Mariana Juarez and Jackie Nava Win in Mexico City

Female Fight News Aug. 13, 2018 Mariana and Jackie

 

By David A. Avila

Mexico’s reigning queen of boxing Mariana “Barby” Juarez defeated Japan’s Terumi Nuki once again in defense of the WBC bantamweight world title.

It was the second time in a year that Juarez vanquished Nuki and like before, it was not easy.

“With Japanese fighters you always know that they are kamikazes coming to kill or be killed and to be ready for that,” said Juarez. “That’s how you prepare for them in the ring.”

Juarez’s (50-9-4, 18 KOs) unanimous decision victory over Nuki (10-4) on Saturday at Arena Mexico in Mexico City sets up a potential showdown with Mexican rival Jackie Nava who won by stoppage on the same fight card.

Tijuana, Mexico’s Nava (34-4-3, 15 KOs), a former super bantamweight world champion, returned to the boxing ring after 18 months working as an elected Mexican government official and showed no rust in forcing Venezuela’s Alys Sanchez (15-5-1, 4 KOs) to quit in her corner at the end of the seventh round.

The win by Nava sets up a potential showdown with Juarez and between Mexico City and Tijuana’s best female fighters.

“The Jacky fight is attractive but I focus more on winning the super bantamweight title,” said Juarez who has already won world titles in the flyweight, super flyweight and bantamweight divisions and seeks a record-making fourth division for Mexican female fighters. “Hopefully we will make it.”

It’s a match several years in the making that has been derailed for one reason or another.

Last year, despite a signed contract and scheduled date, the matchup between Juarez and Nava was scuttled when Floyd Mayweather suddenly agreed to fight UFC’s Conor McGregor in a boxing match at Las Vegas on the same day that the two female Mexican fighters had been appointed. The Mexican television network wisely decided to cancel the event. No future date was set mainly because Nava’s duty as a Mexican Senator in Baja California.

Almost an entire year has passed and though it’s a good fight on paper, can the networks be convinced on the fan’s appeal between Juarez and Nava?

Juarez has faith.

“First, God is first,” said Juarez, 38. “And second, to beat Jacky if it (the fight) is given and win the super bantamweight title.”

Juarez definitely has fan appeal and that was proven last year when more than 400,000 fans packed the Zocalo in Mexico City to witness her win against Catherine Phiri that gave her the coveted bantamweight belt.

All last week Juarez was busy making appearances on various television and radio shows in Mexico. Her willingness to give interviews, agree to photo shoots and show up at public events has blossomed into her being Mexico’s most recognizable boxer. She is also one of the best paid female boxers in the world.

She’s a phenomenon.

Nava, 38, doesn’t have the same star quality outside of the boxing ring, but inside the ropes her fierce fighting skills have pushed her to the top as one of Mexico’s best boxers.

Anyone who saw Nava’s two wars with Ana Maria Torres can attest to her battle abilities.

In Mexico, the female prize fights are usually the main events. Both fighters anxiously await a televised fight date. Juarez’s fights are shown on Televisa and Nava’s fights on Azteca. An agreement has to be made by those television networks before a fight can be made.

It’s a test of faith to see if the fight can finally be made.

NYC

One of the world’s best Amanda Serrano will be seeking to capture a sixth world title in a sixth weight division when  she meets Argentina’s 22-year-old Yamila Esther Reynoso on Saturday Sept. 8, at Barclays Center in Brooklyn. Showtime will live stream the historical meeting on its Youtube.com page and on its Facebook page at 4 p.m. PT, 7 p.m. ET. It will be free to all viewers even if they are not Showtime subscribers.

Serrano (34-1-1, 26 KOs) already has titles in the bantamweight, super bantamweight, featherweight, super featherweight and lightweight divisions. When she fights Reynoso (11-4-3, 8 KOs) they will be vying for the vacant WBO super lightweight world title. No other female boxers have ever accomplished the feat. Japan’s Naoko Fujioka has five world titles in five divisions. Another division title win by Serrano will snap their tie and add Serrano to two other fighters Oscar De La Hoya and Manny Pacquiao as winners of at least six world titles.

That’s lofty company.

“My opponent is really a welterweight, having defended her Argentinean 147-pound title by knockout in her last fight, and is dropping down one division to face me. I am coming up four divisions for this shot,” said Serrano. “I’m sure Reynoso will rehydrate back up to her natural weight after the weigh-in, but this is a risk worth taking. She’s never been stopped either, so I know she’s durable.”

Serrano, 29, lives in Brooklyn and her older sister Cindy Serrano is set to fight Ireland’s Katie Taylor for the WBA and IBF lightweight world titles on October 20. Amanda Serrano hopes to add a sixth world title and perhaps a seventh after September 8.

“My promoter, Lou DiBella, has big things lined up for me, and I am eager to take on all challenges,” said Amanda Serrano.

 

More Female Fight News

Argentina

Macarena Ledesma (9-0) defeated Paola Ibarra (5-6) by decision after 10 rounds on Saturday Aug. 11. The lightweight fight took place in Cipolletti, Rio Negro. Also, Abril Vidal (3-0) knocked out Micaela Cabral (2-2) in the third round of a super welterweight match.

Marcela Acuna (47-7-1) defeated Laura Griffa (16-2) by unanimous decision after 10 rounds on Friday Aug. 10. The win gives Acuna the IBF super bantamweight world title and took place in Catamarca.

 

Australia

Trish Vaka (1-3) knocked out Natalie Jenkinsen (3-1) in the second round on Saturday Aug. 11. The middleweight fight took place in Tweed Heads, New South Wales. Also, Rachel Loder (1-0) was the winner by decision after four rounds versus Ratsadaporn Khiaosopa (0-9) in a lightweight bout.

On Saturday Aug. 18, featherweights Bianca Elmir (1-0) and Wendy Talbot (0-4) meet in a five round fight at Woden, Australian Capital Territory.

 

China

Die Hu (8-1) was the winner by decision after eight rounds versus Olena Medvedenko (3-4) on Sunday Aug. 5. The featherweight bout was held in Macao.

 

Japan

Rimin Shimano (2-1) was the winner by unanimous decision over Yuki Nishimae (1-1) after four rounds on Friday Aug. 10. The super featherweight fight took place in Tokyo.

Aoi Watanabe (1-1) won by technical knockout in the second round over Yuki Nakahata (0-1) on Sunday Aug. 5. The flyweight match was held in Osaka.

On Monday Aug. 13, bantamweights Miyo Yoshida (9-1) and Gretel De Paz (5-3) meet in an eight round fight for the OPBF title at Tokyo. Also there are four other female bouts including Nanae Suzuki (6-2-1) vs Akari Arase (6-4), Tomoko Okuda (4-1-1) vs. Yoshie Wakasa (5-0), Sana Hazuki (6-3-1) vs Eri Matsuda (0-0), and Mont Blanc Miki (2-1) vs. Megumi Hosoda (2-0).

 

Mexico

Mariana Juarez (50-9-4) defeated Japan’s Terumi Nuki (10-4) on Saturday Aug. 11 to retain the WBC bantamweight title by unanimous decision after 10 rounds. Also, Jackie Nava (34-4-3) won by technical knockout in the seventh round over Venezuela’s  Alys Sanchez. Both fights took place in Mexico City. Now Juarez and Nava will face each other.

 

New Zealand

On Saturday Aug. 18, lightweights Quinita Hati (1-3-1) and Baby Nansen (6-3-1) meet in a four round fight at Kerikeri.

 

South Africa

Bukiwe Nonina (13-3-1) defeated Ellen Simwaka (7-4-2) by decision after 10 rounds on Saturday Aug. 11. The WBF bantamweight title fight took place in Soweto.

 

Uruguay

On Saturday Aug. 18, super flyweights Gabriela Bouvier (13-9-1) and Marta Juncos (5-29-4) meet in a six round fight at Montevideo.

 

USA

Ronica Jeffrey (16-1) was the winner by unanimous decision after six rounds versus Gabriella Mezei (9-15-3) on Friday Aug. 10. The featherweight fight was held in Jamaica, Queens, New York.

Elvina White (3-0) defeated Jasmine Clarkson (4-12) by decision after three rounds on Wednesday Aug. 8. The super lightweight fight took place in Hollywood, Calif.