Katie Taylor, Lourdes Juarez, Tiara Brown and More Female Fight News
By David A. Avila
Ireland’s extremely talented Katie Taylor looks to unify the lightweight world championship with a head-to-head clash against Brazil’s little known Rose Volante.
Fans of the female fight world are hoping it’s an entertaining match.
WBA, IBF titlist Taylor (12-0, 5 KOs) matches skills with the hard-hitting WBO titlist Volante (14-0, 8 KOs) on Friday March 15, at Liacouras Center in Philadelphia, Penn. DAZN will televise the lightweight unification contest.
So far, most of Taylor’s fights by Matchroom Boxing have been uninteresting mismatches against 5-1 underdogs or smaller fighters moving up for the payday. This time the odds are closer.
Volante can whack.
The Brazilian fighter poses the best opposition for Taylor since Chicago’s hit girl Jessica “CasKilla” McCaskill put hands on the Irish fighter 16 months ago in London. In many ways both Volante and McCaskill are similar and like to put the pressure on whoever is standing in front of them.
Volante has power in both hands and has a frenetic pace that’s hard to maintain. When she goes to the body she becomes even more effective. But can she keep Taylor in front of her?
Taylor has seen all of the different styles in her lengthy amateur career. But fighting in the pro ranks is totally different. There’s no head gear, the gloves are smaller and it’s 10 rounds not three or four.
But the Irish fighter has plenty of speed and agility and has multiple ways to attack or defend. Mostly she depends on her legs. Little by little she’s erasing some of the amateur tactics such as unleashing speedy combinations with no power. That can be her undoing against opposition that can crack.
Against European competition especially those who like to box and move as with her last opponent Eva Wahlberg, it’s almost too easy. Taylor needs opposition that contrast her own speedy style and should get it with Volante.
So far, after two years as a professional, the exciting match ups against internationally recognized gifted prizefighters like Amanda Serrano, Layla McCarter and Delfine Persoon have been avoided.
Volante is a good start for Taylor in America to raise the ante. Fans want to see entertaining matchups.
Lourdes
The younger sister of Mariana “Barby” Juarez has let the world know she’s ready for a world title challenge.
Lourdes “La Pequena” Juarez told ThePrizefighters.com that her apprenticeship has been completed as seen in her technical knockout win over Venezuela’s Leiryn Flores last Saturday.
Now ranked highly by the WBC as a flyweight, a showdown looks imminent with champion Ibeth “La Roca” Zamora. It’s an ultra-good matchup that pits Juarez’s movement and feints against the hard-charging Zamora.
Juarez, 32, started late boxing professionally though she did learn how to fight at a young age. She seems very fresh and her legs have a lot of spring. In her fight with the Venezuelan those combinations she fires are hard to predict. She’s also mastered the art of the jab.
Tiara Brown awarded
Top female prospect Tiara Brown was named 2019 Officer of the Year by the Washington D.C. Metropolitan Police Department last week.
Brown, a four –year veteran of DC Police, was honored for her work as a police officer and with community relations while also finding success as a prizefighter.
“I’m thrilled to be honored with this award but, truthfully, I just do my job every day to the fullest of my abilities and will continue with that mindset. It’s the same thing in boxing, work hard every day,” said Brown.
The annual Metropolitan Police Awards Ceremony takes place on Tuesday March 19, at Thearc Theater in D.C.
Brown, who is promoted by DiBella Entertainment, is ranked in the top 10 as a super featherweight and was rated by our publication as one of the “most dangerous” female fighters in the world.
“I am so proud of Tiara,” said Lou DiBella, President of DiBella Entertainment. “She is a terrific fighter and a future world champion. More importantly, Tiara is a true role model, not only keeping the streets of Washington, D.C. safe, but also working as a mentor to inner-city youth. She is very deserving of this award and it is an honor to promote her.”
More Female Fight News
Argentina
On Friday March 15, bantamweights Maria Cecila Roman (13-4-1) and Valeria Perez (12-5) meet in an IBF world title fight at San Juan.
Belgium
Delfine Persoon (43-1) won by technical knockout at the end of the sixth round versus Melissa St. Vil (11-4-4) on Saturday March 9. The WBC lightweight world title fight took place in Belgium and was the ninth consecutive defense for Persoon. St. Vil moved up in weight for this opportunity to compete for the title.
Canada
On Saturday March 16, light flyweights Kim Clavel (6-0) and Soledad Macedo (17-14-1) meet in an eight round contest at Montreal.
France
Nahed Kharchi (5-2) defeated Ainara Mota (3-5-2) by decision after eight rounds on Thursday March 7. Kharchi, 31, wins the French featherweight title that took place at Nice.
On Saturday March 16, lightweights Estelle Mossely (3-0) and Olena Medvedenko (5-4) meet in a 10 round title fight at Toulouse.
On Saturday March 16, light flyweights Sabah Ghades (2-0) and Ivanka Ivanova (1-8-1) meet in a six round fight at Issoudun.
On Saturday March 16, lightweights Aurelie Froment (0-0) and Ksenija Medic (0-12-2) meet in a four round bout at Maraussan.
Germany
On Saturday March 16, super lightweights Alicia Kummer (12-1) and Prisca Vicot (9-5) meet in a 10 round title fight at Buchholz.
Italy
Mexico’s Erika Cruz Hernandez (10-1) defeated hometown hero Vissia Trovato (12-2) by unanimous decision after 10 rounds on Friday March 8. The WBC Silver featherweight title fight took place in Milan. Hernandez, 28, is a southpaw fighting out of Mexico City.
Elena Ghezzi (2-0) beat Giulia Grenci (2-1) by decision after six rounds on Friday March 8. The lightweight fight took place at Lombardia.
On Saturday March 16, super flyweights Diana Fernandez (19-2) and Kandy Sandoval (10-12) meet in a 10 round fight at Chihuahua.
Japan
On Wednesday March 13, minimum weights Nanae Suzuki (8-2-1) and Eri Matsuda (2-0) meet in an eight round bout at Tokyo. It’s one of the lead fights of an all-female boxing card held at the famed Korakuen Hall. Also on the card will be Miyo Yoshida (11-1) facing Yoshie Wakasa (6-0) in a six round contest for the Japanese bantamweight title. Nine female bouts are scheduled.
Mexico
Jessica Nery Plata (24-2) won by unanimous decision over Alondra Garcia (20-4-1) after 10 rounds on Saturday March 9. The WBA interim light flyweight match took place in Tamazula, Guadalajara.
Lourdes Juarez (27-2) won by technical knockout in the sixth round over Venezuela’s Leiryn Flores (15-1-1) on Saturday March 9. The flyweight match took place in Mexico City. Juarez, the younger sis of WBC bantamweight champion Mariana Juarez, is ranked number highly in the flyweight division and could be fighting for a world title this year. Also, Jazmin Gonzalez (10-2-2) fought to a draw with Joselyn Torres (3-1-1) after six rounds in a bantamweight clash.
Philippines
Carleans Rivas (7-6-4) was the winner by decision after six rounds versus Floryvic Montero (4-7) on Friday March 8. The flyweight match was held at Angono. Also, Jessebelle Pagaduan (11-1-1) won by second round knockout over Aisah Alico (7-11) in a minimum weight fight.
Nurshahidah Roslie (12-2) was the victor by unanimous decision after 10 rounds versus Kim Actub (7-10-1) on Tues. March 5. The super bantamweight title fight took place at Davao del Norte. Roslie, 31, fights out of Singapore.
South Korea
On Sunday March 17, featherweights Bo Mi Re Shin (6-0-3) and Rupinder Kaur (1-0-1) meet in a 10 round fight at Busan.
Spain
Joana Pastrana (15-1) defeated Mexico’s Ana Arrazola (28-13-3) by unanimous decision after 10 rounds on Saturday March 9. The IBF minimum weight world title fight took place at Madrid and was her second defense of the title. Pastrana, 28, lives and fights out of Madrid, Spain.
On Saturday March 16, super featherweights Elhem Mekhaled (11-0) and Danila Ramos (7-0) meet for the vacant WBC world title at Barcelona. Ramos is 33 and fights out of Argentina but is a native of Brazil. The other challenger Mekhaled is 28 and fights out of France.
Sweden
On Saturday March 16, welterweights Patricia Berghult (11-0) and Mari Tatunashivili (4-8-2) meet in a six round contest at Orebro.
Switzerland
Ornella Domini (14-2) won by unanimous decision after 10 rounds versus Hungary’s Szilvia Szabados (18-14) on Saturday March 9. The EBU welterweight title fight took place at Geneva.
Thailand
Thanchanok Phanan (1-0) won her pro debut by technical knockout in the second round versus Kanokporn Cheanchom (0-1) on Saturday March 9. The flyweight fight took place at Pathum Thani.
United Kingdom
Jade Taylor (3-0) beat Bojana Libiszewska (5-33) by decision after four rounds on Saturday March 9. The lightweight fight was held at Lancashire, England.
Kirstie Bavington (2-0-1) defeated Katarina Vistica (1-14) by second round Technical knockout on Saturday March 9. The welterweight match was held at West Midlands, England.
Terri Harper (6-0) won the battle of the undefeated with a 10th round knockout of Nina Bradley (7-1) on Friday March 8. The lightweight match took place in Yorkshire, England and saw Bradley floored three times by Harper, 22, who fights out of Yorkshire. Bradley, 31, fights out of Nottinghamshire.
On Sunday March 17, super featherweights Lucy Wildheart (4-0) and Anissa Benyoub (2-1) meet in a 10 round fight at Berkshire.
USA
Eileen Olszewski (11-7-3) beat Hungary’s Judith Hachbold (5-7) by decision after six rounds on Friday March 8. The flyweight match took place at Queens, New York and was Olszewski’s first win since 2015. She had retired in October 2016. She is now 50 years old.
On Friday March 15, lightweights Katie Taylor (12-0) and Rose Volante (14-0) meet in a 10 round unification fight at Philadelphia, Penn. Ireland’s Taylor, 32, has the WBA and IBF titles while Brazil’s Volante, 36, has the WBO title. DAZN will show the lightweight clash live.
On Friday March 15, bantamweights Shuretta Metcalf (4-3-1) and Kailyn Hansen (1-3) meet in a four round bout at Irving, Texas.
On Sunday March 17, featherweights Kirstie Simmons (8-4) and Ayanna Vasquez (5-0-1) meet in a eight round title fight at Westminster, Colorado.
Uruguay
On Saturday March 16, lightweights Maira Moneo (2-0) and Estefania Alaniz (4-1-1) meet in a six round bout at Montevideo.