Female Fight News for week of May 22, 2017 Renaissance
By David A. Avila
Dreams are being made and dreams are being chased by female prizefighters around the globe.
In Japan a 41-year-old finally saw her world title goals achieved. Meanwhile, a 23-year-old from Tijuana, Mexico finds inspiration from a gutsy Puerto Rican woman grabbing titles in five weight divisions.
This year has shown to be one of the most remarkable years in decades as many of the best are getting an opportunity to show what they can do. It’s a virtual renaissance for female boxing.
Superstars that have been underneath the radar are obtaining opportunities to display their fighting skills on a somewhat regular basis. Though women are not making nearly the same amount of money as men, the cream of the crop are rising to the occasion.
Amanda Serrano’s incredible achievements are inspiring young fighters like Mexico’s Kenia Enriquez who vies for a second world title in a second weight division on Saturday. She watches Puerto Rico’s best and sees hope for her own goals.
In this age of fighters wanting to remain undefeated and only accepting fights that will insure guaranteed wins, you have champions like Serrano or Layla McCarter who have losses but are considered among the best of the best. That’s the way it should be.
Fight cards around the world are opening doors and allowing female fights.
In Asia eight female bouts on one card took place in Japan including a world title fight that saw Kayoko Ebata finally win a world title after six unsuccessful attempts. The 41-year-old grabbed the vacant WBO light flyweight title by decision after 10 rounds versus Erika Hanawa on Friday May 19. Tears couldn’t be held back by Ebata after finally attaining her dream. For more on this story read Yuriko Miyata’s account on this web site.
Japan has been staging more and more female fights and other Asian countries are beginning to open the doors to female athletes. China, South Korea, and even India are promoting female bouts.
On Saturday, in Costa Rica, a veteran world champion Hannah Gabriel returns to the boxing ring to defend the WBO and WBA super welterweight world titles against Canada’s Natasha Spence.
Gabriel has fought in front of more than 20,000 fans in her native country and remains one of Costa Rica’s most recognized stars.
Last week Brooklyn’s Heather Hardy fought in a rematch with Hungary’s Edina Kiss and won again. Last year, Hardy won the battle of undefeated fighters against Shelly Vincent. The very popular Hardy knows she can sell tickets better than most but prefers to fight the best to challenge herself and others.
It’s the way it should be and others should follow her lead.
A renaissance is happening.
Female Fight News for week of May 22, 2017
Argentina
Andrea Sanchez (7-0-1) defeated Virginia Carcamo (4-4-2) by knockout in the fourth round on Saturday May 20. Sanchez, 27, captured the vacant Argentine light flyweight title with the win held in Villa Angela.
Lucia Ruiz (1-0) won her pro debut by unanimous decision over Maria Escoto (0-2) after four rounds on Saturday May 20. The light flyweight match took place in Florencio Varela, Buenos Aires.
Ana Guichapani (3-0) won by technical knockout of Vanesa Calderon (6-13-1) in the first round on Friday May 19. The featherweight bout was held in Pico Truncado, Santa Cruz.
Jennifer Rasjido (5-0-1) beat Lorena Moreyra (0-3) by technical decision in a fight stopped early in the third round due to a cut on Rasjido’s eyebrow. The super bantamweight fight took place in Catamarca.
On Friday May 26, bantamweights Julieta Cardozo (10-0) and Noelia Gutierrez (5-3) meet in a 10 round bout for the vacant South American title in Buenos Aires.
On Friday May 26, light flyweights Maria Cano (1-2) and Yisele Sosa (0-5) meet in a four round bout in San Juan, San Juan.
Canada
On Saturday May 27, heavyweights Annie Mazerolle (3-2) and Claire Hafner (0-0) meet in a four round match up in Fredericton, New Brunswick.
Costa Rica
On Saturday May 27, Hanna Gabriel (16-1-1) defends the WBO and WBA super welterweight titles against Natasha Spence (8-2-1) in San Jose. Gabriel, 34, is making the third defense of the WBO title and first WBA defense. Spence, 31, fights out of Ontario, Canada.
France
Licia Boudersa (8-1-1) beat Bojana Libiszewska (5-21) by unanimous decision after six rounds on Saturday May 20. The super featherweight fight took place in Lille, Nord. Also, Wendy Gervois (3-10) won by majority decision versus Wendy Vincent (0-5-1) in a featherweight bout.
Maiva Hamadouche (16-1) defeated Anahi Sanchez (15-2) by technical knockout in the fourth round to win the vacant IBF featherweight title on Thursday May 18 in Paris. For more on this story read Diego Morilla’s story on this web site.
India
Kirti (3-0) won by knockout of Pinki Mondal (0-3) in the fourth round of their scheduled eight round fight on Sunday May 21. The super flyweight clash took place in New Delhi. In other female bouts Anika Shyamial (3-0-1) defeated Varsha Rani (0-2) by decision after a six round flyweight bout; and Jyoti Rai (2-0) knocked out Manisha Sonkar (0-1) in the fourth round of their featherweight match.
Ireland
On Saturday May 27, flyweights Lynn Harvey (3-1) and Ivanka Ivanova (0-1) meet in a six round bout in Dublin.
Japan
Yuko Senzan (4-6-3) defeated Nadya Nakhoir (0-1) by technical knockout in the fourth round on Sunday May 21. The super bantamweight fight took place in Nakagami, Okinawa.
Kayoko Ebata (11-7) captured the vacant WBO light flyweight title by decision after 10 rounds versus Erika Hanawa (7-1) on Friday May 19. For more on this read the story by Yuriko Miyata on this web site; Also, on this all-female fight card Chaoz Minawa (4-0) beat Sornsawan Khunmarn (2-4), Nanako Suzuki (1-0) beat Konomi Kodama (0-1) and Nanae Suzuki 4-2) beat Chisa Naito (1-1) in light flyweight contests. In minimum weight bouts Fuka Komura (4-0) beat Mikiko Muto (2-5) by decision and Mont Blanc Miki (1-0) beat Haruko Kaneko (0-3) by technical knockout in the third round. Super bantamweight Aira Midorikawa (1-0) beat Chisa Tanaka (1-6) by decision. Super flyweight Asuka Umemura (1-1) beat Saori Ozeki (0-1) by technical knockout in the fourth round. The female fight card was held in Tokyo, Japan.
On Friday May 26, featherweights Tomomi Takano (9-2) and Kai Johnson (5-10-3) meet in a six round contest held in Tokyo.
Mexico
Nancy Franco (17-10-2) defeated Maria Parra (2-2) by technical knockout in the second round of their clash on Saturday May 20, The light flyweight match took place in Guadalajara. Also, Victoria Torres (5-0) beat Freedee Gonzalez (6-14-1) in a six round bantamweight fight.
On Saturday May 27, light flyweights Kenia Enriquez (18-1) and Maria Salinas (15-5-3) meet in a 10 round bout for the interim WBC title in Ciudad Obregon, Sonora. For more on this story read Felipe Leon’s piece on this web site. Also, in other female bouts, Jessica Nery (19-1) meets Delia Lopez (10-4-2) in an eight round light flyweight bout. Flyweight Sulem Urbina (4-0) fights Carol Castro (6-8) in a four round bout. And super bantamweights Melissa Esquivel (2-0) meets Beatriz Arambure (0-1) in a four round match.
New Zealand
Baby Nansen (5-2-1) and Rebecca Jennings (6-1-1) fought to a draw after 10 rounds on Saturday May 20. The super featherweight match was held in Porirua.
On Thursday May 25, super lightweights Monica Tai (1-0) and Quinita Hati (0-0) meet in a four round bout in Auckland.
On Friday May 26, super featherweights Tania Reid (0-0) and Wendy Talbot (0-3) meet in a four round match in New Plymouth.
Panama
Eva Guzman (7-1-1) beat Esmailen Colina (1-2-2) by unanimous decision on Saturday May 20. The light flyweight bout took place in Panama City.
Russia
On Saturday May 27, super featherweights Firuza Sharipova (4-1) and Olga Zabavina (0-6) meet in a 10 round bout in Moscow. Also, lightweights Ani Ovsepyan (0-0) and Yuliya Chemoborodova (0-1) meet in a four round fight.
Serbia
Aleksandra Vujovic (2-1-1) and Valentina Stankovic (0-0-1) fought to a draw after four rounds on Saturday May 20. The super lightweight fight took place in Belgrade.
South Korea
Shin Young Park (2-0) won by majority decision versus Chan Mi Lim (2-3) after four rounds on Saturday May 20. The flyweight bout took place in Wonju, South Korea. Also, Bo Mi Re Shin (3-0-2) defeated Ji A Jang (0-1) by majority decision after a four round featherweight fight.
Spain
Violeta Gonzalez (3-0) defeated Jasmina Nad (6-17-3) by decision after six rounds on Friday May 19. The bantamweight fight took place in Bilbao.
On Friday May 26, super flyweights Eva Naranjo (7-0) and Johanna Rydberg (4-0) meet in a six round clash in Sedavi. Another female bout is also planned.
Switzerland
Vissia Trovato (8-0) was the winner by disqualification versus Marisa Portillo (18-14-3) of Argentina in the eighth round of their scheduled 10 round bout on Sunday May 21. Trovato, 32, fights out of Italy. Portillo, 28, fights out of Argentina and was penalized for excessive holding. Trovato wins the vacant WBA Inter-Continental featherweight title in Ascona.
United Kingdom
Nina Bradley (1-0) defeated Monika Antonik (1-2-1) by decision after four rounds. The welterweight fight was held in Newark, Nottinghamshire.
On Friday May 26, bantamweights Ashley Brace (6-0) and Nevenka Mikulic (7-8-1) meet in a six round match in Cardiff, Wales. Also, Chantelle Cameron (0-0) and Karina Kopinska (9-16-3) meet in a six round lightweight bout.
USA
Heather Hardy (20-0) was victorious over Hungary’s Edina Kiss (14-4) for the second time in two months on Thursday May 18. For more on this featherweight fight read the story by JP Yim on this web site.