Female Fight News for week of March 7, 2017 Heather Hardy and more
One Olympian triumphed in her third foray into the professional world and another will enter the stage a second time in what will be another historic moment for women’s prizefighting.
But first, Brooklyn’s Heather “the Heat” Hardy returned to the boxing ring and faced Hungary’s veteran Edina Kiss in a featherweight clash for the WBC International title. After 10 rounds Hardy retained the title by unanimous decision at Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
“Edina was a true warrior and a tough opponent,” said Hardy who is promoted by DiBella Entertainment. “But basically I had my way completely, and was in charge of every minute of every round.”
There were no knockdowns in the clash between 126-pounders but after 10 rounds the judges scored it 80-72 twice and 79-73 for Hardy. It was her first fight since her television debut last summer in a heat-raising clash with Shelly Vincent. That fight set in motion more female fights on television.
In London, England, former 2012 Olympic gold medalist Katie Taylor scored a riveting knockout over Monica Gentili in a lightweight contest. Ireland’s Taylor will be crossing the ocean soon to show off her talent on a future televised fight in the United States.
This Friday, two-time Olympic gold medalist Claressa Shields will be shattering a glass barrier when she is the featured main event in Detroit, Michigan. More importantly, it is the main event on Showtime television network. It’s the first time a female bout is the headliner.
On Monday March 13, in Japan, former three-division world champion Naoko Fujioka challenges Mexico’s Isabel Millan for the vacant WBA flyweight world title. It’s yet another clash between the two titans in female boxing world. Last weekend, in Guadalajara, Alondra Garcia grabbed the IBF light flyweight world title from Japan’s Naoko Shibata. It was a rematch between the duo who first clashed in 2013 with Shibata winning the then vacant IBF title. A third match seems likely.
Plenty of action takes place in Europe with Germany’s Nikki Adler leading the way in defending her middleweight titles against Mery Rancier in Ludwigshafen, Germany on Saturday March 11.
Female Fight News
Argentina
Alejandra Zamora (4-1) defeated Flavia Quintero (0-1) by decision after four rounds on Saturday March 4. The super featherweight bout was held in Malvinas, Argentina.
Anahi Sanchez (15-1) knocked out Verena Crespo (7-7-1) in the first round of their scheduled six round fight on Friday March 3. The super featherweight fight took place in Pergamino, Argentina. It was Sanchez’s first fight since losing by decision to Eva Wahlstrom for the world title in Finland last December.
Australia
Susie Ramadan (26-2) knocked out Rungnapa Keawkrachang (13-9-1) in the third round of their scheduled six round super flyweight fight on Friday March 3. Ramadan, 37, a former two-time bantamweight world champion, dropped down in weight for this fight. It was Ramadan’s third consecutive knockout win. In this fight she floored the Thai fighter three times before the fight was stopped at 1:15 of the third round. Ramadan’s only losses were to Mexico’s Yazmin Rivas with both fights taking place in Mexico.
Czech Republic
On Saturday March 11, in Prague, minimum weights Fabiana Bytyqi (9-0) and Evgeniya Zablotskaya (8-13) meet in a 10 round contest.
Dominican Republic
Cristal Garcia (4-0) was victorious by technical knockout of Maria Hernandez (0-2) in the second round on Saturday March 4. The super featherweight clash took place in Villa Altagracia.
France
Anne Sophie Da Costa (23-2) defeated Oksana Romanova (9-19-1) by decision after six rounds on Saturday March 4. The flyweight contest took place in Reims, Marne. Da Costa, 34, is the current WBF flyweight titlist.
On Friday March 10, in Nord, super bantamweights Segolene Lefebvre (6-0) and Brazil’s Simone Da Silva Duarte (15-10) meet in a 10 round bout for the vacant WBF title.
Germany
Nina Meinke (5-0) captured the WBC Youth title by first round knockout of Hasna Tukic (9-6) on Saturday March 4. The super featherweight title contest took place in Wangen im Allgaeu, Germany.
On Saturday March 11, in Ludwigshafen, WIBF and GBU middleweight titlist Nikki Adler (15-0) and Mery Rancier (7-7-3) meet in a 10 round clash. Adler, 29, fights out of Augsburg, Germany.
On Saturday March 11, in Oberhausen, featherweights Eda Essaoudi (0-0) meets Kristina Jeftenic (0-7) in a four round match.
Japan
On Sunday March 12, in Kobe, minimum weights Sana Hazuki (5-1) and Minayo Kei (4-2) meet in a six round clash.
On Monday March 13, a terrific fight card takes place in Tokyo, Japan. Naoko Fujioka (15-2) meets Mexico’s Isabel Millan (18-2-1) meet in a 10 round clash for the vacant WBA flyweight world title. Also, light flyweights Shione Ogata (7-5) and Jun Yabuki (6-0) meet in an eight round bout.
Mexico
Alondra Garcia (17-3-1) captured the IBF light flyweight world title by decision after 10 rounds versus Japan’s Naoko Shibata (16-4-1) on Saturday March 4. Garcia, 21, was fighting in her hometown Guadalajara, Mexico. Shibata, 35, was making the sixth world title defense since winning it in November 2013 against the same Alondra Garcia who was 18 at their first encounter. That initial clash took place in Tokyo, Japan. Also, in another female bout, Marisol Corona (9-2-1) defeated Marcela Varela (2-2) by decision after a six round super featherweight bout.
Yazmin Rivas (36-10-1) won by unanimous decision over Nazly Maldonado (5-6) after 10 rounds on Saturday March 4. The super bantamweight clash took place in Tlalpan, Distrito Federal. Also, Silvia Torres (15-0-1) beat Brenda Fernandez (4-1) by decision after six rounds in a battle of undefeated light flyweights. Plus, Valeria Perez (8-2) beat Deisy Ceja Hernandez (6-16) by decision after a four round super flyweight match.
Jessica Arreguin (12-1-1) defeated Yamileth Mercado (7-1) by unanimous decision after 10 rounds on Friday March 3. The super bantamweight fight took place in Nuevo Casas Grandes, Chihuahua.
Melissa Esquivel (1-0) won by knockout over Beatriz Arambure (0-1) in the first round on Friday March 3. The featherweight fight took place in Los Mochis, Sinaloa.
Former flyweight world champion Kenia “La Gema” Enriquez (17-1) meets Guadalupe Martinez (4-6) in a six round light flyweight match on Friday March 10, in Tijuana, Mexico. Enriquez, 23, was the former WBO flyweight champion but dropped down to her natural weight and seeks a world title in the 110-pound weight class. Also, Brenda Flores (10-3-1) fights Jessica Rangel (0-3) in a six round flyweight contest. Both fights take place at the Grand Hotel in Tijuana.
On Saturday March 11, in Campeche, super lightweights Dayana Perez (0-0) and Maria Lazaro (0-0) meet in a six round bout. Also, light flyweights Ageles Farfan (0-0) and Katerine Camacho (0-0) meet in a four round contest.
New Zealand
On Friday March 10 in Auckland, heavyweights Arlie Meleisea (2-0) and Nailini Helu (2-1-1) meet in an eight round contest.
Serbia
On Friday March 10 in Krusevac, super lightweights Aleksandra Vujovic (1-0) and Ksenija Medic (0-2) meet in a four round bout. Plus, super middleweights Jasmina Merdic (0-2) and Sanja Ristic (0-1) meet in another four round bout.
Spain
On Friday March 10 in Madrid, flyweights Joana Pastrana (7-1) and Judit Hachbold (1-0) meet in a six round bout.
On Saturday March 11, in Bilbao, super welterweights Inna Sagaydakovskaya (4-0) and Najat Hasnouni (3-0-2) meet in an eight round match up.
United Kingdom
Ireland’s Katie Taylor (3-0, 2 Kos) stopped Monica Gentili (6-7) in the fifth round of their scheduled six round fight on Saturday March 4. The lightweight match up was held in Greenwich, London. It was Taylor’s second impressive knockout since turning professional earlier this year. Taylor, 30, won a gold medal for Ireland in 2012.
Lauren Johnson (1-0) won her pro debut by decision after four rounds versus Monica Antonik (1-2) on Saturday March 4. The super welterweight fight took place in Walsall, West Midlands.
USA
Heather Hardy (19-0) successfully defended the WBC International title by unanimous decision after 10 rounds versus Hungary’s Edina Kiss (13-3) on Saturday March 4. The featherweight bout was held in Brooklyn, New York. Hardy, 35, was making the first defense of the title she won last summer in a spectacular battle with Shelly Vincent.
Alycia Baumgardner (1-0) won her pro debut by technical knockout of Britain Hart (2-2) in the first round of their clash on Saturday March 4. The super featherweight match took place in Columbus, Ohio.
On Friday March 10, in Detroit, Claressa Shields (1-0) and Szilvia Szabados (15-8) meet in an eight round bout for the vacant NABF middleweight title. Szabados, 26, fights out of Hungary and has fought for a world title in the past. Shields, 21, has won two Olympic gold medals. The fight will be the main event and televised by Showtime.
On Friday March 10, in Denver, super bantamweights Alma Garcia (2-4) and Brittany Cruz (10-8-2) meet in a four round contest.
On Saturday March 11, in Las Vegas, Nevada, light flyweights Marina Ramirez (2-1) and Judit Pereira (1-0) meet in a four round bout.
On Saturday March 11, in Montebello, California, featherweights Adelaida Ruiz and Rebecca Light both make their pro debuts in a four round bout at the Quiet Cannon golf course.