Female Fight News for week of June 26 MMA and More
By David A. Avila
Plenty of fight action is taking place around the world including the regular hotspots such as Mexico, Germany and Argentina. But one event that set the female fight world afire was a sparring session not an actual fight.
Just a week after a big title win Claressa “T-Rex” Shields traveled to Southern California to spar with MMA star Cris “Cyborg” in boxing. The video of the sparring session has been going viral as the two female warriors traded combinations and power blows freely.
It brings up an interesting point. Lately, several well-known pro boxers have been partaking in MMA bouts including undefeated boxer Heather “The Heat” Hardy of New York. She won her MMA debut by knockout at a Bellator show in Madison Square Garden last Saturday. But an added note: Hardy suffered a cut and will not be able to fight for a month at least.
The next pro boxer preparing to enter an MMA cage is Puerto Rico’s outstanding Amanda Serrano who made history as the first female boxer to win major world titles in five weight divisions. The Brooklyn resident has been training with MMA trainers and plans to enter the cage soon.
But first, Serrano will be the main event when she defends the WBO super bantamweight title in Puerto Rico on July 21. It should be a massive celebration for the talented Boricua. But MMA can be very dangerous for boxers.
MMA
Recently a large number of female boxers have crossed over to MMA including Elena “Baby Doll” Riley, Ana “The Hurricane” Julaton, Mia St. John, Jessica Rakoczy and of course Holly Holm who gained notoriety as the fighter who stopped Ronda Rousey.
It’s a dangerous sport in terms of injury. Though boxing has more life threatening danger, MMA has more injuries because every part of the body is put at risk. Whether its legs, feet, groin or suffering cuts from flying elbows and knees MMA fighters are often injured.
Boxing has injuries too but primarily to the hands or head.
Years ago an elite boxer named Wendy Rodriguez was a reigning world champion who crossed over to MMA. Because of her superb athleticism and speed she excelled in MMA just as easily as in boxing. But one day while training in grappling she suffered a severe neck injury that was never completely healed. Rodriguez was forced to quit both sports. It was a tragic injury that would never have occurred in boxing.
Boxers can be even more vulnerable because they have trained many years in one discipline and their muscle memory does not include MMA actions. It’s a double edged sword that can end badly for boxers. Of course, right now MMA fighters make more money, but only if they are. Is it worth it?
Twitter war
This past week in Los Angeles while Gennady “GGG” Golovkin and Saul “Canelo” Alvarez were greeting fans in Hollywood, 10 miles east light flyweight contender Seniesa “Super Bad” Estrada was fighting Rachel Sazoff. The battle lasted only 38 seconds with Estrada dropping Sazoff twice with left hooks and winning the fight by knockout. Former Olympian Marlen Esparza in her pro debut fought Sazoff and he dominated in winning by decision.
After Estrada’s win former Olympian Esparza (2-0) congratulated the L.A.-based fighter and openly challenged Estrada (9-0) via Twitter to a fight and is waiting for an answer. It would be a good fight to include on the Canelo-GGG fight card on Sept. 16. Esparza signed with televised Golden Boy Promotions and can easily have that fight approved.
Female Fight News
Argentina
Laura Griffa (14-1) defeated Cristina Del Valle (10-10-2) by unanimous decision after 10 rounds on Saturday June 24. The win gave Griffa the vacant Argentine bantamweight title. Griffa has been reputed to be facing Amanda Serrano next in Puerto Rico. Also, Natalia Del Valle (8-10-3) beat Edith Matthysse (14-9-1) by decision after six rounds in a super featherweight fight. Both fights took place in Laguna Larga, Argentina.
Ana Guichapani (4-0) defeated Valeria Adam (0-1) by technical knockout in the fourth round on Saturday June 24. The super featherweight fight took place in Rio Gallegos.
Iara Cortes (1-1) beat Leandra Messina (0-2) by decision after four rounds on Friday June 23. The super bantamweight fight was held in Quilmes, Buenos Aires.
On Saturday July 1, flyweights Soledad Del Valle (11-9-4) and Anahi Lopez (10-0-1) meet in a 10 round fight in Villa Mercedes, San Luis.
Australia
Cherneka Johnson (6-0) beat Saowaluk Nareepangsri (7-4) by unanimous decision after five rounds on Saturday June 24. The bantamweight fight took place in Eatons Hill. Also, Tayla Harris (1-0) beat Margarite Butcher (0-1) by decision after four rounds in a middleweight bout.
Canada
Kandi Wyatt (3-0) won by technical knockout in the first round versus Maria Guzman (0-1) on Saturday June 24. The welterweight fight took place in Calgary.
Estonia
Elena Saveleva (1-0) won her pro debut by knockout of Olga Zabavina (0-8) in the fourth round on Friday June 23. The flyweight confrontation took place in Pidula Forell.
France
On Saturday July 1, featherweights Jelena Mrdjenovich (37-10-1) and Stephanie Ducastel (8-3-1) meet in a 10 round clash for the WBC and WBA world titles in Schiltigheim, Bas Rhin. Canada’s Mrdjenovich, 35, is making the second defense of both titles since regaining them last year.
Germany
Joanna Koelin (8-0) beat Monika Arkania (2-1) by technical knockout in the sixth round on Saturday June 24. The lightweight fight was held in Bernau.
On Saturday July 1, bantamweights Eva Voraberger (21-5) and Hungary’s Alexandra Lakatos (6-0-1) meet in a 10 round clash in Munich. Both Voraberger, 27 and Lakatos, 17, are supposedly fighting for the WBC Silver bantamweight title.
On Saturday July 1, featherweights Lucie Sedlackova (9-0-1) and Karina Kopinska (9-18-3) meet in an eight round clash in Dresden.
On Saturday July 1, welterweights Susann Sabionski (0-0) and Kristina Jeffenic (0-9) meet in a four round bout in Hangelsberg.
Mexico
Irma Sanchez (29-7-1) beat Maria Atilano (0-3-1) by decision after six rounds on Saturday June 24. The flyweight match was held in San Rafael, Guadalajara. Also, Joselyn Arroyo (19-1) defeated Maricruz Rodriguez (1-3) by decision in a six-round bantamweight fight.
Angelica Rascon (9-0) was the winner by decision versus Azucena Hernandez (0-2) after four rounds on Saturday June 24. The super featherweight fight was held in Juarez, Mexico.
Maricela Garcia (2-0) was the winner by decision after four rounds versus Laura Gutierrez (0-2) on Friday June 23. The super welterweight match was held in Jamay, Jalisco. Also, Alondra Ballesteros (2-0) beat Lizbeth Ortega (0-3) after four minimum weight rounds.
On Tuesday June 27, light flyweights Liliana Borquez (0-0) and Carolina Garcia (1-5) meet in an eight round bout in Monterrey.
On Friday June 30, super flyweights Rocio Avila (0-0) and Brenda Resendiz (0-0) meet in a four round bout in Durango.
On Saturday July 1, flyweights Lourdes Juarez (19-2) and Anahi Torres (16-15-1) meet in an eight round contest in Gomez Palacio, Durango. Juarez, 30, has been looking impressive in her last two fights. She is the younger sister of Mariana “Barby” Juarez.
On Saturday July 1, minimum weights Mayela Perez (16-21-4) and winless Perla Perez (0-4) meet in a 10 round bout in Saltillo. Also, Estrella Hernandez (0-6) meets Madai Ruvalcaba (1-0) meet in a four round light flyweight bout.
On Saturday July 1, minimum weights Cristina Hernandez (5-4-1) and Livier De La Cruz (0-8) meet in a four round bout in Tonala, Jalisco.
New Zealand
On Saturday July 1, heavyweights Geovana Peres (1-1) and Tessa Tualevao (0-0) meet in a four round clash in Auckland.
Panama
On Friday June 30, super bantamweights Laura Ledezma (9-0) and Venezuela’s Claudia Munoz (3-2-1) meet in a 10 round clash in Panama City. Ledezma, 29, fights out of Panama City.
Philippines
On Tuesday June 27, minimum weights Umi Ishikawa (4-0) and Aisah Alico (6-7) meet in a six round bout in Makati City, Manila.
Poland
Ewa Brodnicka (14-0) remained undefeated by split decision against Viviane Obenauf (10-3) after 10 rounds on Saturday June 24. The lightweight clash took place in Gdansk, Poland. The winner Brodnicka, 33, fights out of Warsaw, Poland and holds the interim WBO super featherweight title. Obenauf, 30, fights out of Switzerland and is originally from Brazil.
Russia
On Saturday July 1, super lightweights Svetlana Lubkovich (5-0) and Agness Mtimaukanena (5-3-1) of Malawi meet in a 10 round collision in Moscow. Lubkovich, 34, fights out of Moscow.
South Korea
Eun Hye Lee (10-1) defeated Philippine’s Jujeath Nagawa (13-18-1) by decision after 10 rounds on Saturday June 24. The flyweight fight for the WIBA title took place in Seoul. The champion Lee fights out of South Korea.
Spain
On Friday June 30, minimum weights Joana Pastrana (9-1) and Claudia Ferenczi (16-57-6) meet in a six round match in Madrid.
Switzerland
Ruth Chisale (7-0) won by unanimous decision after six rounds versus Ornella Domini (10-1) in the battle of undefeated. The welterweight clash was held in Le Lignon. The winner Chisale, 20, fights out of Malawi. The loser Domini, 28, fights out of Tannay, Switzerland.
On Saturday July 1, lightweights Viviane Obenauf (10-3) and Consolata Musanga (5-1-3) meet in a six round contest in Berne.
Thailand
On Friday June 30, light flyweights Siriporn Thaveesuek (38-4) and Nadya Nakhoir (0-1) meet in a 10 round bout in Pattaya.
United Kingdom
Natasha Jones (1-0) won her pro debut by technical knockout of Poland’s Monika Antonik (1-4) in the first round on Friday June 23. The lightweight match was held in Newcastle, Great Britain. Jones, 33, fights out of Liverpool, England and a former 2012 Olympian.
USA
Jaime Mitchell (2-0) won by technical knockout of Letrail Solomon (0-1) in the second round on Sunday June 25. The bantamweight fight took place in Dearborn, Michigan.
Sarah French (1-1) beat Amanda Gminski (0-1) by decision after four rounds on Friday June 23. The super welterweight fight was held in Rosemont, Illinois.
Seniesa Estrada (9-0) blew out Rachel Sazoff (0-4) in 38 seconds of the fight on Thursday June 22. The light flyweight bout took place in Los Angeles. Estrada, 25, is ranked in the top 10. Sazoff, 26, was floored twice by Estrada and previously lost to Marlen Esparza in March.
Zambia
On Sunday July 2, bantamweights Catherine Phiri (12-2) and Flora Machela (5-4) meet in an unspecified number of rounds meeting in N’Dola, Zambia. Phiri, is the former WBC bantamweight world titlist. Also, bantamweights Barbra Banda (4-0) fights Joyce Chileshe (1-2); and welterweight Lolita Muzeya (10-0) fights Joice Awino (7-5-1).