Bash Boxing brought its third Championing Mental Health card, “The Ring of Opportunity,” to Commerce Casino and Hotel on Saturday night, with the event streamed globally on UFC Fight Pass. The card, created to promote mental-health awareness within boxing, put women’s boxing front and center with Mai Soliman and Maria Micheo Santizo meeting in a WBC super flyweight eliminator. Carson Crawford faced Katrina Scalzo in a scheduled six-round lightweight bout.
Egyptian-born Australian Mai Soliman came to Southern California looking for another opportunity at the top of the super flyweight division. She left the Commerce Casino with a split draw.
Soliman and Guatemala’s Maria Micheo Santizo battled through 10 rounds Saturday night in a WBC super flyweight final eliminator, with the two experienced contenders unable to separate themselves on the scorecards.
One judge scored the fight 99-91 for Soliman, another had Santizo ahead 97-93 and the third scored it 95-95, resulting in a split draw.
“The build up for the fight was a big mission accomplished,” Soliman said afterward. “We will run it back.”
Santizo was equally interested in another meeting. “This was a well-fought fight between both of us,” Santizo said. “I felt strong and ready going into this fight, and I am ready for the rematch.”
Soliman, now based and training in Australia, was coming off a 10-round unanimous decision loss to Japan’s Mizuki Hiruta in May in Egypt in a challenge for Hiruta’s WBO super flyweight title. Hiruta was in the audience to view the event.
Santizo brought considerably more experience against top opposition. The Guatemalan veteran had already shared the ring with world champions including Yokasta Valle, Seniesa Estrada and Gabriela Fundora. She entered the fight after a June split draw with Canada’s Alexas Kubicki.
Adelaida Ruiz, the WBC super flyweight champion, was in attendance and doing television commentary. Santizo has served as a sparring partner for Ruiz.
The winner of Soliman-Santizo was positioned to become the mandatory challenger for the WBC championship. The WBC had promoted the contest as its final eliminator, with the winner earning a path toward a world title opportunity. Instead, neither woman was able to claim the spot.
Both entered with knockout power—Soliman with six knockouts among her wins and Santizo with eight—but much of that power was neutralized. Soliman attempted to use her boxing ability and accuracy while Santizo relied on her experience and willingness to engage.
By the final rounds, the fight remained close enough that the three judges saw three distinctly different fights. Soliman received the widest card, 99-91, while another judge gave Santizo seven rounds and the third found the bout even.
The draw moved Soliman to 10-2-1 with six knockouts and Santizo to 14-7-2 with eight knockouts. Neither fighter sounded interested in leaving the matter there. “We will run it back,” Soliman said. Santizo agreed. “I am ready for the rematch.”
Crawford vs Scalzo
Carson Crawford faced Katrina Scalzo in a scheduled six-round lightweight bout.
Crawford came out and finished the fight at 44 seconds of the opening round with a right cross followed by a left hook. The victory moved Crawford to 4-1 with two knockouts, while Scalzo fell to 1-1-1.
