Female Fight News for week of April 17 Flyweight Tournament and more
By David A. Avila
Flyweights and bantamweights take center stage this weekend in Mexico and the U.S. respectively as world title fights take place.
It was a light week for female boxing in most of the world. Europe saw fighters in Hungary maintain an active pace in a country that has seen a boon in female prizefighting.
Edina Kiss who lost in New York to hometown boxer Heather Hardy returned to the boxing ring a winner in Budapest. On the same boxing ring her friend Szilvia Szabados also returned to winning ways with a knockout. Szbados lost to Claressa Shields last month.
South Korea’s Hyun Mi Choi defeated Japan’s Kimika Miyoshi by unanimous decision after 10 rounds on Saturday April 15 to retain the WBA super featherweight title. Choi, 26, has defended the title three times. She is also a former WBA featherweight titleholder and defended that title a total of seven times including wins over Sandy Tsagouris and Shannon O’Connell. All of her fights have been in South Korea.
An epic showdown takes place in Brooklyn this Saturday as Puerto Rico’s Amanda Serrano chases a fifth world title in a fifth weight division. The hard-hitting Serrano faces Dominican Republic’s Dahiana Santana a former featherweight champion at Barclay’s Center. The WBO bantamweight title is the reward.
Serrano, 28, has emerged as one of the best female fighters pound for pound and the most exciting fighter today. It’s the primary reason that Showtime will televise this sterling match up Saturday. Santana, 32, is a veteran and has fought against the best. It’s a another great moment for women’s boxing and especially because its televised.
WBC Tournament
Down in Mexico, yet another major fight takes place as the WBC flyweight tournament continues.
Ibeth “La Roca” Zamora chases the flyweight world title when she meets Esmeralda “La Joya” Moreno in the semi-finals of the tournament that began last year.
Zamora, 28, has held the light flyweight world title since 2013 and already has a win over Moreno and wins over many of the best fighters at flyweight and below. She shocked the world in defeating Ava Knight when the Northern California fighter attempted to drop down in weight back in 2013. Zamora also defeated Jessica Chavez and Jolene Blackshear who took part in the tournament too. But now she is attempting to win the WBC flyweight title at 112 pounds.
Moreno lost to Zamora in 2015 but that was at 108-pound limit. Since moving up to the 112 pound flyweights Moreno has proven to be a Sherman tank. Will the heavier weight make a difference against Zamora?
The winner of Zamora-Moreno will face the winner of Jessica Chavez and Ana Arrazola who fight on May 13 in Zapopan, Jalisco, Mexico.
Female Fight News
Argentina
On Friday April 21, super lightweights Maria Capriola (6-5-4) and Cristina Cuevas (3-5-2) meet in a four round clash in Villa Carlos Paz.
On Saturday April 22, light flyweights Yesica Bopp (30-1) and Luna Torroba (11-5-2) meet in a 10 round bout for the WBA light flyweight title in Azul, Buenos Aires. Bopp, 33, is one of the most popular female fighters in the world. Also, Virginia Carcamo (4-3-1) meets Adriana Maldonado (1-6-1) in a four round flyweight bout. Carcamo just fought over a week ago against two-time Olympic gold medalist Nicola Adams and lost by decision.
Canada
On Saturday April 22, cruiserweights Annie Mazerolle (2-2) and Maria Velis (1-2) meet in a four round bout in New Brunswick.
Hungary
Edina Kiss (14-3) was victorious over Beata Bodo (1-1) by decision after six rounds on Saturday April 15. The featherweight clash took place in Budapest. It was Kiss’s first fight since losing to New York’s Heather Hardy last month. Also, Szilvia Szabados (16-9) returned to the win column by knocking out Katalin Menes (3-2) in the third round of their welterweight bout. It was Szabado’s first fight since losing by stoppage to Claressa Shields. In light flyweight fight Judit Hachbold (3-1) beat Kerka Bland by decision after four rounds.
Japan
On Saturday April 22, super flyweights Terumi Nuki (8-1) and Buasawan Wisetchat (10-13-1) meet in an eight round bout for the vacant OPBF title in Osaka.
Mexico
Angelica Lopez (5-0-1) fought to a draw against Yareli Olivares (0-1-1) after six rounds on Saturday April 15. The heavyweight fight took place in San Luis Potosi. Also, light flyweights Cristina Hernandez (4-4-1) beat Yesenia Nereida (0-1) by knockout in the sixth round.
On Saturday April 22, flyweights Ibeth Zamora Silva (27-5) and Esmeralda Moreno (34-9-1) meet in the semi-finals of the WBC flyweight tournament. The 10 round clash takes place in Metepec, Mexico City.
New Zealand
On Saturday April 22, heavyweights Geovana Peres (0-1) and Nailini Helu (2-2-1) meet in an eight round fight in Auckland.
South Korea
Hyun Mi Choi (14-0-1) defeated Kimika Miyoshi (13-10-1) by unanimous decision after 10 rounds on Saturday April 15 to retain the WBA super featherweight title. Choi, 26, has defended the title three times. She is also a former WBA featherweight titleholder. Miyoshi, 33, fights out of Kawasaki, Japan.
Sweden
On Saturday April 22, super lightweights Patricia Berghult (6-0) and Mirjana Vujic (4-5) meet in a six round bout in Sundsvall.
United Kingdom
On Saturday April 22, bantamweights Ashley Brace (5-0) and Alexandra Vlajk (11-5) meet in a eight round bout for the vacant WBC International title in Ebbw, Wales.
Uruguay
Chris Namus (22-4) defeated Marisa Gabriela Nunez (7-8-2) by unanimous decision after six rounds on Thursday April 13. The welterweight showdown took place in Colonia, Uruguay.
USA
Samantha Salazar (2-3-1) was victorious over Mistery Neal (0-3) by decision after four rounds on Friday April 14. The bantamweight fight was held in Dallas, Texas.
On Friday April 21, lightweights Rebecca Light and Adelaida Ruiz make their pro debuts against each other in Montebello, California.
On Saturday April 22, bantamweights Amanda Serrano (31-1-1) and Dahiana Santana (35-8) meet for the vacant WBO world title in Brooklyn, New York. Serrano, 28, is attempting to win her fifth world title in her fifth weight division. Santana, 32, fights out of Dominican Republic and is a former featherweight world champion. The title match takes place in Barclays Center in Brooklyn and will be televised by Showtime.
On Saturday April 22, in Washington, Pennsylvania, super lightweights Shianne Gist (1-0-1) and Katherine Gurevich (1-0) meet in a four round bout.