Unbiased Look at Championship Scoring and More News and Notes in Female Boxing
(Photo by Al Applerose)
By David A. Avila
Egyptian fighter Mail Soliman arrived in Southern California eager and ready to display her talent and capture a spot guaranteeing a match against WBC super flyweight titlist Adelaida Ruiz.
Ruiz was in the audience last Saturday in Commerce, Calif., as was WBO super flyweight titlist Mizuki Hiruta. Both were in attendance to watch Soliman perform against veteran challenger Maria Santizo of Guatemala.
Soliman, who lives and trains in Australia, had spent weeks in Canelo Alvarez’s training camp in San Diego and seemed fully prepared to show off the form that captured the interest of fans who watched her battle against Japan’s Hiruta back in May.
After 10 rounds the judges scored the fight a split draw (99-91, 95-95, 93-97), though many fans and witnesses felt Soliman was the victor. Once again, a female title fight ended in a controversial decision. It’s becoming a pattern.
A few weeks earlier a world title fight between Chantelle Cameron and Mikaela Mayer ended with the British fighter getting the nod over the American. Mayer just can’t seem to get a decision in England.
So, what is the reason or reasons?
Is it nationalism?
In the fight between Soliman and Santizo, it definitely was not nationalism because both fighters are from other countries. Soliman is Egyptian and Santizo is Guatemalan. Or was the decision based on familiarity of their fighting styles?
Santizo had fought at the same Commerce Casino venue against Yokasta Valle and against Lupita Medina. Both were losses.
Most likely, the reason behind the judgments is the two-minute round. Two minutes just is not enough time for judges to determine a winner each round. One major proponent of the two-minute round is the WBC organization which does not allow three-minute rounds.
Over the years I have spoken to many judges, and they all mutter the same complaint: that two minutes goes too quickly to make a proper decision on which fighter wins a round.
As most boxing fans know, the men fight three-minute rounds and sometimes even the extra minutes are not enough to determine a clear winner. Two minute rounds make decision making even murkier.
It is time for all female fights to have three-minute rounds. Pro fighters depend on victories to achieve higher purses. Bad judgments can ruin a career.
IWBHOF Ceremony in Las Vegas
A two-day event kicks off on Friday Oct. 9 for the International Women’s Boxing Hall of Fame weekend.
A boxing event called Beautiful Brawlers (Vegas edition) begins the festivities on Friday Oct. 9, at Center Ring Boxing which features numerous top female amateurs in a tournament beginning at 4 p.m. The event is located at 2900 N. Torrey Pines Drive in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Admission is $55.22 ringside and $28.52 general admission.
On Saturday Oct. 10, the IWBHOF induction ceremonies and dinner take place at Orleans Casino in Las Vegas, beginning at 5 p.m.
A large number of boxers and non-boxers will be inducted this year including Naoko Fujioka, Cindy Serrano, Seniesa Estrada, Kali Reis, Melissa Hernandez, Al Bernstein, and many others who will be honored.
For more information call (800) 675-3267.
More Fight News
Argentina
Maria Mazzarello (10-2) knocked out Albys Larez (5-3) in the third round on Saturday Sept. 26. The featherweight fight took place in Buenos Aires. Also, bantam Leonela Sanchez (5-1) knocked out Sara Suarez (4-1-2) in three.
Jessica Leiva (6-2) defeated Victoria Romero (1-9-1) by decision after six rounds on Friday Sept. 25. The super bantam fight took place in Playa Union.
Australia
Leah Kawane (7-3-1) knocked out Khwunchit Khunya (7-24-1) in the third round on Sunday Sept. 27. The super bantamweight fight took place in Fortitude Valley.
Mili Saul (3-2) knocked out Saowuluk Nareepangsri (19-26) in the fourth round on Saturday Sept. 26. The super bantamweight fight took place in Surfers Paradise.
Chile
On Friday Oct. 2, super flies Marilyn Ortega (1-0-1) and Fernanda Soto (2-3) meet six rounds at Osomo.
China
Hongran Li (3-0-1) knocked out Panida Chatluang (10-14) in the second round on Saturday Sept. 26. The flyweight fight took place in Beijing.
Yan Jiang (2-2) defeated Shuchang Zheng (0-1) by majority decision after four rounds on Saturday Sept. 26. The super bantam fight took place in Chengdu.
Colombia
On Friday Oct. 2, super lightweights Diana Ayala (22-15-5) and Luiza Meza (0-8-1) meet six rounds at Sincelejo.
Czechia
Jaromira Konecna (1-0) defeated Joanna Fraszczak (1-10) by decision after six rounds on Saturday Sept. 26. The lightweight fight took place in Teplice. Also, Hanna Dubina (1-0) beat Nevena Markovic (0-18-1).
Germany
On Saturday Oct. 3, welterweights Mikaela Lauren (33-9-1) and Karla Zamora (12-11-2) meet 10 rounds at St. Pauli.
Ghana
On Friday Oct. 2, super bantams Abigail Quartey (10-1) and Dora Quaye (0-2) meet six rounds at Accra. Also, super flies Leticia Amanua (7-1) and Geraldine Laley (0-2) meet six.
Japan
Shiori Yotsumoto (4-0) knocked out Ran Higuchi (4-4-3) in the fourth round on Monday Sept. 28. The regional atomweight title fight took place in Tokyo. Also, Hana Tanihara (5-1) beat Mont Blanc Miki (9-9-1) I six; and Miyako Nakao (2-2) beat Emily Abe (1-6-1) after four.
South Africa
Nozweiethu Mathontsi (13-4) defeated Okuhle Mthi (4-2-2) after six rounds on Saturday Sept. 26. The light flyweight fight took place in KuGompo City.
Nolwazi Myingwa (4-1) beat Noxolo Mkhasibe (3-5) by split decision after eight rounds on Saturday Sept. 26. The middleweight fight took place in Mooi River. Also, super welter Bathabile Ziqubu (6-3-1) beat Nosimphiwe Nkosi (2-1) in six; and super bantam Lumka Ntobela (2-0) knocked out Lethokuhle Sibisi (3-1) in one.
Monica Mkandla (11-0) knocked out Loveness Kokha (5-13-1) in the first round on Thursday Sept. 24. The super bantam fight took place in Kempton Park.
Spain
On Sunday Oct. 4, featherweights Jenifer Fernandez (2-0) and Luisana Bolivar (12-9-1) meet 10 rounds at Madrid. Also, super feathers Jennifer Miranda (12-1) and Militza Salazar (12-4) meet 10; minimumweights Cristina Navarro (9-4) and Consuelo Portolani (7-8) meet 10; and Clara Cortes (2-0) and Maria Milano (13-5-2) meet 10.
Switzerland
On Saturday Oct. 3, atomweights Gabriela Timar (16-2) and Sothita Sitthichai (14-6) meet 10 rounds for a regional title at Basel.
Tanzania
On Saturday Oct. 3, middleweights Rachel Msengi (3-1) and Nadia Fredy (0-5) meet eight rounds at Dar es Salaam.
Ukraine
On Saturday Oct. 3, super feathers Oksana Bondarenko (8-2) and Liubov Oksha (2-1-1) meet 10 rounds for a regional title at Vinnytsia.
United Kingdom
Kayla Allen (1-0) stopped Edina Kiss (17-22) in the third round on Saturday Sept. 26. The super lightweight fight took place in Hackney Wick.
Dee Allen (8-1) won by decision after 10 rounds versus Lilyella Craw Seaman (5-1) on Saturday Sept. 26. The welter fight took place in Ipswich.
On Friday Oct. 2, lightweights Hannah Robinson (6-0) and Katherine Quintana (0-46-1) meet six rounds at Houghton le Spring.
On Saturday Oct. 3, super bantams Gabriela Strikaityte (3-0) and Antonella Molina (4-33-2) meet six rounds at Harrow.
On Saturday Oct. 3, lightweights Paige Murney (4-0) and Linzi Buczynskyj (6-12) meet four rounds at Birmingham.
USA
Mai Soliman (10-2-1) and Maria Santizo (14-7-2) fought to a split draw after 10 rounds on Saturday Sept. 26. The super flyweight fight took place in Commerce, Calif. Also, lightweight Carson Crawford (4-1) knocked out Katrina Scalzo (1-1-1) in the first round.
Nandintsetseg Myagmardulam (1-0) beat Shynia Jones (0-3) by disqualification after one round on Saturday Sept. 26. The bantam fight took place in Baltimore, Md.
On Friday Oct. 2, super flies Naomy Cardenas (10-2) and Melanie Timko (5-0) meet eight rounds for a regional title at El Paso, Texas. Also, super welters Ariana Carrasco (3-0) and Angelica Flores (0-0) meet four.
On Saturday Oct. 3, super flies Amanda Lovato (2-4-1) and Randee Morales (6-8) meet eight rounds at Albuquerque.
On Saturday Oct. 3, featherweights Mary Koller (0-0) and Sharina Allsbrook (0-1) meet four rounds at Oklahoma City.
On Saturday Oct. 3, super featherweights Nathalia Dinis (1-2) and Karla Valenzuela (3-41-3) meet four rounds at Houston, Texas.
