Melissa St. Vil Goes to Belgium and More Female Fight News

Melissa St.Vil Lands in Belgium for WBC Title Challenge

 

By David A. Avila

Brooklyn’s Melissa St. Vil has already arrived in Europe and if you know anything about the Haitian-American fighter, the country of Belgium is in for a surprise.

St. Vil (11-3-4) challenges WBC lightweight titlist Delfine Persoon (42-1) on Saturday March 9, at Kortrijk, Belgium. This is the Belgian fighter’s – who is also police officer – ninth defense of the title since winning it in 2014.

Supposedly this title clash represents a tune up for Persoon’s potential match with Ireland’s Katie Taylor. It could lead to a surprise downfall. St. Vil can rumble.

In the world of prizefighting there’s no better ambassador for the sport than the always energetic and happy St. Vil. She’s like a bundle of flashlights that light up a room when she enters.

The last time St. Vil touched land in Europe she took Norway by surprise with her infectious attitude of goodwill. That country might never be the same. And we’re not even talking about her actual fighting ability.

Once that bell rings the bright smile turns to a dark sneer and suddenly the happy-go-lucky boxer goes Brooklyn and starts unleashing furious combinations. It’s as simple as that. But once the fight is over she reverts back to the girl most likely to make you smile. And she never met a camera she didn’t like, or a camera that didn’t like her.

St. Vil is one of the few American prizefighters that does not care if she fights in another country. As long as she has time to prepare she’s trigger happy to fight anyone any time. For this fight St. Vil moved up a weight division to challenge for the world title. In her last fight she lost by majority decision despite seemingly dropping the WBC super featherweight titlist Eva Wahlstrom. The referee called it a slip. She was promised a rematch that has never transpired.

Could this be her moment to shine?

Mexican results

Once again Mariana “Barby” Juarez proved too skillful and crafty as she defused the attacks of Spain’s Eva Naranjo in retaining the WBC bantamweight world title. After settling into the bantamweight division the veteran fighter Juarez seems to have supreme confidence. Maybe it’s time for a return to the USA for a challenge from one of the American-based fighters. There’s plenty to choose from. The only problem is who promotes the fight and what kind of money can be offered? Juarez is one of the top money-makers in the world of female prizefighting. She’s not coming to America for $10,000. Believe me.

Another Mexican fighter Brenda Flores recently won by quick knockout on Saturday in Tijuana. Recently her WBC minimum weight world title was taken from her after she did not fight Australia’s Louisa Hawton in a return match. Flores claimed to be ill but allegedly a photo of her in Big Bear was posted on social media. Still, the WBC did not offer why the title was literally handed to Hawton. Flores showed off pretty good fighting skills in her first US appearance last September. It was one of the top female fights of 2018. A rematch between the two would be off the charts.

Japan big show

Next week an all-female fight card takes place at Tokyo’s famous Korakuen Hall the center for Japanese boxing. Nine female prize fights are set to take place including Miyo Yoshida (11-1) opposite Yoshie Wakasa (6-0) in a six round bout for the Japanese bantamweight title. Also, Nanae Suzuki (8-2-1) meets Eri Matsuda (2-0) in an eight round minimum weight match up. The female dominated fight card takes place on Wednesday March 13.

McCaskill

Chicago could be the setting for a world title defense for hometown fighter Jessica “CasKilla” McCaskill coming soon. Rumors are flying that McCaskill could be defending the WBC super lightweight world title against another Argentine bent on revenge. One of the names being mentioned is Anahi Sanchez. No date has been set but most likely it would happen in before the summer. McCaskill won the title with an impressive win over Erica Farias who had ruled the division since November 2015.

 

Other Female Fight News

Argentina

Micaela Lujan (8-1) defeated Debora Dionicius (28-2) by decision on Saturday March 2. It was Dionicius, 30, second consecutive defeat. Lujan is 19 and fights out of Villa Mercedes, Argentina. The super flyweight match took place in Los Antiguas.

 

Belgium

On Saturday March 9, lightweights Delfine Persoon (42-1) and Melissa St. Vil (11-3-4) meet for the WBC world title at West Vlaanderen. Persoon, 34, is making her ninth defense of the title. St. Vil, 35, fights out of Brooklyn, New York and holds the WBC Silver super featherweight title and is moving up a weight division for this defense.

 

France

On Thursday March 7, featherweights Ainara Mota (3-4-2) and Nahed Kharchi (4-2) meet in a eight round fight at Nice for the French title.

 

Ghana

On Friday March 8, bantamweights Anahit Aroyan (2-0) and Taiye Kodjo (0-2) meet in a four round bout at Accra.

On Friday March 8, lightweights Elena Ghezzi (1-0) and Giulia Grenci (2-0) meet in a six round contest at Lombardia.

 

Italy

On Friday March 8, featherweights Vissia Trovato (12-1) and Erika Cruz Hernandez (9-1) meet in a 10 round fight for the WBC Silver title at Milan.

 

Malta

Clair Ciantar (3-5) knocked out Marija Fedotenkova (1-4) in the first round on Saturday March 2. The lightweight fight took place in St. Julians.

 

Mexico

Mariana Juarez (52-9-4) defeated Spain’s Eva Naranjo (12-1) by unanimous decision after 10 rounds on Saturday March 2. The WBC bantamweight world title fight was held at Fresnillo, Zacatecas. The winner Juarez, 39, has now made seven title defenses and is a former flyweight and super flyweight world champion.

Brenda Flores (16-4-1) defeated Mayerli Altamar (13-3-2) by technical knockout in the third round on Friday March 1. The minimum weight fight took place at Tijuana. Flores, 26, held the WBC world title but was stripped for reasons not clear.

 

Norway

Katherina Thanderz (11-0) won by majority decision after eight rounds versus Rachel Ball (4-1) on Saturday March 2. The super featherweight clash was held at Arendal.

 

Philippines

On Friday March 8, flyweights Carlean Rivas (6-6-4) and Floryvic Montero (4-6) meet in a six round bout at Mahabang. Also, minimum weights Jessebelle Pagaduan (10-1-1) and Aisah Alico (7-10) meet in a six round fight.

 

Puerto Rico

On Friday March 8, light flyweights Ariana Pagan (0-0) and Kina Delgado (0-0) meet in four round match at Trujillo Alta.

 

Russia

Marina Popova (6-2) won by majority decision over Kristina Morozova (0-1) after six rounds on Saturday March 2. The welterweight match was held at Anapa.

 

Serbia

Nina Pavlovic (3-2-1) defeated Ksenija Medic (0-12-2) by technical decision after four rounds. The lightweight fight was stopped early due to injury and took place at Becej. Also, Saida Bukvic (2-0) beat Sandra Maran (0-2) in a bantamweight fight; and Sara Marjanovic (3-7) beat Marina Dekic (1-5) in a featherweight fight.

 

South Korea

Chan Mi Lim (4-6-1) knocked out Mont Blanc Miki (4-2) in the second round on Sunday March 3. The light flyweight fight took place at Seoul.

Hye In Kim (1-0) defeated Soo Bin Moon (0-1) by decision after four rounds on Saturday March 2. The super welterweight contest was held at Gwangyang.

 

Spain

On Saturday March 9, minimum weights Joana Pastrana (14-1) and Ana Arrazola (28-12-3) meet in a 10 round fight for the IBF minimum weight world title at Madrid. Pastrana, 28, fights out of Madrid, Spain and Arrazola, 39, fights out of Mexico City.

 

United Kingdom

On Friday March 8, lightweights Terri Harper (5-0) and Nina Bradley (7-0) meet in a 10 round fight for the WBC International title at Yorkshire.

 

USA

Samantha Salazar (6-5-2) was the winner by decision after six rounds versus Noemi Bosques (11-14-3) on Saturday March 2. The super flyweight contest took place at Tampa, Florida. Also, super flyweight Avril Mathie (3-0-1) defeated Delaney Owen (0-2) by unanimous decision after six rounds.

Mariah Prussia (2-0) won by technical knockout in the third round over Katie Newholy (0-2) on Saturday March 2. The lightweight match took place in Fargo, North Dakota.

Raquel Miller (8-0) won by split decision after six rounds versus Ashleigh Curry (7-12-4) on Thursday Feb. 28. The super welterweight match took place at Dallas, Texas.