“Super Fight” Melinda Cooper vs Kenia Enriquez and MVPW 05
By David A. Avila
Two pound-for-pound legends Kenia Enriquez and Melinda Cooper have agreed to fight each other, said Latino KO Promotions on Monday.
Enriquez and Cooper were both inactive from pro boxing and for the same reasons. It was just too difficult finding opponents or promoters willing to stage their fights.
For Enriquez, it has been nearly three years and for Boxing Hall of Fame fighter Cooper, it has been nearly 12 years since she entered the prize ring. They will meet on Saturday Aug. 29, at Auditorio Municipal in Tijuana, Mexico.
It’s a match that grabs attention with two feared and respected fighters.
Mexico’s Enriquez (28-1, 11 KOs) dominated the light flyweights and flyweights for a decade and grew weary of the boxing politics and the inability to fight for the actual world title despite winning both the interim WBC light flyweight and WBC interim flyweight titles. So, she moved to the MMA world for almost three years.
Cooper (23-2, 11 KOs) won a flyweight world title in 2005 but found it impossible to find a willing opponent so she moved up weight division by weight division and still found it difficult to find willing opposition. They wanted to spar, but no one wanted to fight. She was inducted into the International Women’s Boxing Hall of Fame in 2022. Cooper has been a Las Vegas Metro Police officer for the past 10 years.
Both Enriquez and Cooper are well known in the boxing world. Enriquez employs a mix of pressure fighting and a dominant will and Cooper uses speed, power and skill to find weaknesses.
More on this fight later.
Orlando Cooking
A bantamweight showdown features former champion Dina Thorslund (24-0, 9 KOs) challenging undisputed bantamweight champ Cherneka Johnson (19-2, KOs) on Saturday Aug. 8, at Caribe Royale Orlando in Orlando, Florida. ESPN will televise the MVPW 05 card.
Thorslund was forced to take time off due to pregnancy. Meanwhile, Johnson racked up the titles with wins over Nina Hughes, Shurretta Metcalf and Amanda Galle. Now that Denmark’s Thorslund is back she wants all those belts.
“I’ve been waiting for this fight since I had to give up my two world titles due to an unexpected pregnancy. Sadly, I lost the baby, and with that I not only lost the family I had dreamed of, but also the titles I gave up for it,” Thorslund said.
Australia’s Johnson intends to keep the belts.
“This is the fight I always knew would bring out the best version of me, and I plan to do exactly that — take my belts home, take her pound-for-pound ranking, and claim the bantamweight queen title,” said Johnson.
The middleweight title is another battle that will be taking place between Desley Robinson (12-3, 4 KOs) the IBF and WBO titlist and Canada’s Tamm Thibeault (4-0, 3 KOs). Both are big hitters who look for quick endings.
Two other female bouts are planned.
More Fight News
Argentina
Maira Moneo (18-3) won by unanimous decision after 10 rounds versus Nahir Erlin (7-2) on Saturday Aug. 1. The regional super featherweight title match was held in Buenos Aires. Also, bantam Tatiana Daglio (2-1) beat Nicole Ferreyra (0-1) in four.
On Friday Aug. 7, super flyweights Juliana Pettinato (1-1) and Victoria Moreyra (2-10-2) meet four rounds at Buenos Aires.
On Friday Aug. 7, super welters Yoana Rodriguez (0-1) and Maria Elorza (1-5) meet four rounds at Rafaela.
On Saturday Aug. 8, light flies Agustina Romero (3-0) and Brisa Aguirre (0-5) meet four rounds at Buenos Aires.
Australia
Kaitlyn Hakrow (2-1) defeated Kelsey Minton (0-1) on Saturday Aug. 1. The super bantamweight fight took place in Flemington.
On Saturday Aug. 8, super welters Connie Chan (6-9) and Maureen Chand (4-10) meet eight rounds for the Australian title at Coolangatta.
Chile
Sofia Rebolledo (7-1) defeated Jocelyn Cruz (1-2) by decision after six rounds on Friday July 31. The featherweight fight took place in Santiago.
Colombia
Any Paez (5-0) knocked out Welkaris Martinez (1-5-1) in the second round on Wednesday July 29. The super welterweight fight took place in Santa Marta.
France
Tania Almeida (6-0) defeated Nadia Pastrana (2-1) by decision after six rounds on Saturday Aug. 1. The light flyweight fight took place in Deauville.
Japan
On Sunday Aug. 9, flyweights Mitsuki Sawaki (1-1-1) and Jun Arata (0-0) meet four rounds at Osaka. Also, super flies Misato Sawaki (1-1-1) and Noa Tozawa (1-0-1) meet four.
Italy
Sara Lombardi (7-2) defeated Francesca Corso (3-2) by split decision after 10 rounds on Saturday Aug. 1. The Italian super flyweight title match took place in Giulia.
Mexico
On Thursday Aug. 6, minimumweights Brenda Salazar (7-1-2) and Cecilia Mendoza (4-10-1) meet eight rounds at Nuevo Leon. Also, light flyweights Blanca Trevino (1-0-2) and Jazmin Gomez (4-2) meet four.
New Zealand
Emma Nesbitt (13-1-1) won by split decision after 10 rounds against Madoka Wada (6-1) on Friday July 31. The atomweight title fight took place in Auckland. Also, super bantam Saskia Elliott (4-0) beat Leah Kawane (6-3-1) by split decision after 10; and flyweight Mia Evans (2-0) beat Sarah Linton (2-9) after six.
On Saturday Aug. 8, super lightweights Sheilla Yama (7-0) and Jessica Messina (8-1) meet 10 rounds at North Shore.
Panama
Teresa Almengor (10-5-3) knocked out Yacksury Gordon (3-11-2) in the second round on Saturday Aug.1. The super bantamweight fight took place in David.
South Africa
On Saturday Aug. 8, flyweights Simangele Hadebe (15-5-2) and Owethu Rula (6-5) meet 10 rounds for a regional title at Cape Town. Also, feathers Ntomboqala Tolashe (9-5) and Caleigh Swart (6-1) meet 10; lightweights Bonita van Jaarsveld (7-6-2) and Azasakhe Jamani (5-3) meet 10; flyweights Sibulele Soboois (5-0) and Asanda Simelane (7-1) meet eight; and super feathers Saarah Karriem (3-0) and Samkelo Mbambo (1-1) meet eight.
Tanzania
On Saturday Aug. 8, bantamweights Lailat Suedi (2-1) and Halima Bandola (2-10-1) meet six rounds at Tanga.
Uganda
On Saturday Aug. 8, super featherweights Marion Akankunda (0-5) and Brenda Maduwa (0-0) meet four rounds at Kampala.
United Kingdom
Sophia Maycroft (2-0) won by decision after six rounds against Sydney Chambers (0-9) on Saturday Aug. 1. The super flyweight fight took place in Newcastle.
USA
On Friday Aug. 7, super welterweights Nicole Fisher (0-0) and Jozette Cotton (0-4-1) meet four rounds at Philadelphia, Pa.
On Friday Aug. 7, featherweights Ayanna Orona (7-2-1) and Maria Salinas (27-15-6) meet six rounds at El Paso, Texas. Also, super flyweights Christina Cruz (6-1) and Randee Lynn Morales (6-7) meet six.
On Saturday Aug. 8, bantamweights Chernka Johnson (19-2) and Dina Thorslund (24-0) meet 10 rounds for the IBF, WBO, WBA and WBC bantamweight world titles at Orlando, Florida. Also, middleweights Desley Robinson (12-3) and Tamm Thibeault (4-0) meet 10 for the IBF and WBO titles; super flyweights Shurretta Metcalf (15-5-1) and Amanda Galle (12-1-1) meet eight rounds; bantams Krystal Rosado (9-1) and Alondra Hernandez (11-2) meet eight; and light flyweights Sa’Rai Brown-el (1-0) and Sheyla Moreno (5-0-1) meet six. ESPN will televise the MVP fight card.
On Saturday Aug. 8, flyweights Leanna Martinez (5-5) and Amanda Lovato (1-4-1) meet four rounds at Albuquerque.
