas area, eagerly accepted the fight. Though she was not victorious it was a moment of personal triumph for the southpaw.
“Yes I fought some great fighters,” said Clarkson who began boxing at age 14. “When I fought Taylor it was an experience, the first fight that was ever that big and fighting a fighter with that much experience. It was awesome.”
The Texas lightweight Clarkson (4-11) is one of many fearless prizefighters that the sport of boxing relies to provide entertainment for fans around the world. When she faces Elvina White (3-0, 3 KOs) at the Avalon Theater in Los Angeles on Wednesday Aug. 8, she will be showcasing her fighting skills once again.
Clarkson is a professional.
Prizefighting could not exist if not for boxers training every day who care less if their opponent is undefeated, taller, longer or draped with medals from winning amateur tournaments.
It takes a special breed of athlete.
All around the world boxers like Clarkson train with just as much energy and intensity as the undefeated fighters. Some fighters have more losses than wins or have one or two wins and a dozen losses, but still they continue training hard and keeping their weight at a certain limit. They deprive themselves of fatty foods and alcohol knowing any day they could get a call to fight.
Though only 23 years old, Clarkson has already faced several elite fighters including two world champions.
“Yes I will pretty much fight anyone. I don’t know I guess it’s just knowing this is my job there is no point of ducking people. It’s a sport, the sport I chose to make a career and while doing it I want to have fun and seeing where it takes me,” said Clarkson who is fighting for the first time in Los Angeles. “I learn and experience something new every time I fight. I’m prepared for every fight and ready to brawl, box, whatever the fight may need and that’s what I think sets me aside from other fighters.”
One of her favorite fights was a featherweight contest against former world champion Jennifer Salinas three years ago in Maryland.
“Salinas was one of my favorite fights. She is great and gave me so much respect and vice versa,” said Clarkson of Salinas a former super bantamweight and super featherweight champion. “That was one of my biggest fights that early in my career and still to this day I always thinking that was a great fight I had.”
When Clarkson battled Taylor at Barclays Center she never was knocked down or seemingly hurt, but her corner wisely stopped the fight after the third round. Taylor already had more than 100 amateur fights and numerous world championships and was zeroing in with combinations. Clarkson was surprised at the stoppage but accepted her corner’s decision.
Still, Clarkson has that steely determination to continue in the world of prizefighting and eagerly looks forward to her fight against Austria’s White.
“My goals as a fighter: I want to make a name for myself and to show girls or even women you don’t have to have a perfect record to make it,” said Clarkson. “You can still go hard and be seen and do what you love despite what a score card says.”
The Texas native is the perfect example of a true professional fighter. She has a job to do and prepares to fight whoever they put in front of her. It’s prizefighters like Clarkson that keep the boxing world alive. And she loves what she does.
Mexican icons
Two of Mexico’s premier champions Mariana “Barby” Juarez and Jackie Nava will be fighting on Saturday on separate fights. If both win, they will be meeting each other very soon.
Juarez (49-9-4, 18 KOs) defends the WBC bantamweight world title against Japan’s Terumi Nuki (10-3) at the Arena Mexico in Mexico City. It’s a rematch. Both fought each other a year ago with Juarez winning by unanimous decision. In the co-main event Nava (33-4-3) fights Venezuela’s Alys Sanchez (15-4-1) in a super bantamweight fight set for 10 rounds.
Without a doubt Juarez is Mexico’s second most recognized world champion behind Saul “Canelo” Alvarez. And behind the Mexico City icon, Tijuana’s Nava has a large following too among Mexican boxing fans. They hope to meet each other for the first time.
Other Female Fight News
Argentina
Maria Roman (13-4) defeated Carolina Duer (19-5-1) by split decision after 10 rounds on Saturday Aug. 3. The IBF bantamweight world title fight took place in San Juan, San Juan and was a rematch. Roman won the first encounter too. Also, Leonela Yudica (15-0-3) retained the IBF flyweight world title by majority decision over Yairineth Altuve (9-1) after 10 rounds.
Nazarena Romero (3-0) defeated Marianela Ramirez (2-2) by decision after six rounds on Friday Aug. 3. The super bantamweight fight took place in Cordoba, Cordoba.
On Friday Aug. 10, super bantamweights Marcela Acuna (46-7-1) and Laura Griffa (16-1) meet in a 10 round fight for the vacant IBF world title at Catamarca, Catamarca. Acuna, 41, is an all-time great and recently lost the same title to Daniela Bermudez last April.
On Saturday Aug. 11, lightweights Macarena Ledesma (8-0) and Paola Ibarra (5-5) meet in a 10 round clash at Cipoletti, Rio Negro.
Australia
On Saturday Aug. 11, super welterweights Natalie Jenkinsen (3-0) and Trish Vakas (0-3) meet in a four round contest at Tweed Heads.
Bosnia
Jasmina Merdic (4-2) defeated Stanislava Sinovec (0-1) by decision after six rounds on Thursday Aug. 2. The super middleweight fight took place in Kakanj.
Hungary
On Saturday Aug. 11, super lightweights Kinga Magyar (3-4) and Marija Raznatovic (0-1) meet in a 10 round match at Szeged. Also, super lightweights Valentina Keri (3-5) and Vivien Szabo (0-0) meet in a four round bout.
Japan
On Friday Aug. 10, super featherweights Yuki Nishimae (1-0) and Rimin Shimano (1-1) meet in a four round fight at Osaka.
On Sunday Aug. 12, super flyweights Yui Akai (2-0) and Yume Hirayama (2-0) meet in a four round clash at Ikeda, Osaka.
Malta
Renata Rakoczi (2-0) defeated Claire Ciantar (2-4) by majority decision after six rounds on Saturday Aug. 4. The super featherweight fight took place in Hal Luqa.
Mexico
Jessica Nery Plata (23-3) beat Nancy Franco (17-13-2) by decision after eight rounds on Saturday Aug. 4. The light flyweight fight took place in Tlalpan, Mexico City.
On Saturday Aug. 11, bantamweights Mariana Juarez (49-9-4) and Terumi Nuki (10-3) meet in a 10 round fight for the WBC world title at Mexico City. Also, Jackie Nava (33-4-3) and Alys Sanchez (15-4-1) meet in a 10 round bantamweight fight. If both should win Juarez and Nava will square off in a mega fight between Mexican icons later in the year.
Thailand
Jarusiri Rongmuang (3-0) defeated Benjamat Phakra (9-14) by decision after six rounds on Sunday Aug. 5. The super flyweight fight was held in Bangkok. Also, Arasa Nimnoi (3-2) beat Sumalee Tongpootorn (8-12-1) in a bantamweight match.
United Kingdom
Viviane Obenauf (13-4) knocked out Natasha Jonas (6-1) in the fourth round on Saturday Aug. 4. The WBA International super featherweight fight was held in Cardiff, Wales. Obenauf, 31, fights out of Switzerland.
USA
Alicia Napoleon (10-1) was the winner by unanimous decision after 10 rounds versus Hannah Rankin (5-2) on Saturday Aug. 4. The WBA super middleweight title fight took place in Uniondale, New York. It was Napoleon’s first defense of the world title.
Tori Nelson (18-2-3) won by technical knockout in the sixth round versus Tiffany Woodard (4-12-3) on Saturday Aug. 4. The middleweight fight took place in Sterling Virginia. Nelson, 41, has fought three times this year including losses to Claressa Shields and Christina Hammer which all went the distance.
Shurreta Metcalf (4-3-1) defeated Mystery Neal (0-6) by decision after four rounds on Saturday Aug. 4. The super bantamweight fight took place in Dallas, Texas.
Ayanna Vasquez (4-0-1) defeated Bridgette Baca (0-2) by unanimous decision after four three-minute rounds on Saturday Aug. 4. The lightweight contest was held in Hobbs, New Mexico.
On Wednesday Aug. 8, super lightweights Elvina White (2-0) and Jasmine Clarkson (4-11) meet in a four round fight at the Avalon Theater in Hollywood, Calif.
On Friday Aug. 10, featherweights Ronica Jeffrey (15-1) and Gabriella Mezei (9-14-3) meet in a six round fight at Queens, New York.
(Photo by JP Yim)