Female Fight News for week of April 10, Maricela Cornejo and more

 

By David A. Avila

Another Olympian made her pro debut, another fighting sister act played out and an undefeated fighter was willing to risk the O in favor of competition.

Even though an undefeated Sydney LeBlanc lost to middleweight contender Maricela Cornejo, the Louisiana prizefighter should be applauded for accepting the challenge. It’s something that few undefeated female boxers seem willing to do.

In this age of spotless records with wins over opponents that have records of two wins and 15 losses, and sometimes fighting that same girl two or more times, there are other prizefighters who do not seek to hide from competition just so they can tell the world they are undefeated.

Basically, an undefeated record means you haven’t fought anybody with talent.

Cornejo, who turns 30 in six days, did not have the luxury of facing subpar talent to pad her record. Because the middleweight divisions and higher are sparse in numbers the fighters fight whomever or wherever they can find them.

On Sunday night, in Los Angeles, middleweight contender Cornejo (7-2) met LeBlanc (4-1-1) at the Novo at LA Live and after a scrappy six round affair was declared the winner by unanimous decision.

“I thought it was a great fight and she came ready to fire away,” said Cornejo after the outing. “I felt I was able to do what I planned.”

Cornejo and LeBlanc traded blows to the delight of the more than 600 rowdy fans in an entertaining fight that had the crowd going. Sadly, the female clash was not televised. Instead, the males dominated the television screen. Hopefully, Ringstar Sports makes room for the females on their next televised card.

“It was exciting for me,” said Cornejo who was raised in Washington but now trains in the desert town of Indio, Calif. under Joel Diaz. “This was the most prepared I’ve ever been for any of my fights. I have to thank Joel Diaz and his team for that. I never trained so hard in my life.”

In Denver, Colorado, the third sister of Mexico’s fighting Juarez women fought to a win in a super featherweight match. Just last week her sister Mariana “La Barby” Juarez captured the WBC bantamweight title. A week before that, Lourdes “La Pequena Lulu” Juarez won in a flyweight battle in Juarez, Mexico. Lulu may be closest Juarez sister to winning a world title and matching the fighting Puerto Rican sisters Amanda and Cindy Serrano who both have WBO world titles.

Speaking of the Serrano sisters, Amanda Serrano heads toward winning a world title in a fifth weight division when she meets Dahiana Santana on April 22 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn. That’s five world titles in five weight divisions.

Across the ocean two-time Olympic gold medalist Nicola Adams made her pro debut and defeated tough Argentine Virginia Carcamo by decision after four rounds in Manchester, England. It was a more competitive match up than what was seen when American Marlen Esparza made her pro debut last month.

Undefeated doesn’t always mean a fighter is the best. It mostly means they have not met and fought someone of equal talent.

 

More Female Fights News

 

Argentina

Alejandra Oliveras (33-3-2) defeated Lesly Morales (7-2-1) by unanimous decision after 10 rounds on Saturday April 8. The super featherweight fight took place in Neuquen, Argentina. For more on this fight ready Diego Morilla’s story on this site.

 

Denmark

Sarah Mahfoud (2-0) won by unanimous decision over Ainara Mota (1-3-1) after four rounds on Friday April 7. The featherweight bout took place in Copenhagen.

 

Finland

Sanna Turunen (2-0-1) and Borislava Goranova (10-47-3) fought to a technical draw after four rounds on Saturday April 8. The middleweight fight took place in Hameelinna, Finland and was stopped due to accidental clash of heads causing a cut near eye of Goranova.

 

France

Isabelle Pare (6-0) defeated Bilitis Gaucher (5-9-2) by decision after eight rounds on Saturday April 8. The lightweight for the French title took place in Montlucon, France.

Elhem Mekhaled (5-0) was victorious over Pauline Leconte (1-1-1) by decision after six rounds on Saturday April 8. The lightweight match was held in Haute-Loire, France.

 

Hungary

Alexandra Lakatos (2-0-1) and Kleopatra Tolnai (12-10-1) fought to a split draw after 10 rounds on Saturday April 8. The super flyweight fight took place in Budapest. Both Lakatos, 17, and Tolnai, 20, live and fight out of Hungary. Also, in another fight, Timea Belik (4-2) won by knockout in the second round over Klaudia Vigh (2-17-1) ina welterweight fight.

 

Mexico

Yesenia Gomez (13-4-1) and Jackie Calvo (10-2-1) fought to a draw after six rounds on Saturday April 8. The flyweight battle took place in Cancun, Mexico.

Karina Hernandez (9-1-3) knocked out Adela Romero (0-1) in the first round on Saturday April 8. The bantamweight clash took place in Nezahualcoyotl, Mexico City. Also, Mari Rodriguez (1-0) won her pro debut by majority decision over Angela Nolazco (0-2) after four rounds in a flyweight bout.

On Saturday April 15, heavyweights Angelica Lopez (5-0) and Yareli Olivares (0-1) meet in a six round bout in Tamazunchale, San Luis Potosi. Also, a light flyweight clash between Cristina Hernandez (3-4-1) and Irene Chibran (0-2-1) is set for four rounds.

 

Philippines

On Saturday April 15, minimum weight fighters Jessebelle Pagaduan (9-1-1) and Aisah Alico (6-7) meet in a six round bout in Makati City, Manila.

 

Russia

Firuza Sharipova (4-1) knocked out Viktoriya Kotova (0-1) in the first round on Friday April 7. The super lightweight match was held in Moscow, Russia.

 

Singapore

Nurshahidah Roslie (6-1) beat Nongoum Por Niramon (1-2) by technical knockout in the second round on Saturday April 8. The featherweight fight was held in Singapore. Also, Marija Malenica (1-0) won a decision over Jen Norris (0-1) after four lightweight rounds. Plus, Ai Jin (1-0) beat Kongsang Phalum (0-2) by decision in a flyweight fight.

 

Sweden

Elin Cederros (1-0) won by technical knockout of Sanja Ostojic (1-2) in the fourth round on Saturday April 8. The super middleweight fight took place in Haninge, Sweden.

 

Tanzania

On Sunday April 16, lightweights Feriche Mashauri (2-0) and Happy Daudi (0-2) meet in a six round bout in Dar-Es-Salaam. Also, Jamhuri Said (1-3) and Amina Mohammed (0-4) meet in a four round super lightweight match.

 

United Kingdom

Nicola Adams (1-0) won her pro debut by unanimous decision after four rounds versus Virginia Carcamo (4-3-1) on Saturday April 8. The super flyweight fight was held in Manchester, England. Adams, 34, is a former two-time Olympic gold medalist. Carcamo, 32, fights out of Argentina.

 

USA

Maricela Cornejo (7-2) handed Sydney LeBlanc (4-1-1) her first defeat as a pro in winning by unanimous decision after six rounds on Sunday April 9. The middleweight fight took place in Los Angeles, California.

Iris Contreras (1-0) won by split decision over Shurreta Metcalf (1-2) after four rounds on Saturday April 8. The bantamweight match took place in Richmond, Calif.

Aleksandra Lopes (17-4-2) grabbed a win by unanimous decision over Paty Ramirez (11-4) after eight rounds on Friday April 7. The welterweight fight was staged in Lincoln, Rhode Island.

(Photo of Maricela Cornejo by Al Applerose)