Cecilia Braekhus Kos Mathis and other Female Fight News
Norway’s Cecilia Braekhus broke down doors in her country with a sizzling knockout win over France’s Anne Sophie Mathis, and a much anticipated flyweight tournament backed by the WBC organization opened up in Mexico City.
They were two of the more important events erupting in the female fight world.
More than 30 years had passed since pro boxing was seen in the country of Norway and its brightest star Braekhus, who had been fighting mostly in Germany, returned to a heroic welcome and capped the event with a shocking knockout of the dangerous Mathis.
No other star in Norway shines as bright as Braekhus.
Mathis had fought Braekhus before in 2012 and lost a decision. The Frenchwoman is known for her knockout power and especially for sending American fighter Holly Holm to unconsciousness back in 2011 in New Mexico. She was looking for redemption.
Braekhus has been fighting since 2007 and has been called by many the best female fighter pound for pound. She walked into the Spectrum Arena in Oslo to a deafening roar and from the opening bell was in complete control. There was no moving around in caution there was simply attack and attack. It seemed to catch Mathis off balance.
During the second round both clinched, but as they broke apart Mathis moved away with her guard down. Bad idea. Braekhus saw the mistake and connected with a solid right that stunned Mathis. Braekhus followed her prey and battered her against the ropes. Mathis turned her back and the fight was called.
Braekhus jumped for joy and all of Norway celebrated.
I’ve fought all over Europe but it was always my dream to fight in Norway, this is my home and it meant so much to me on Saturday to see the huge crowd and know how much it meant to so many people in this country, “said Braekhus, 35. “The entire fight week truly exceeded my expectations, everywhere I went the response from fans and media was incredible.”
A jubilant Braekhus expressed an interest to fight in the United States. However, sadly, her preference seems to be in fighting Cyborg an MMA fighter, not a true boxer. Many in the U.S. say Layla McCarter is the best female fighter pound for pound. That would be a better fight. But that would be up to Braekhus and her promoter K2 Promotions that also has Gennady “GGG” Golovkin.
On Saturday another significant fight took place in Mexico City where WBC flyweight titlist “Kika” Chavez defended against Japanese powerhouse Naoko Fujioka who dropped down in weight. It was the opening bout for the flyweight tournament that will see Melissa McMorrow face Esmeralda Moreno and Ibeth Zamora face off in the future.
Chavez had promised she would retain the title and Fujioka was confident that fighting in Mexico City was not new for her. She had defeated the great Mariana “Barbie” Juarez in Mexico City and was not fazed by the enemy crowd. But Chavez, who trains with Nacho Beristain, showed that her boxing ability offset the bigger Japanese fighter’s bigger frame, All three judges scored it closely for Chavez.
The next phase of the flyweight tournament will be McMorrow versus Moreno and despite the fight taking place in Mexico City in two weeks, who can predict the winner?
Female Fight News from around the world
Australia
Aimee Addis (1-0) defeated Janay Harding (1-1) after four rounds by decision in a welterweight match on Saturday Oct. 1. The fight took place in a Fortitude Valley in Queensland.
In Melbourne, on Saturday Oct.8, super bantamweights Sylvia Scharper (5-1-1) and Vatinee Saranburus (0-2) meet in a six round bout. Also, a bantamweight clash features Cherneka Johnson (3-0) fighting Ratsadaporn Khiaosopa (0-5) in a six round bout.
Belgium
Jill Serron (1-0) won her pro debut by technical knockout of Viktorija Mihailova (0-2) in the third round of their bantamweight fight on Saturday Oct. 1. The fight was held in Tielt-Winge. Serron, 22, fights out of Belgium.
In West-Vlaanderen, super middleweights Femke Hermans (2-0) faces Elene Sikmashvili (8-2) of Georgia in a 10 round contest for the vacant Belgian title on Saturday Oct. 8. Hermans, 26, fights out of Belgium.
Bosnia
Pasa Malagic (11-3) knocked out Marija Fedotenkova (1-3) in the first round of their super featherweight bout on Saturday Oct. 1. Also, Selma Baltic (1-1) defeated Katarina Vistica (1-3) by decision after a six round super featherweight contest. Both female fights took place in Sarajevo.
Brazil
In Florianopolis, super bantamweights Chaiane Pimenta (1-0) meets Janaisa Cardoso (0-0) in a six round fight on Saturday Oct. 8.
France
In Val-d’ Oise, super featherweight champion Jelena Mrdjenovich (36-10-1) of Canada defends against France’s Gaelle Armand (14-0) on Saturday Oct. 8. Mrdjenovich is considered one of the top female fighters pound for pound and relishes this opportunity to face a threat overseas.
Germany
In Bayern, on Friday Oct. 7, minimum weights Tina Rupprecht (4-0) and Joana Pastrana (7-0) of Spain fight for the vacant WBC Silver minimum weight title. Rupprecht, 24, fights out of Bayern and Pastrana, 26, fights out of Madrid.
Japan
In Sakai, Osaka, a flyweight battle for the vacant WBO title features Nana Yoshikawa (6-1) facing Eun Hye Lee (8-0) on Sunday Oct. 9. Yoshikawa, 38, lives and trains in Sakai. Lee, 33, fights out of Daejeon, South Korea.
Mexico
WBC flyweight titlist Jessica Chavez (28-4-3) defeated Japan’s Naoko Fujioka (15-2) by unanimous decision after 10 fierce rounds on Saturday Oct. 1, in Mexico City. The fight between Chavez, 28, and Fujioka, 41, started a much anticipated flyweight tournament by the WBC.
New Zealand
In Manurewa, super featherweights Baby Nansen (2-2) and Daria Smith (0-2) face off for four rounds on Saturday Oct. 8. Also, heavyweights Victoria Nansen (0-1) and Kirsty Lupeamanu (0-1) meet in a four rounder.
Norway
Cecilia Braekhus (29-0, 8 Kos) knocked out Anne Sophie Mathis (27-4-1) at 1:05 of the second round to retain the welterweight world championship on Saturday Oct. 1. The title match took place in Oslo, Norway and was a rematch of a fight that took place four years ago. It was also the first time a pro boxing match was held in that country in over 20 years.
Switzerland
Viviane Obenauf (9-1) defeated Karina Kopinska (7-13-3) by decision after six rounds of a lightweight match on Saturday Oct. 1. The fight took place in Berne, Switzerland. Obenauf, 29, lives in Switzerland but is originally from Brazil.
Vissia Trovato (6-0, 3 Kos) knocked out Jovana Trifunjagic (3-6) in the second round of their featherweight match on Saturday Oct. 1, in Biel/Bienne, Switzerland. Trovato, 33, fights out of Vimercate, Italy.
United Kingdom
In Tylorstown, Wales, super bantamweights Ashley Brace (4-0) and Galina Ivanova (16-12-4) meet in a six round bout on Saturday Oct. 8.
USA
Fatuma Zarika (28-12-2) upset Alicia Ashley (23-11-1) to win the WBC super bantamweight world title on Saturday Oct. 1, by split decision. The world title match was held in Detroit, Michigan. Zarika, 31, fights out of Kenya. Ashley, 49, fights out of Brooklyn and was making the first defense of the title she regained after defeating Ireland’s Christina McMahon a year ago.
Jessica McCaskill (2-1) won by technical knockout over Alexandria Williams (0-1) in the third round of their lightweight contest on Saturday Oct. 1, in Chicago, Illinois. McCaskill, 32, fights out of Chicago.
Casey Morton (4-0-3) and Samantha Salazar (1-2-1) fought to a majority draw after four rounds of a super flyweight contest on Friday Sept. 30. The match took place in San Francisco, Calif. Morton, 32, fights out of San Francisco. Salazar, 30, lives in Dallas, Texas.
Tiara Brown (1-0) knocked out Khadija Sanders (0-1) in the first round of their featherweight encounter on Friday Sept. 30, in Washington D.C.
In Los Angeles, Calif. on Friday Oct. 7, middleweights Maricela Cornejo (4-2) and Eliza “Bobo” Olson (10-5-3) meet in a six-round contest at Belasco Theater. Cornejo, 29, last fought for the world title in New Zealand earlier this year. She lost by decision. Olson, 40, has not fought in 10 years but was a former world champion from San Francisco.