“Machine Gun” Arely Muciño In Hot Pursuit of WBO Champ Alarcon
By Felipe Leon
Despite only being 28-years-old, Mexican flyweight Arely “Ametralladora” Muciño (23-3-2, 10KO) has reached the mountain top of her division not only once but three times.
The fighter from Monterrey, Mexico, is now looking for immortality as she goes after her fourth crown in the 112 pound division later this year having captured the IBF, WBC and interim WBA straps in her nearly decade old career. She wants the WBO strap next.
In her way is newly crowned WBO champ Monserrat “Raya” Alarcon of Mexico City.
This past Saturday night Muciño took a step closer to that goal as she completely dominated Jessica Guadalupe Martinez (4-8) in the semi-main event from Guaymas, Mexico. The fight night was presented by Zanfer.
The goal to become the first Mexican female fighter to win all four major belts in a single division has been in her sights since leaving Promociones Del Pueblo and signing to Zanfer late last year.
“I am very happy with a lot goals for myself along with Zanfer and the Azteca channel. Together we will be able to go after bigger goals. This is a new chapter in my career and life and I will put my all towards it. Zanfer will soon look for an opportunity for the WBO title and I look forward to capturing all the major titles in this division,” she stated at the time of the signing.
At the time of that statement, the WBO queen of the flyweights was Japan’s Nana Yoshikawa (7-2, 4KO) having defeated Eun Hye Lee of Korea for the vacant strap in Osaka via a majority decision. Surprisingly Yoshikawa dropped it in her first defense to the aforementioned Alarcon (9-3-2) this past April. Alarcon, a natural 105-pounder, not only beat Yoshikawa in her home soil but completely dominated her, dropping her twice to the canvas in seven rounds before taking a technical decision due to an accidental head butt.
Needless to say, the Alarcon win was unexpected.
Boxing since the age of 13, the diminutive Muciño amassed a respectable amateur career of 30 wins against only three losses as well as 12 different amateur titles. She made her pro debut at the tender age of 19 going 10-0-1 before getting her first shot at a title. That was in July of 2010 when Muciño traveled to Germany to challenge Susi Kentikian for the WBA and WBO titles but an accidental clash of heads in the third prematurely halted the bout.
In her very next fight Muciño fought for the vacant IBF flyweight title stopping Chantal Cordova in the fourth. Muciño defended the title three times before getting annihilated by Ava Knight via a second round highlight reel knockout in late 2011.
Like a champ Muciño got back on her horse and four months later beat Melissa McMorrow with a controversial split decision while capturing the interim WBA title. In her next fight in May of 2015, Muciño challenged the legendary Mariana “Barbie” Juarez for the WBC version of the 112-pound crown in a mega fight. Arely came up short getting dropped in the second round and a split-decision loss.
After the loss Muciño defended her interim WBA belt only once and had to wait two full years before getting another shot at the WBC crown. This time, in December of 2014, Muciño made good of the opportunity beating Japan’s Shindo Go with a unanimous decision in her home town of Monterrey. The thrill of victory only lasted about nine months when in her first defense of the title she lost to current champion Jessica “Kika” Chavez in September of 2015.
Muciño was out of action for a little over a year after that loss having issues with Mexican promoter Promociones del Pueblo. After engaging in talks with Zanfer, both companies agreed to a trade with the popular Muciño putting on the Zanfer jersey while Francisco “Chihuas” Rodriguez Jr, who was not happy with Zanfer, going over to her old promoter.
Since coming back under the Tijuana-based promoter Muciño has fought twice with wins over the tough Judith Rodriguez and in her first fight of this year, Kandy Sandoval.
In the newly minted Alarcon, a pro only since 2012 and 14 fights, Muciño will find a fighter not as experienced as she but certainly as determined. Her fight against Yoshikawa was her first world title berth and now with the strap firmly around her waist, it would be hard to believe she would want to let it go to easily.
“I think this title will open up doors for me as a fighter,” Alarcon told La Jornada, a vastly read Mexican daily, once back from Japan. “I had everything against me, it was her home country, and she was much taller and heavier. Despite my fourteen fights I think my career is barely beginning, I think this win will help me get more known.”
Alarcon has stated she is interested in winning a world title in her division, 105 pounds, but while she holds the title she is looking forward to defending it. Her promoter, Hector Garcia, who at one time actually also represented Muciño, says they will look to do an optional defense first and then defend against Muciño, all before year’s end.
“No fighter should look ahead,” the 23 year old Alarcon said to Mas Deportes, a Mexican sports Magazine. “I don’t know if I will beat Muciño but I have just beaten Nana Yoshikawa in her home country who is not just any fighter. I am confident I will defend my belt many times. It is a lot of hard work to become a world champion but it will be harder to keep my title and I need to prepare myself better.”
Besides preparing herself, Muciño was looking to stay active in her last fight against Martinez. The nineteen year old Martinez was coming off an eight round unanimous decision loss in March to current WBC interim light flyweight champion Kenia Enriquez. A moral victory for Martinez since she was able to survive the distance against her most accomplished opponent yet.
Martinez did it again against the much more experienced Muciño.
“This is a very important fight because it might be my next step towards a world title,” Muciño said last week at the final press conference is Guaymas. “Jessica has faced world champions and has never been knocked out. I am only thinking on my fight for this Saturday but I do want to challenge for another world title this year. I want to face the best in the world but I can’t do that if I don’t pass this test.”
From the opening bell Muciño attacked with abandon looking to get the quick stoppage and become the first woman to stop the durable Martinez. One thing that Martinez has learned in her short professional career is to survive so she did only enough so as not to get the fight stopped. By the middle rounds the fight fell into a pattern of Muciño rattling off quick and potent combinations while Martinez shot very little in return. At the end all the scorecards showed Muciño as the winner with scores of 80-72 three times.
Now Mucino awaits a showdown with Alarcon and a WBO title.
###