Female Fight News for week of Feb. 20, 2017 Cecilia Braekhus and more
Welterweights take center stage in Northern Europe this Saturday with a couple of top notch women colliding in icy Norway.
First, a couple of boxing crazy countries let loose this past weekend as Argentina and Mexico opened up with a flurry of fight cards.
But it was in Texas that a world title fight of significance took place as American featherweight Jennifer Han successfully defended her title against Canada’s Olivia Gerula who did not make weight.
In Africa another world champion Fatuma Zarika returned to the boxing ring but not in defense of the WBC super bantamweight title she won versus Alicia Ashley. But she did win by knockout in her native Kenya.
Now to the biggest fight so far coming up.
Welterweight world champion Cecilia Braekhus finally meets Sweden’s Karla Svensson in defense of the WBC, WBA, WBO and IBF welterweight world titles on Saturday in Oslo, Norway.
It was originally scheduled to take place earlier in the month but Braekhus was afflicted with the flu so showdown was postponed to the 24th of February. It’s only the second time in 30 years that any boxing match has taken place in Norway. That country had banned boxing until Braekhus popularity literally forced that government to rescind the law banning the sport.
Svensson recently defeated fellow Swede Mikaela Lauren and won the right to face Braekhus in a battle of Nordic female warriors. Her boxing style could prove difficult for Braekus who has dominated Europe since her pro debut in 2007.
A number of welterweight fighters are awaiting the outcome including Layla McCarter who was recently signed by Mayweather Promotions. Whoever emerges the winner can expect McCarter waiting.
Coming up in March a number of American women will be waiting in the wings to show their skills including Claressa Shields, Marlen Esparza, Amanda Serrano, Heather Hardy and McCarter.
Female Fight News
Argentina
Andrea Sanchez (6-0-1) beat Virginia Carcamo (4-2-1) by decision after six rounds in a light flyweight fight on Saturday Feb. 18. Also, Macarena Ledesma (5-0) defeated Laura Martinez (0-5) by decision after a four round lightweight match. Both female fights took place in Mar de Ajo in Buenos Aires.
Anahi Lopez (10-0-1) defeated Valeria Almiron (2-11) after a six round bout on Saturday Feb. 18. The super flyweight match was held in Junin, Buenos Aires.
Jorgelina Guanini (6-0-1) was victorious over Veronica Tesure (0-5-1) by unanimous decision on Saturday Feb. 18. The super flyweight match took place in Necochea, Buenos Aires.
Lucia Larcinese (8-12-1) was the victor over Alejandra Morales (2-15-3) by unanimous decision after four rounds on Saturday Feb. 18. The featherweight fight took place in Moreno, Buenos Aires.
Romina Guichapani (1-0) won her pro debut by technical knockout versus Lorena Moreyra (0-2) in the third round on Saturday Feb. 18. The super featherweight clash took place in Pico Truncado, Santa Cruz.
Croatia
Nina Stojanovic (10-1) managed to defeat Nevenka Mikulic (7-8-1) by split decision after eight rounds on Saturday Feb. 18. The flyweight clash took place in Zagreb.
France
Elhem Mekhaled (3-0) defeated Bilitis Gaucher (5-8-2) by decision after six rounds on Friday Feb. 17. The lightweight fight was held in Loire, France.
Hungary
Karina Kopinska (8-15-3) won by technical knockout of Beata Salgo (0-11) in the first round on Saturday Feb. 18. He lightweight bout was held in Budapest.
Japan
Nana Takahashi (1-0-1) and Sayaka Aoki (3-3-1) fought to a draw after four rounds on Sunday Feb. 19. The minimum weight bout took place in Tokyo, Japan.
Kenya
Fatuma Zarika (29-12-2) knocked out Flora Machela (5-4) in the first round of their fight set for eight rounds. Zarika, 31, is the current WBC super bantamweight titlist but was not defending her title. Also, in another female fight, Judy Waguthii (15-7-4) defeated Joice Awino (7-4-1) by decision after six rounds in a lightweight match. Both female fights took place in Nairobi.
Mexico
Maria De Lourdes Garcia (4-0) defeated Fatima Rodriguez (0-3) by majority decision after four three-minute rounds of a flyweight bout on Sunday Feb. 19. Also, Cristina Hernandez (2-3-1) knocked out Teresa De Jesus (0-3) in the second round of their light flyweight bout. Both female fights were fought on three-minute rounds instead of two-minute rounds in La Barca, Jalisco.
Jazmin Gonzalez (8-2) upset Joselyn Arroyo Ruiz (18-1) and won by unanimous decision after six rounds of a super flyweight fight on Saturday Feb. 18. Also, Sulem Urbina (4-0) slipped by Kumora Yang Badillo (2-3) by majority decision after a four round flyweight bout. Both female fights took place in Guaymas, Sonora.
Mayela Perez (15-21-4) defeated Maryan Salazar (5-1) by unanimous decision after 10 rounds on Saturday Feb. 18. The minimum weight contest took place in Saltillo. Perez, 31, fights out of Saltillo. The loser Salazar, 18, fights out of Aguascalientes, Mexico.
New Zealand
On Saturday Feb.25, in Porirua, featherweights Ramona Sargent (0-0) and Kaysey Warner (0-0) both make their pro debuts against each other in a four round featherweight bout.
Norway
On Friday Feb. 24, in Oslo, welterweight world champion Cecilia Braekhus (29-0, 8 Kos) meets Sweden’s Klara Svensson (17-1) in a 10 round world title match. Braekhus, 35, is considered one of the top female fighters in the world. Svensson, 29, recently defeated Mikaela Lauren and is considered a very good boxer.
Russia
Kristina Sargsyan (1-0) won her pro debut by decision after four rounds versus Viktoria Alexandrova (0-3) on Wednesday Feb. 15. The flyweight contest took place in Moscow.
On Saturday Feb. 25, in Solnechnyy, super bantamweights Tatyana Zrazhevskaya (4-0) and Galina Ivanova (16-14-4) meet in a 10 round bout for the vacant WBC Slovenian Boxing Bureau title.
Singapore
Nurshahidah Roslie (5-1) won by technical knockout of Ratsadaporn Khiaosopa (0-7) in round two on Friday Feb.17. Their super featherweight fight took place in Singapore.
South Korea
On Sunday Feb. 26, in Gimhae City, super flyweights Hee Jung Yuh (17-3) and Wassana Kamdee (1-1) meet in a 10 round contest for the WBC Asian Boxing title. Also, Hyun Hee Kil (1-1) and Pakua U-Patam (0-1) meet in a six round bantamweight clash.
Spain
Katharina Thanderz (4-0) won by knockout of Mirabella Georghe (0-9) in the second round of their fight on Saturday Feb. 18. The lightweight match was held in Leon, Spain.
USA
Ikram Kerwat (7-1) defeated Britain Hart (2-1) by unanimous decision after four rounds on Friday Feb. 17. The lightweight match took place in Wilmington, Delaware.
IBF featherweight titlist Jennifer Han (16-3-1) was victorious over Canada’s Olivia Gerula (18-17-2) after 10 rounds on Friday Feb. 17. The world title match was held in El Paso, Texas which is Han’s hometown. Gerula, 37, was overweight and could not win the title if she had emerged victorious. It was Han’s third defense of the title that she won in September 2015.
Venezuela
Carolina Alvarez (13-7-4) defeated Marianny Acosta (0-2) by split decision after six rounds on Saturday Feb. 18. The bantamweight fight took place in Tejerias, Venezuela. Also, Norleidys Glaterol (1-0) beat Edith Segura (0-4) by first round technical knockout in their light flyweight clash. And Luisana Bolivar (4-3) knocked out Rosana Colmenarez (2-1) in the fourth round of their minimum weight match.