Female Fight News for Week of December 19, 2016: Mariana Juarez, Marcela Acuna and more
In a light weekend before the holiday season two future female Hall of Fame prizefighters Marcela Acuna and Mariana Juarez showed they are not done yet with performing and winning at a high level.
On Saturday, in Cancun, Mexico, the woman best known as “Barbie” Juarez overcame a point deduction for pushing down her opponent Irma Garcia during their bantamweight clash. Despite the penalty the 36-year-old Juarez managed to pull out a majority decision to win the WBC International title.
She fell to her knees and prayed after hearing the call.
On Friday in Buenos Aires, Argentina, the prizefighter known as “La Tigresa” Acuna avenged a controversial draw against nemesis Yesica Marcos with an impressive knockout in the final round of their rematch. Acuna, 40, has long been that country’s best and most recognized fighter. She was also its first and now that country along with Mexico is taken female boxing to greater heights.
In Japan a large female fight card took place in Tokyo with the minimum weights and light flyweights battling it out. Suddenly, that country has become the foremost proponent of female boxing for the Asian continent.
Here is what happened around the world:
Female Fight News
Argentina
Marcela Acuna (45-6-1) knocked out Yesica Marcos (27-1-2) in the 10th and final round of their battle for the IBF super bantamweight world title. The fight took place in Buenos Aires, Argentina on Friday Dec. 16. It was the second time they met. The first encounter ended in a very controversial draw. Acuna, 40, is considered one of the greatest female fighters out of Argentina and one of the best in the world pound for pound. (For more read Diego Morilla’s story on the fight on this web site) Also, Paola Benavidez (7-2-1) beat Cintia Gonzalez (3-4) by decision in a good super flyweight fight.
Australia
Lauryn Eagle (17-4-1) beat Flora Machela (5-3) by knockout in the second round of their featherweight clash on Friday Dec. 16. The fight took place in Bankstown, New South Wales.
Belgium
On Sunday Dec. 25, in Izegem, a lightweight fight between WBC lightweight titlist Delfine Persoon (37-1) and Everline Odero (7-8-2) is set for eight rounds.
Canada
On Friday Dec. 23, in Quebec, heavyweights Vanessa Joanisse (2-0) and Maria Velis (1-1) meet in a four round bout.
Costa Rica
Yokasta Valle (12-0) won by split decision over Mexico’s Ana Polo (3-2) after 10 rounds in a very close minimum weight fight held on Friday Dec. 16, in San Jose.
Finland
Eva Wahlstrom (19-0-1) defeated Argentina’s Anahi Sanchez (14-1) by unanimous decision after 10 rounds on Saturday Dec. 17, to keep the WBC super featherweight world title. The fight took place in Helsinki, Finland where Wahlstrom, 36, lives. It was her second title defense since winning it in April 2015. Sanchez, 25, holds the IBF version but it was not at stake.
France
Marie Meron (2-0) won by technical knockout of Kinga Magyar (1-3) in the third round of their welterweight clash. The fight took place on Saturday Dec. 17, in Beauvais, France.
Germany
Milena Koleva (9-6-1) won by technical knockout of Danuta Kruczek (0-4) in the first round of their featherweight fight on Saturday Dec. 17, in Hangelsberg, Germany.
Hungary
Kleopatra Tolnai (11-9) defeated Veronika Hornyak (4-13) by unanimous decision after a six round bantamweight fight on Wednesday Dec. 14. The fight took place in Budapest, Hungary.
Japan
Yuko Kuroki (17-4-1) defeated Mari Ando (13-10) by unanimous decision to keep the WBC minimum weight world title. The fight took place in Fukuoka, Japan on Sunday Dec. 18. Kuroki, 25, fights out of Fukuoka and the southpaw made her fifth successful defense of the title. Also, Sana Hazuki (5-1) knocked out Petchompoo Mor Krungthepthonburi (2-1) in the second round of another minimum weight fight. Plus, Ayaka Sato (4-4-1) beat Petchprajeen Saithhonggym (0-1) by decision in a super flyweight bout.
Akari Arase (5-2) beat Krikanok Islandmuythai (4-7-1) by decision after six rounds in a light flyweight bout on Sunday Dec. 18, in Osaka, Japan. Also, Tomoko Okuda (3-1) defeated Miki Matsuda (1-3) by decision after a four round super bantamweight fight.
A large female fight card saw Nao Ikeyama (18-3-2) win by knockout over Ayaka Miyao (21-7-1) in the sixth round of their minimum weight clash on Tuesday Dec. 13, in Tokyo, Japan. Ikeyama is 47 years old and hasn’t lost a fight since 2010. Other results on the same card saw Yunoka Furukawa (9-1-2) beat Mika Iwakawa (6-5-1) in a minimumweight fight. Chaoz Minawa (3-0) beat Carleans Rivas (5-4-3) for OPBF flyweight title; Natsuki Tarui (1-4-1) and Saki Akimaru (0-1-1) fought to a draw; Kaori Furusawa (1-0) beat Ageha Android (0-1) by decision in light flyweight fight; Nanae Suzuki (2-2) beat Haruko Kaneko (0-2) by knockout in second round of a minimum weight fight; and Megumi Hosoda (1-0) beat Atsuko Nitta (0-2) in a light flyweight bout.
Mexico
Mariana “Barbie” Juarez (44-9-4) defeated Irma Garcia (16-2-1) in a battle of former world champions to capture the WBC International bantamweight title by majority decision. The 10 round title fight took place on Saturday Dec. 17, in Cancun, Mexico. Both Juarez and Garcia fight out of Mexico City. Garcia is a former WBA bantamweight titlist and held the WBC International title. Juarez, 36, is a former flyweight world titlist. Also, Maricela Cornejo (6-2) defeated Martha Lara (10-6) by unanimous decision after six rounds. Cornejo, 29, fights out of Los Angeles and formerly fought for the world title last April and lost a close decision.
Sulem Urbina (3-0) defeated Jacqueline Coutino (0-2) by unanimous decision after a four round super flyweight bout on Saturday Dec. 17, in Chiapas, Mexico. Urbina, 26, fights out of Phoenix, Arizona.
Joselyn Casilla (2-1) defeated Alejandra Soto (1-2-1) by unanimous decision after four rounds on Wed. Dec. 14. The flyweight bout took place in Iztacalco, Mexico City. Also, Maria Soledad Vargas (3-1) won by decision over Esmeralda Gaona Sagahon (1-1) in a light flyweight contest.
Maryan Salazar (5-0) defeated Linda Vazquez (2-5) by unanimous decision after a four round flyweight bout on Tuesday Dec. 13, in Monterrey, Mexico.
Spain
Inna Sagaydakovskaya (4-0) won by technical knockout of Eva Bajic (12-9) in the first round of their super welterweight clash on Saturday Dec. 17, in Bilbao, Spain. It was Sagaydakovskaya, 32, first time fighting out of Russia.
Uruguay
On Tuesday Dec. 20, in San Carlos, super flyweights Gabriela Bouvier (12-6-1) and Fabiana Lopes (0-3) meet in a six round bout.