Competing Fights In American Female Fight World- Good or Bad?
By David A. Avila
Maybe it’s a sign of better things to come.
Two major female world title fights took place more than 2,789 miles apart at the same exact time and were streamed simultaneously.
While Puerto Rico’s Amanda “The Real Deal” Serrano was battling Argentina’s Yamila Reynoso for a record-breaking sixth division world title in Brooklyn, New York, on the other side of the country Mexico’s Brenda “La Bonita” Flores was exchanging blows with Australia’s Lulu “Bang, Bang” Hawton in Inglewood, California.
Both winners entered the boxing ring seconds apart from each other.
It was nerve racking to watch Hawton and Flores furiously exchange blows for the interim WBC atomweight world title in person at the Inglewood Forum while looking at a laptop to see Serrano dive into the pocket to exchange with Reynoso on Showtime’s Facebook page.
But it was the only way to see both world title battles.
Flores caught my attention early as she connected repeatedly with hard right counters to the hard charging Hawton. By the second round the Aussie was a bloody mess and was caught repeatedly by counters from the Mexican fighter.
Across the country, Serrano dived into exchanges with Reynoso in an attempt to knock out the Argentine who had never been stopped before. Despite some hard blows landed the stout Reynoso was still standing and still punching. In all honestly I wished the streamed fight was at another time.
Women’s boxing took a back door to men’s boxing again on the television screen, but in the arena, at least in California, the fans were entranced by the ferocity of the female clash. A few bouts later, a male world title fight was booed for lack of inactivity. At one point in the 10th round of the world title fight between Filipinos Donnie Nietes and Aston Palicte some of the crowd began chanting “Girl fight! Girl fight!” In hopes of somehow inspiring another female clash to happen out of thin air.
Television networks are slow to give female title fights a platform. HBO would have been smart to televise Flores-Hawton instead of Nietes-Palicte especially since it was the second time a Nietes fight was booed. Last February the same reaction occurred when he fought earlier this year. He’s a very patient and technical fighter but it’s not what the fans prefer. More action took place in the first four rounds of the Hawton-Flores fight than the entire 12 rounds of the male world title fight.
In the Brooklyn fight card, aside from the main event, the other male fights were of no significance. Why not televise Serrano’s record making sixth division world title?
Lou DiBella promotes Serrano and was the promoter of record, but it was not his decision to televise the other bouts on Showtime. Whose decision was it?
Television networks have to get wise.
No precedent exists for female prize fights. Just understand that female boxing is slowly becoming the boxing fans preference around the world. They always bring action and fans seldom are disappointed.
Las Vegas
Speaking of big female bouts, this Thursday Sept. 13, ESPN will televise the WBC super middleweight world title clash between Maricela “La Diva” Cornejo and Franchon “Heavy Hittin Diva” Crews at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.
Expectations are high, not only for fight fans, but among many female prizefighting champions such as Cecilia Braekhus, Kenia Enriquez and Claressa Shields who have expressed interest in the matchup.
“It’s an amazing fight and a great night for women’s boxing,” said Braekhus while in Los Angeles. “I will be attending the fight.”
Both super middleweights competitors expect intensity and action when they meet each other in the boxing ring.
“I’m so grateful that Maricela Cornejo accepted the fight,” said Crews. “I have nothing but respect for her. But I’m going to give my all.”
Cornejo was equally thankful.
“I’ve always admired Franchon for what she represents and her tenacity in the ring,” said Cornejo. “I don’t know what’s going to happen but expect something extraordinary from both of us.”
More Serrano
Speaking of the Puerto Rican multi-divisional world champion, while visiting in L.A. the undisputed welterweight world champion Braekhus heard that Serrano wants to quit boxing entirely in favor of MMA.
“We will approach her (Serrano) and hopefully we can keep her in boxing,” said Braekhus about a possible matchup with Serrano who just won the WBO super lightweight world title last Saturday. “She looked amazing in her fight on Saturday.”
Braekhus said a long list of top notch opponents exists including Kali Reis, Layla McCarter and Katie Taylor.
“I don’t know how many years I have left,” said Braekhus while at LA Live on Monday. “But I like big. I want to have a fight that will go global.”
More on Braekhus tomorrow on this web site.
More Female Fight News
Argentina
Daiana Molina (2-0-1) won by unanimous decision over Alejandra Aparicio (0-1) after four rounds on Saturday Sept. 8. The featherweight match was held in Puerto San Julian.
On Friday Sept. 14, super flyweights Debora Dionicius and Jorgelina Guanini (8-1-1) fight for the IBF world title at Concordia, Entre Rios. Dionicius, 30, is making her 13th defense of the world title she first won in 2012.
On Friday Sept. 14, super bantamweights Nazarena Romero (3-0) and Eliana Cuello (2-1) meet in a six round bout at Cruz Alta, Cordoba.
On Friday Sept. 14, bantamweights Marianela Ramirez (2-2) and Valeria Almiron (2-17) meet in a six round fight at Curuzu Cuatia, Corrientes.
On Saturday Sept. 15, super flyweights Gabriela Alaniz (1-0) and Aixa Adema (2-0-1) meet in a four round bout at Merlo, Buenos Aires.
Australia
Tayla Harris (6-0) was the winner by unanimous decision after five rounds versus Janay Harding (1-3) on Friday Sept. 7. The middleweight fight was held in Flemington.
Belgium
On Saturday Sept. 15, super middleweights Femke Hermans (8-1) and Ester Konecna (1-7-1) meet in a six round non-title fight at Alsemburg. Hermans is the WBO champion.
Canada
Stephanie Essensa (3-1-1) defeated Jacqueline Coutino (8-5) by unanimous decision after six rounds on Saturday Sept. 8. The bantamweight fight took place at Calgary. Also, Kandi Wyatt (6-0) beat Guadalupe Ortiz (2-7) by decision in a super lightweight bout.
China
Yongzhen Liu (2-1) was the winner by split decision after four rounds versus Caiting Yin (0-2) on Tuesday Sept. 4. The bantamweight fight was held at DeZhou.
Croatia
Ema Kozin (14-0-1) fought to a draw after 10 rounds versus Mexico’s Irais Hernandez (2-1-2) on Saturday Sept. 8. The super middleweight fight took place at Zagreb and both were fighting for the vacant WBC Silver title and WBF titles. Also, Ivana Habazin (19-3) defeated Gifty Ankrah (8-6-1) to win the IBO middleweight world title.
Denmark
On Saturday Sept. 15, featherweights Sarah Mahfoud (5-0) and Stephanie Ducastel (8-4-2) meet in a six round fight at Copenhagen. Also, Diana Nadim (0-0) and Gabriella Mezei (9-15-3) meet in a four round featherweight fight.
Germany
On Friday Sept. 14, super flyweights Raja Amasheh (21-1-1) and Peru’s Linda Lecca (13-3-2) meet in a 10 round bout for the WBO super flyweight world title at Karlsruhle.
India
On Saturday Sept. 15, super bantamweights Kirti (4-1) and Cherneka Johnson (10-0) meet in a six round contest at Gurgaon.
Japan
On Friday Sept. 14, flyweights Naoko Fujioka (17-2) and Mexico’s Irma Sanchez (30-7-1) meet in a 10 round fight at Tokyo for the WBA flyweight world title. Fujioka has won world titles in five divisions.
Kenya
Fatuma Zarika (31-12-2) was the winner by split decision after 10 rounds versus Mexico’s Yamileth Mercado (12-2) on Saturday Sept. 8. The WBC super bantamweight world title fight took place in Nairobi. It was Zarika’s second title defense since winning it in 2016.
Poland
Ewelina Pekalska (2-0) defeated Catalina Diaz (3-2) by decision after six rounds on Saturday Sept. 8. The light flyweight match was held at Poznan. Also, Dorota Norek (2-0) beat Enerolisa De Leon (1-1-1) by decision in a bantamweight fight.
Russia
Firuza Sharipova (9-1) was the winner by unanimous decision after 10 rounds versus Yuliya Kutsenko (7-1-1) on Saturday Sept. 8. The WIBA lightweight title fight took place at St. Petersburg.
United Kingdom
On Saturday Sept. 15, super lightweights Nina Bradley (5-0) and Feriche Mashauri (6-0) meet in a 10 round fight for the Commonwealth title at Leicester, England.
USA
Amanda Serrano (35-1-1) defeated Argentina’s Yamila Reynoso (11-5-3) by unanimous decision after 10 rounds on Saturday Sept. 8. The win for the WBO super lightweight world title took place at Brooklyn, New York and gives Serrano a record six division world titles. No other woman has accomplished the feat.
Brenda Flores (13-4-1) was the winner by split decision after 10 rounds versus Australia’s Louisa Hawton (8-2) on Saturday Sept. 8. The win gives Mexico’s Flores the vacant interim WBC atom weight world title and took place in Inglewood, Calif.
On Thursday Sept. 13, super middleweights Maricela Cornejo (12-2) and Franchon Crews (3-1) meet in a 10 round clash for the vacant WBC world title at Las Vegas, Nevada. The championship fight takes place at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino and will be televised on ESPN.
On Saturday Sept. 15, middleweights Schemelle Baldwin (1-0) and Lashwanda Ellis (0-1) meet in four round fight at Hockessin, Delaware.