Female Fight News for week of April 24 Mexican War and more
By David A. Avila
High profile fights took place in North America and South America and next weekend Europe and Asia get into the act.
The most important saw Amanda “Real Deal” Serrano become the first Puerto Rican to win five world titles in five weight divisions. Television captured the event from the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
Despite knowledge of the fight almost two months ago, Dominican Republic’s Dahiana Santana did not come close to making weight. She fought at 122 pounds while Serrano at 118. Under normal circumstances the fight would have been canceled.
“We didn’t want to lose the fight,” said Serrano about agreeing to allow Santana to fight much heavier.
With Showtime network willing to show a female title fight Serrano felt compelled to take the fight and did. Not only did she win, she dominated every round until the fight was stopped in the eighth as the Puerto Rican belted Santana along the ropes.
Now Serrano can add the bantamweight world title to the super bantamweight, featherweight, super featherweight and lightweight world titles she already conquered. It’s a historic moment for female boxing and the nation saw it.
“I have the best team with the best trainer Jordan (Maldonado) who knows how to get us in shape to fight in any weight without sacrificing strength or endurance,” said Serrano.
Mexican War
Another important fight took place in Mexico City where the WBC flyweight tournament continued. In a semi-final clash Esmeralda “La Joya” Moreno met Ibeth “La Roca” Zamora for the WBC light flyweight title and for a place in the finals of the WBC flyweight tournament.
Both Moreno and Zamora fight out of Mexico City the former home of the Aztec Empire and there was no love lost between the two. Zamora had defeated Moreno years before and in the first round she connected cleanly with a left hook to drop Moreno. It didn’t look good.
Moreno recovered in the third round and then proceeded to engage in one of the most violent female clashes in years. Round after round the two battered each other and utilized tactics that are basically outlawed.
It was Sandy Saddler versus Willie Pep all over again.
Moreno shoved Zamora with forearm thrusts and fired elbows freely. Zamora targeted every part of Moreno’s body with little attempts to block. Both used their heads and a third weapon but neither complained. It was all out war and no room for sissies.
After 10 tumultuous rounds Moreno was given a split decision win over Zamora to win the WBC light flyweight title and now has a place in the finals.
“We worked hard for this win,” said Moreno after the fight. “She (Zamora) is a great champion.”
Argentina
Yesica “La Tuti” Bopp proved why she is Argentina’s super star when it comes to boxing and demonstrated it with a one-sided assault to win by stoppage over Luna Torroba in the ninth round.
Bopp, 33, proved she still has outstanding speed and feels the next step in her career will be to head north and fight in the U.S. or Mexico in mega fights. She also would like a crack at Germany’s Susi Kentikian. (For more read the story on this site by Diego Morilla).
Layla and Katie
America’s “Amazing” Layla McCarter found a last-minute replacement after Nevada State Athletic Commission’s Bob Bennett refused to sanction a fight with Mary McGee (23-3) for unknown reasons. Instead, Hungary’s Szilvia Szabados was found and if that name is familiar it’s because she fought Claressa Shields last month in a fight stopped in the fourth round.
McCarter (38-13-5, 9 Kos) will fight Szabados (16-9, 7 Kos) in a 10 round welterweight clash at Sam’s Town Casino in Las Vegas on Saturday April 29. Szabados last fought on April 15 and won by technical knockout in Hungary. McCarter last fought in July 2016 and won a decision over Melissa Hernandez.
Fox Sports 2 will televise the McCarter-Szabados welterweight contest. Many consider McCarter this best female prizefighter pound for pound.
Across the Atlantic Ocean, former Olympic gold medalist Katie Taylor (4-0) faces Germany’s Nina Meinke (5-0) in a battle of undefeated lightweights. This will be the first time either fighter will be engaged in a 10 round battle. It takes place in Wembley, England on Saturday April 29.
Female Fight News for week of April 24, 2017
Argentina
Yesica Bopp (31-1) stopped Luna Torroba (11-6-2) in the ninth round to retain the WBA light flyweight world title on Saturday April 22. The light flyweight match took place in Azul, Buenos Aires. Bopp, 33, has held the WBA title since 2009 for a total of 15 successful defenses. Also, in another female bout, Virginia Carcamo (4-3-2) fought to a split draw with Adriana Maldonado (1-6-2) after four flyweight rounds.
Jazmin Villarino (2-1) defeated Giselle Sosa (0-1) by unanimous decision after four rounds on Saturday April 22. The flyweight bout took place in Buenos Aires.
Daniela Rivero (2-0) beat Victoria Moreyra (0-2) by unanimous decision after four rounds on Saturday April 22. The super flyweight match was held in Rafael Calzada, Buenos Aires. Also, Iara Altamirano (1-0) won a decision over Iana Cortez (0-1) after a four round super bantamweight fight.
Jorgelina Guanini (7-0-1) beat Makarena Gallastegui (2-1) by unanimous decision after six rounds on Friday April 21. The bantamweight match was held in Cordoba.
Maria Capriola (7-5-4) defeated Cristina Cuevas (3-6-2) by unanimous decision after four rounds on Friday April 21. The super lightweight fight was held in Villa Carlos Paz.
Canada
Annie Mazerolle (3-2) was victorious over Maria Velis (1-3) after four rounds on Saturday April 22. The cruiserweight fight took place in New Brunswick.
Colombia
Saimar Acosta (1-0) won her pro debut by knockout over debuting Nellis Ramos (0-1) in the second round on Friday April 21. The super flyweight fight took place in Barranquilla.
On Saturday April 29, lightweights Monica Henao (1-0) and Glenis Cardona (2-12-2) meet in a four round bout that takes place in Palmar de Varela.
France
Anissa Meksen (1-0) defeated Gabriella Mezei (8-9-2) by decision after six rounds on Saturday April 22. The bantamweight clash took place in Villeurbanne, Rhone.
On Saturday April 29, bantamweights Elodie Bouchlaka (2-1-2) and Fatima El Kabouss (2-2) meet in Canohes for the vacant French title.
Germany
On Saturday April 29, super lightweights Alicia Kummer (10-1) and Timea Belik (4-2) meet for the GBU, GBC, WIBA, and WIBF titles in Hamburg, Germany.
Hungary
Alexandra Lakatos (3-0-1) was victorious over Tia Sandorfi (3-4) by second round technical knockout on Friday April 21. The bantamweight fight took place in Budapest.
India
Kirti (1-0) defeated Varsha Rani (0-0) by fifth round knockout on Saturday April 22. The bantamweight fight was held in New Delhi. Other female fights saw Jyoti Rai (1-0) knockout Divya Deep (0-1) in the third round of their featherweight contest. And Anika Shyamlal (2-0-1) defeated Pooja Thakur (0-1) by decision after a four round flyweight fight.
Japan
Terumi Nuki (9-1) won the vacant OPBF title by third round technical knockout of Buasawan Wisetchat (10-14-1) on Saturday April 22. The super flyweight title match took place in Osaka.
On Saturday April 29, flyweights Nana Yoshikawa (7-1) and Monserrat Alarcon (8-3-2) meet for the WBO flyweight world title in Osaka, Japan. Yoshikawa, 38, fights out of Sakai, Osaka and is making her first defense of the title. Alarcon fights out of Mexico City and this is her first battle outside of her native country.
Kenya
On Saturday April 29, lightweights Judith Waguthii (15-7-4) and Feriche Mashauri (3-0) meet in an eight round clash in Nairobi, Kenya.
Mexico
Esmeralda Moreno (35-9-1) won by split decision over Ibeth Zamora Silva (27-6) to win the vacant WBC light flyweight title on Saturday April 22. The fight held in Metepec, Mexico City, was also part of the WBC flyweight tournament. Moreno will now proceed to the final leg and fight the winner of Jessica Chavez vs. Ana Arrazola who fight on May 13. Other female fights included Dulce Garcia (1-0) defeating Yanely Ceja Hernandez (6-17) in a bantamweight fight; and Reyna Cotija (2-0) beating Miriam Rosales (0-3-1) in a bantamweight bout.
Jacqueline Coutino (5-2) won by technical knockout over Karla Diaz (4-2) in the sixth round of a fight held in three-minute rounds on Saturday April 22. The flyweight battle took place in Villa Flores, Chiapas.
On Saturday April 29, light flyweights Mayela Perez (15-21-4) and Edith Flores (0-4) meet in a four round bout in Saltillo, Mexico.
New Zealand
Geovana Peres (1-1) was the victor over Nailini Helu (2-3-1) by decision after eight rounds on Friday April 21. The heavyweight match up was held in Auckland. Peres wins the New Zealand title.
Serbia
Nina Stojanovic (11-1) defeated Nikola Magovac (3-4) by technical knockout in the fifth round on Friday April 21. The super featherweight fight was held in Zajecar, Serbia. Stojanovic wins the vacant Serbian title.
Sweden
Mikaela Lauren (29-4) defeated Kita Watkins (7-15) by unanimous decision after six rounds on Saturday April 22. The super welterweight match took place in Sundsvall. Also, Patricia Berghult (7-0) remained undefeated by first round technical knockout of Mirjana Vujic (4-6) in a super lightweight clash.
United Kingdom
Ashley Brace (6-0) scored a technical knockout win over Alexandra Vlajk (11-6) in round nine to win the vacant WBC International title on Saturday April 22. The bantamweight title fight was held in Ebbw, Wales.
On Saturday April 29, lightweights Katie Taylor (4-0) and Nina Meinke (5-0) meet in a 10-round battle of undefeated boxers in Wembley, London. Taylor, a former Olympic gold medalist, has fought twice this year. Meinke, a southpaw, fights out of Berlin, Germany and has scored back to back knockouts in her last two fights.
USA
Amanda Serrano (32-1-1) won by stoppage of Dahiana Santana (35-9) in the eighth round to win the WBO bantamweight world title on Saturday April 22. The historic fight took place in Brooklyn, New York. It was 28-year-old Serrano’s record fifth world title in a fifth weight division. She is the first Puerto Rican to win five world titles in five weight divisions and the first female ever to accomplish the feat with major titles.
Shianne Gist (1-0-2) and Vanessa Bradford (4-0-2) fought to a draw after four rounds on Saturday April 22. The super lightweight contest took place in Washington, Pennsylvania.
Adelaida Ruiz (1-0) vanquished Rebecca Light (0-1) by unanimous decision in a four round fight on Friday April 21. The featherweight fight took place in Montebello, California. Ruiz, 28, is a former amateur star who had not fought in more than eight years. Light, 52, was actually a solid boxer but unable to cope with Ruiz’s athleticism.
On Tuesday April 25, lightweights Elvina White (0-0) and Tammy Franks (2-27-1) meet in a four round bout in Tunica, Mississippi.
On Friday April 28, lightweights Jessica McCaskill (3-1) and Brenda Gonzalez (4-1) meet in a six round bout in Chicago, Illinois.
On Saturday April 29, welterweights Layla McCarter (38-13-5) and Szilvia Szabados (16-9) meet in a 10 round main event at Sam’s Town Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. The fight has not been signed as of today. McCarter recently signed with Mayweather Promotions and will be the co-main event.