Female Fight News for week of July 3, 2017 Mariana, Jelena and more
By David A. Avila
Thirty is the new 20 in female prizefighting with a number of the very best 30-something year-old boxers still competing at the highest levels around the world.
Canada’s Jelena Mrdjenovich escaped with her two world titles last weekend in France and this coming weekend Mexico’s legendary Mariana “Barby” Juarez tangles with yet another dangerous Japanese foe.
Female prizefighting remains in its ultra-sizzling state.
Mrdjenovich, 35, traveled to France for the second consecutive time and for the second time returned to Canada with her featherweight world championship belts strapped around her waist. This time the slender champion dueled with Stephanie Ducastel to a draw in the Frenchwoman’s hometown after 10 rounds.
When we last spoke to Mrdjenovich she proclaimed she “loved the challenge of fighting in someone else’s country” and knowing any decision could be rendered against her. But once again she jetted to France and once again she returned as champion. Last October she defeated Gaelle Amand in another part of France.
Mexico’s Barby
This past weekend Lourdes “Lulu” Juarez – the younger sister of Mariana Juarez – defeated Anahi Torres in a light flyweight battle held in Gomez Palacio. For the last year the slightly smaller “Lulu” has boosted her fight game and positioned herself for a possible world title fight.
At one time Lulu was deemed a mere copycat of her more famous sister, but seems to have found her groove and could possibly win a world title. If she were to grab a world title the Juarez sisters could join the sister world champions Amanda and Cindy Serrano of Puerto Rico as sisters with world titles.
On Saturday, in Zapopan, Mariana “Barby” Juarez defends the WBC bantamweight world title against Japan’s Terumi Nuki. The ever popular Juarez knows all about Japan’s best fighters. She fought Naoko Fujioka in 2015 and suffered a loss, but defeated Tamao Ozawa in 2016.
Any time you match a Japanese fighter against a Mexican it’s like rubbing two matchsticks together; it’s going to result in a fire.
Juarez is now 37 but seems to have found renewed vigor in the 118-pound weight class. Her victory earlier this year against Catherine Phiri was witnessed by an estimated 500,000 people at the Zocalo in Mexico City. It was one of the most remarkable scenes in women’s boxing yet.
Just last week it was announced by Forbes Magazine that Mariana “Barby” Juarez was considered one of the top six most powerful women in the country of Mexico among 100 listed by the publication. It’s quite a remarkable feat by a female boxer.
Female Fight News for week of July 3
Argentina
Elizabeth Britos (0-0-1) and Romina Gorosito (0-4-2) fought to a draw after four rounds on Friday June 30. The bantamweight fight was held in Lopez, Santa Fe.
On Friday July 7, featherweights Cintia Castillo (6-0) and Valeria Almiron (2-13) meet in a six round bout in Cordoba.
On Friday July 7, super flyweights Natalia Alderete (1-0) and Micaela De Los Angeles (2-1) meet in a four round bout in San Miguel, Tucuman.
France
Jelena Mrdjenovich (37-10-2) retained the WBA and WBC titles with a split draw against France’s Stephanie Ducastel (8-3-2) after 10 rounds on Saturday July 1. The featherweight world title fight took place in Bas-Rhin the hometown of 37-year-old Ducastel. It was the second consecutive time Mrdjenovich, 35, fought in France. She is a resident of Canada.
Anne Sophie Da Costa (24-2) defeated Teodora Hristova (2-5) by technical knockout in the fourth round on Saturday July 1. The flyweight match was held in Ardennes. Also, Justine Lallemand (6-0) beat Ivanka Ivanova (0-3) by decision after six rounds in a flyweight bout.
On Saturday July 8, super lightweights Myriam Dellal (14-5-3) and Monica Gentili (6-7) meet in an eight round clash in Marseille.
Germany
Lucie Sedlackova (10-0-1) was the victor over Karina Kopinska (9-19-3) after eight rounds on Saturday July 1. The featherweight contest took place in Dresden, Germany.
Susann Sabionski (1-0) won her pro debut by technical knockout over Kristina Jeffenic (0-10) on the second round on Saturday July 1. The welterweight fight was located in Hangelsberg.
Eva Voraberger (22-5) won the vacant WBC Silver title by first round technical knockout over Hungary’s Alexandra Lakatos (6-1-1) on Saturday July 1. The super flyweight title fight was held in Munich. The winner Voraberger, 27, fights out of Vienna, Austria. The loser Lakatos, 17, suffered her first loss as a pro.
On Saturday July 8, lightweights Nicole Wesner (12-0) and Hasna Tukic (9-6) meet in a 10 round contest for the WBF title in Ludwigshafen. Wesner, 39, fights out of Vienna, Austria. The other challenger Tukic, 22, fights out of Regensburg, Germany. On the same fight card Ramona Kuehne (25-1) fights Djemilla Gontaruk (13-3-1).
On Saturday July 8, lightweights Eda Essaoudi (2-0) and Christina Linardatou (9-1) meet in a six round match in Bayern. Also, middleweights Patricia Braeksick (0-2) and Marion Farkas (0-3) meet in a six round match.
Mexico
Lourdes Juarez (20-2) defeated Anahi Torres (16-16-1) by unanimous decision after eight rounds on Saturday July 1. The light flyweight contest took place in Gomez Palacio, Durango. The winner Juarez, 30, fights out of Mexico City and is the younger sister of Mariana “Barby” Juarez. The loser Torres, 28, also fights out of Mexico City.
Mayela Perez (17-21-4) won by split decision over Perla Perez (0-5-1) after eight rounds on Saturday July 1. The minimum weight fight was held in Saltillo.
Rocio Avila (1-0) won her pro debut by decision over Esperanza Resendiz (0-1) after four rounds on Friday June 30. The bantamweight fight took place in Durango.
Carolina Garcia (2-5) was victorious over Liliana Borquez (0-1) by technical knockout in the seventh round on Tuesday June 27. The minimum weight fight was held in Monterrey.
On Saturday July 8, WBC bantamweight champion Mariana “Barby” Juarez (45-9-4) and Japan’s Terumi Nuki (9-1) meet in a 10 round clash in Zapopan, Jalisco. Also, Isabel Millan (18-3-1) and Leticia Uribe (4-9) meet in an eight round flyweight clash.
On Saturday July 8, minimum weights Silvia Torres (15-0-1) and Maria Vargas (8-2) meet in an eight round fight in Mexico City.
New Zealand
Geovana Peres (2-1) beat Tessa Tualevao (0-1) by unanimous decision after four rounds on Saturday July 1. The heavyweight fight was held in Manurewa.
Panama
Laura Ledezma (10-0) won the vacant WBA Fedelatin title by decision after eight rounds versus Claudia Munoz (3-3-1) on Friday June 30. The super bantamweight fight was held in Panama City. Also, Lourdes Borbua (8-0) won a minor WBC lightweight title by decision over Franyuli Riascos (2-3) in an eight round fight.
Philippines
Umi Ishikawa (5-0) won by technical knockout of Aisah Alico (6-8) in the second round on Tuesday June 27. The minimum weight fight was held in Makati City, Manila.
Russia
Svetlana Kulakova (12-0-1) defeated Milena Koleva (9-9-1) by unanimous decision after eight rounds on Saturday July 1. The super lightweight fight took place in Moscow.
Firuza Sharipova (6-1) knocked out Bianka Pryashka (0-1) in the first round on Thursday June 29. The super featherweight fight took place in Moscow. Also, Kristina Sargasyan (2-0) won by majority decision over Snezhanna Tsarikaeva (2-1) after four rounds of a super flyweight fight.
Spain
Joana Pastrana (10-1) beat Slovakia’s Claudia Ferenczi (16-58-6) by unanimous decision on Friday June 30. The minimum weight fight was held in Madrid. The winner Pastrana, 26, fights out of Madrid. The loser Ferenczi is 24 years old.
Switzerland
Viviane Obenauf (11-3) was the winner by unanimous decision after six rounds versus Consolata Musanga (5-2-3) on Saturday July 1. The lightweight clash was held in Berne.
Tanzania
Rehema Abdallah (1-0-1) and Rose John (0-0-1) fought to a draw after four rounds on Tuesday June 27. The lightweight fight was held in Bagamoyo.
Thailand
Siriporn Thaveesuek (39-4) won by technical knockout of Nadya Nakhoir (0-2) in the fourth round on Friday June 30. The light flyweight bout was held in Pattaya.
United Kingdom
On Saturday July 8, lightweights Chantelle Cameron (1-0) and Bojana Libiszewska (5-22) meet in a six round contest in Glasgow, Scotland.
USA
Alycia Baumgardner (3-0) won by technical knockout of Lashanda Tabron (0-2) in the first round on Friday June 30. The super featherweight fight was held in Toledo, Ohio.