Christina Hammer Wins WBC Title and Female Fight News
Christina Hammer added a second world title to her collection after defeating Kali Reis the WBC titlist in their middleweight unification clash last weekend. And with Claressa Shields entering the pro ranks suddenly the division looks appealing.
Hammer (20-0, 9 Kos) now has the WBC and WBO middleweight titles after beating Reis (10-6-1, 4 Kos) by unanimous decision in Munich, Germany. It was Hammer time as she established the pace from the outside and was rarely challenged.
Reis, 30, looked stiff and flat-footed in the opening round as Hammer moved around the ring fluidly. Although the European female initiated most of the action, in the first two rounds, there were few punches that landed. Reis landed in the first round toward the end and Hammer connected with an uppercut during an inside exchange in the second round.
In the third round Reis seemed to catch her rhythm. Hammer continued to move around while sticking her favorite weapon the jab. On several occasions Reis countered the Hammer jab with a right. But she seemed more effective when she countered Hammer’s jabs with her own jabs. Few of Hammer’s punches were hard, most were of the amateur slapping variety.
The WBC titlist Reis worked effectively to the body and that opened up the firing lanes for the head in round four. Reis connected with a big overhand right that snapped Hammer’s head back and put her on the move. Reis quickened her attack and landed some solid shots as Hammer flailed in the fourth. It was a good round for Reis.
Hammer, 26, worked her jab a lot and fired combinations easily. But her punches were not very accurate or strong and Reis seemed to move the WBA titlist each time with her power. Several big right hands stunned Hammer but not enough to wobble her. The German-based fighter resorted to holding on the inside and Reis allowed her to grab her arms without much of a struggle. It was a practice repeated throughout the fight.
Though Reis was definitely the harder puncher and better defensively, Hammer was the busier fighter with her combinations as Reis seemed to wait to counter. Hammer held every time they got within distance of each other and Reis was too lenient of the tactic. It would prove her undoing.
The fight was all about tempo and Hammer set the tempo with Reis waiting for her moment that seldom came. Despite pleas from her corner Reis allowed Hammer to fire combinations and move around the ring with impunity. Had Reis increased the pressure and focused on the body with hard shots, the outcome might have been different. Instead, Hammer was allowed to stick to her plan and won by scores of 100-90, 98-93 twice.
It was a good measuring stick for American gold medalist turned professional Claressa Shields who makes her debut in two weeks in Las Vegas on Nov. 19 and probably was watching. She fights Franchon Crews a former US National champion who is making her pro debut too at the T Mobile Arena on the Las Vegas strip. The winner of Shields and Crews could easily challenge Hammer for the titles next year despite having no pro experience.
The female middleweight suddenly has pizazz.
Female fight news from around the world
Argentina
Jorgelina Guanini (5-0-1) defeated Maria Sanchez (0-1) by unanimous decision after a four round super flyweight fight. The match took place on Saturday Nov. 5, in Tandil, Argentina.
Ana Esteche (12-4-3) defeated Celeste Peralta (8-1) to become the WBA, WBO and IBF super lightweight world titles on Friday Nov. 4, in Buenos Aires, Argentina. It was the second time they fought but this time it was for 10 rounds. Peralta won their first match in 2015.
Cristina Pacheco (8-10-2) beat Marta Juncos (5-24-4) by unanimous decision after six rounds in a super bantamweight fight on Friday Nov.4, in Inriville.
Makarena Gallastegui (1-0) beat Cintia Gonzalez (2-3) by unanimous decision after four three-minute featherweight rounds on Friday Nov. 4, in Laprida.
On Saturday Nov. 12, light flyweights Yesica Bopp (29-1) and Anahi Torres (15-14-1) meet in a 10 round bout in Santiago del Estero. Bopp, 32, is defending the WBA light flyweight title. Torres, 27, fights out of Mexico City.
Belgium
On Friday Nov. 11, in West Vlaanderen, WBC lightweight titlist Delfine Persoon (36-1) meets Ruth Aquino (8-2) in a 10 round bout. Persoon, 31, is making the fifth title defense since winning it against Argentina’s Erica Farias in April 2014. Aquino, 28, fights out of Argentina.
On Saturday Nov. 12, in Namur, a featherweight bout features Djemilla Gontaruk (10-3-1) and Katarina Vistica (1-4) in a six round fight.
China
On Sunday Nov. 13, in Shanghai, super bantamweights Ma Suo (0-0) and Ya Hong Yu (1-0) meet in a four round bout.
Colombia
Calixta Silgado (15-7-3) knocked out Julia Cassiani (5-1) in the second round of their featherweight clash on Friday Nov.4, in Barranquilla, Colombia.
On Saturday Nov. 12, in Planeta Rica, super lightweights Lely Luz Florez (15-7-1) and Angie Barca (2-10) meet in a six round contest.
Estonia
On Saturday Nov. 12 in Narva, Estonia, featherweights Elena Gradinar (3-0) and Ana Starovoitova (2-0) meet in a six round contest to see who remains undefeated.
France
Laetitia Chevalier (3-0) beat Ewa Bajic (12-8) by decision after a four round super lightweight clash on Saturday Nov. 5, in Henin-Beaumont, France. Also, Oshin Derieuw (4-0) defeated Valentina Keri (0-1) by decision after a four round super lightweight battle.
Marie Meron (1-0) won her pro debut by decision over Suzana Radovanovic (1-26) after a four round welterweight bout on Saturday Nov. 5, in Compiegne, France.
Belitis Gaucher (4-7-2) and Jessica Sanchez (0-2-2) fought to a draw after a four round super lightweight match on Saturday Nov. 5, in Bourges, France.
Segolene Lefebvre (6-0) won the vacant WBF International super bantamweight title by unanimous decision after 10 rounds versus Gabriella Mezei (7-7-2) on Friday Nov. 4, in Douai, France.
On Thursday, Nov. 10, in Paris, super featherweights Jennifer Salinas (19-3) and Maiva Hamadouche (13-1) fight for the vacant IBF super featherweight world title. Salinas, 34, fights out of Rhode Island, USA. Hamadouche, 27, fights out of France. Both women won their last bout by knockout.
Georgia
Elene Sikmashvili (9-3) beat Gvantsa Tadiashvili (0-2) by unanimous decision after eight super middleweight rounds on Thursday Nov. 3, in Variani, Georgia. Also, Lela Terashvili (8-5-1) beat Nino Galukhia (0-2) by decision after six super lightweight rounds.
Germany
Christina Hammer (20-0) defeated Kali Reis (10-6-1) to add the WBC title to the WBO title she already had on Saturday, Nov. 5, in Munich, Germany. It was a rematch and Hammer won again. Also, Nina Meinke (4-0) beat Kleopatra Tolnai (9-9) by technical knockout in the third round of their featherweight clash.
Steffi Schuenke (11-1) knocked out Petra Podraska (0-1) in the first round of their flyweight bout on Saturday Nov. 5, in Mecklenburg, Germany.
Hungary
Marianna Gulyas (14-24) beat Dalia Vasarhelyi (10-14) by decision in a featherweight bout after six rounds on Wednesday Nov. 2, in Budapest.
Japan
On Friday Nov. 11 in Tokyo, minimum weights Momo Koseki (22-2-1) and Chie Higano (6-4) clash in a 10 round bout.
On Friday in Osaka, Japan, minimum weights Maya Uegaki (1-2-1) and Kaori Nagai (0-2) meet in a four round bout.
Ireland
Mary Romero (2-2) defeated Lynn Harvey (1-1) by points after six rounds in a flyweight fight that took place in Dublin, Ireland on Saturday Nov. 5.
Mexico
Berenice Alvarez (1-0) defeated Liliana Lopez (1-2) by decision in their four round super flyweight match on Saturday Nov. 5, in Michoacan, Mexico.
On Friday Nov. 11, in Itztacalco, Mexico City, featherweights Rocio Castillo (4-5-1) and Maria Villalobos (13-14-1) meet in a six round bout.
On Saturday Nov. 12, in Teotihuacan, flyweights Maribel Ramirez (9-9-2) and Mitzi Rodriguez (1-5-1) meet in a six round bout.
On Saturday Nov. 12, in Hermosillo, WBC super flyweight titlist Zulina Munoz (47-1-2) defends against Carolina Alvarez (12-6-4) in a 10 round contest. Munoz, 29, fights out of Mexico City and is making her 10th world title defense since 2012. Alvarez, 38, fights out of Venezuela.
New Zealand
On Saturday Nov. 12, in St. Johns, featherweights Baby Nansen (4-2) fights Wendy Talbot (0-1) in a six round bout.
Panama
Nataly Delgado (4-1-1) beat Janeth Asprilla (1-1-3) by decision after four rounds in a flyweight bout on Saturday Nov. 5, in Parita, Panama.
Poland
Ewa Brodnicka (12-0) won the EBU lightweight title by decision over Anita Torti (10-6-1) after 10 rounds on Saturday Nov. 5, in Lomianki, Poland.
Singapore
On Saturday Nov. 12, in Singapore, super featherweights Nurshahidah Roslie (4-0) and Gentiane Lupi (4-3-1) battle 10 rounds for the vacant WBA Oceania title.
Slovakia
Claudia Ferenczi (13-53-6) defeated Rita Kenessey (4-13-1) by points after four rounds in a super featherweight fight on Wednesday Nov. 2, in Sturovo.
Switzerland
Vissia Trovato (7-0) defeated Galina Ivanova (16-14-4) by unanimous decision after 10 rounds to win the vacant IBO super bantamweight world title on Saturday Nov. 5, in Ascona.
USA
Chasity Martin (4-0) beat Ivana Coleman (1-8) by unanimous decision after a four round super featherweight match on Saturday Nov. 5, in Pompano Beach, Florida.
On Saturday Nov. 12, in Denver, super lightweights Patricia Juarez (1-0) the younger sister of Mariana “Barbie” Juarez battles Katherine Gurevich (1-0) in a four round bout.
Venezuela
Leiryn Flores (5-0-1) beat Edrimar Pirona (1-5) by technical knockout in the third round of their light flyweight fight on Monday Oct. 31, in Petare.