Female Fight News for week of March 21, 2017 Olympians
We’re in the age of the Olympians.
Two Olympians from the 2012 London Olympics perform this weekend in different parts of the world.
Ireland’s Katie Taylor (3-0, 2 Kos) just recently fought on March 4th and won by stoppage against Monica Gentili. Now, she returns on March 25 to face yet another veteran in Milena Koleva who has 17 pro bouts of experience. They’ll meet on Saturday in the Manchester Arena in Manchester, England.
Taylor wastes no time. Recently, Showtime’s Stephen Espinoza revealed plans to include the former gold medalist in future telecasts perhaps as soon as this year.
The other Olympian fighting this week is Houston’s Esparza who makes her pro debut against a fighter with no wins and two losses at Fantasy Springs Casino in Indio, California. It was not revealed if the former bronze medalist will be televised by ESPN but there will be plenty of opportunities in the future. She recently signed with Golden Boy Promotions.
Another interesting matchup in the U.S. takes place in Washington D.C. as Franchon Crews faces Latashia Burton in a super middleweight clash. It was Crews who faced two-time Olympic gold medalist Claressa Shields in November in a fiery clash in Las Vegas.
In Mexico, a high profile battle between super flyweights takes place in the border town of Juarez with Karina Fernandez meeting Lourdes “Lulu” Juarez in a 10 round battle. That should be another highly entertaining contest.
Last week Japan provided an all-female fight card in Tokyo with eight bouts of action. In the main event Ayumi Goto (6-0) defeated Kim Actub (4-7-1) by unanimous decision to win the vacant OPBF super bantamweight title on Wednesday March 15. In another fight, Erika Hanawa (7-0) beat Norj Guro (7-7-1) by second round stoppage in a minimum weight clash
Argentina also picked up considerably with several female cards taking place. In the most significant contest IBF lightweight titlist Victoria Bustos defeated America’s Kimberly Connor. This week, in different parts of Argentina, four separate fight cards will feature female bouts. It’s a busy week for female prizefighting.
Female Fight News for week of March 21
Argentina
Victoria Bustos (17-4) retained the IBF lightweight title by defeating American Kimberly Connor (12-3-2) by decision after 10 rounds on Saturday March 18. The world title fight took place in Vera, Santa Fe. Connor, 36, fights out of Little Rock, Arkansas. Bustos, 28, was making the third defense of the title she won in 2013. Last year she lost in an attempt to win the super lightweight title against Erica Farias. In another female fight, Evelyn Bermudez (3-0) beat Victoria Moreyra (0-1) by decision in a four round super flyweight bout.
Debora Gomez (3-1) beat Maria Cano (0-2) by majority decision on Saturday March 18. The flyweight fight took place in Cordoba.
Ana Guichapani (2-0) won by technical knockout of Flavia Quintero (0-2) in the second round on Friday March 17. The super featherweight fight was held in Rio Gallegos, Argentina.
On Friday March 24, in San Juan, flyweights Leonela Yudica (11-0-3) and Carolina Alvarez (13-7-4) meet for the IBF flyweight title. Yudica, 28, is making the fourth defense of the title she won back in December 2014. Alvarez, 39, fights out of Venezuela and has challenged for the world title several times.
On Friday March 24, in Cordoba, super bantamweights Cristina Pacheco (9-9-2) and Yessika Munoz (1-12-2) meet in a six round bout.
On Friday March 24, in Avellaneda, super featherweights Karen Carabajal (12-0) and Silvia Zacarias (8-20-5) meet in a six round fight.
On Friday March 24, in Pozo de Molle, Cordoba, super bantamweights Jennifer Rasjido (3-0-1) and Romina Gorosito (0-3) face off in a four rounder.
Australia
Sylvia Scharper (6-1-2) fought to a draw versus Kori Farr (2-3-2) after 10 rounds for the vacant WIBA bantamweight title on Saturday March 18. The world title match took place in Melbourne Park. In another bantamweight fight, Chemeka Johnson (5-0) defeated Carol Earl (2-2-1) after six rounds.
April Adams (5-1-1) won by knockout of Daorueng Pakkhetenang (1-4) in the second round on Saturday March 18. The bantamweight fight took place in Eatons Hill, Queensland.
Bulgaria
On Saturday March 25, in Sofia, bantamweights Theodora Hristova (1-4) and Marina Sivenova (0-0) meet in a four round contest.
Canada
Sandy Tsagouris (16-2) defeated Carla Torres (5-5) by unanimous decision after eight rounds to win the WIBA title on Saturday March 18. The super featherweight fight took place in Brampton, Ontario.
Costa Rica
Carolina Arias (12-1) won by technical knockout of Abigail Ramos (5-6) in the second round on Saturday March 18. The super flyweight bout took place in San Jose, Costa Rica.
Denmark
Dina Thorslund (9-0) knocked out Gabriella Mezei (8-8-2) in the first round to win the vacant EBU title on Saturday March 18. The super bantamweight fight took place in Aarhus, Denmark.
France
France’s Ericka Rousseau (11-1) defeated Spain’s Jessica Sanchez (0-3-2) by decision after six rounds on Saturday March 18. The featherweight fight took place in Chatellerault.
Elhem Mekhaled (4-0) won by knockout of Wendy Vincent (0-4-1) in the fourth round on Friday March 17. Mekhaled, 26, won the vacant French super featherweight title with the win.
Finland
Lotta Loikkanen (1-0) won her pro debut by decision over Gyongyi Acs (2-2) after four rounds on Friday March 17. The flyweight contest took place in Joensuu, Finland.
Germany
Sandra Atanassow (6-0) was victorious by split decision over Gabriella Busa (4-8) after 10 rounds on Saturday March 18. The featherweight fight took place in Leipzig, Germany. Busa, 28, fights out of Hungary. Atanassow, 32, fights out of Leipzig, Germany.
Raja Amasheh (20-1) defeated Hungary’s Kleopatra Tolnai (12-10) by unanimous decision after 10 rounds on Saturday March 18. The flyweight clash for the vacant WBC Silver flyweight title took place in Darmstadt, Germany. Tolnai, 20, who fights out of Hungary, had a three fight win streak snapped. The winner Amasheh, 34, fights out of Germany.
Oezlem Sahin (22-1-1) defeated Claudia Ferenczi (16-56-6) by unanimous decision after six rounds on Friday March 17. The light flyweight contest took place in Essen.
Hungary
Timea Belik (3-2) won by technical knockout of Fanni Vigh (0-1) in the first round on Thursday March 16. The welterweight fight took place in Budapest. Also, Patricia Apolot (1-0) won her pro debut against Krsztina Makra (0-2) after four welterweight rounds.
Japan
Wakako Fujiwara (3-2-1) won by split decision over Miki Matsuda (1-4) after four rounds on Sunday March 19. The super bantamweight contest took place in Kanzaki-gun Hyogo. Also, Yumi Marita (2-1) won by split decision versus Sarasa Ichimura (2-4-1) in a four round light flyweight fight.
An all-female fight card in Tokyo saw Ayumi Goto (6-0) defeat Kim Actub (4-7-1) by unanimous decision to win the vacant OPBF super bantamweight title on Wednesday March 15; In other fights, Erika Hanawa (7-0) beat Norj Guro (7-7-1) by second round stoppage in a minimum weight clash; Saemi Hanagata (13-6-3) stopped Yokkao Saenchaigym (0-2) in the second round of their minimum weight fight; Miyo Yashida (6-1) won by majority decision after six super flyweight rounds versus Yuki Koseki (4-4); Marina Sayama (1-0) decisioned Niraporn Tanomsaksree (0-1) after four rounds in a flyweight fight; Saki Akimaru (1-1-1) won by split decision over Natsuki Tarui (1-5-1) in a four round minimum weight bout; Umi Ishikawa (3-0) won by technical knockout of Paveehida Saknarong (0-2) in the second round of their minimum weight meeting; and Nanae Suzuki (3-2) won by majority decision versus Yumiko Shimooka (3-3) in a four round minimum weight clash.
Mexico
Angelica Rascon (8-0) won by split decision over Johanna Porras (1-1-1) after four three-minute rounds on Friday March 17. The lightweight match up took place in Chihuahua, Chihuahua, Mexico.
On Saturday March 25, in Ciudad Juarez, super flyweights Lourdes “Lulu” Juarez (18-2) and Karina Fernandez (9-1-1) meet in an eight round clash.
On Saturday March 25, in Guadalajara, featherweights Yareli Larios (10-0) and Alondra Gonzalez (4-0) meet in a 10 round bout; also super bantamweights Alma De La Cruz (3-9) and Oly Alvarez (0-0) meet in a 10 round bout.
On Saturday March 25, in Vera Cruz, featherweights Ana Julaton (14-4-2) and Maria Jose Nunez (17-12) meet in an eight round contest. Also, minimum weights Angele Farfan (0-0) and Katerine Camacho (0-0) make their debuts.
Philippines
Gretel De Paz (2-0) knocked out Kimberly Labajo (0-2) in the first round on Friday March 17. The featherweight fight took place in Pasay City.
Poland
Paulina Rasjewska (1-0) won by split decision versus Bojana Libiszewska (5-20) after four rounds on Friday March 17. The super bantamweight fight took place in Zyrardow, Poland.
Sweden
Patricia Berghult (6-0) defeated Karina Kopinska (8-16-3) by split decision after six rounds on Saturday March 18. The super lightweight match was held in Malmo, Sweden. Kopinska, 28, fights out of Poland and was Ireland’s Katie Taylor’s first pro opponent. She lost by first round knockout to the Olympian in November. Berghult, 22, fights out of Malmo, Sweden.
On Saturday March 25, in Interlaken, lightweights Viviane Obenauf (9-2) and Maja Milenkovic (5-8) fight for the WBF International title in a scheduled 10 round match.
United Kingdom
On Saturday March 25, in Manchester, England, lightweights Katie Taylor (3-0) and Milena Koleva (9-7-1) meet in an eight round contest. Taylor is a former 2012 Olympic gold medalist.
USA
On Thursday March 23, in Indio, California, flyweights Marlen Esparza debuts against Rachel Sazoff (0-2) in a four round bout at Fantasy Springs Casino. Esparza, 27, is a former 2012 Olympic bronze medalist.
On Saturday March 25, in Washington D.C. middleweights Franchon Crews (0-1) and Latashia Burton (4-8) meet in a four round clash. In another female bout, super featherweights Tiara Brown (1-0) and Olivia Fisher (0-0) fight in a four rounder.
On Saturday March 25, in Billings, Montana, lightweights Shawna Anderson (0-0) and Wamnee Ereaux (0-0-1) meet in a four rounder.
Venezuela
Yenifer Leon (4-0) defeated Yusbely Torrealba (0-1-1) by unanimous decision after four rounds on Saturday March 18. The minimum weight fight was held in Petare, Venezuela.