Female Fight News for week of July 17, Amanda Serrano “The Real Deal.”
By David A. Avila
It looks like it’s North America’s turn for female prizefighting.
The spotlight has been turned on brightly for many of the top Americans including the announcement that another U.S. Olympian Mikaela Mayer will now be fighting as a professional. Top Rank signed the speedy Southern Californian more than a week ago.
Mayer will be fighting on Aug. 5 in downtown Los Angeles at Microsoft Theater. No opponent has been named.
In the next coming weeks American and non-American fighters will take the forefront on American shores.
First, Puerto Rican slugger Amanda “The Real Deal” Serrano returns to the ring on Friday July 21 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The five division world champion will be defending the WBO super bantamweight world title against Hungary’s Edina Kiss.
“I was scheduled to fight Laura Griffin of Argentina who backed out so I stopped my boxing training to concentrate on the sport move to MMA,” said Serrano who plans an MMA fight later this year. “I fought Edina last year when she was undefeated and she was tough.”
Serrano stopped Kiss in the fourth round last year but has been the only opponent able to stop the blonde Hungarian who also fought Heather Hardy and Shannon O’Connell. Kiss fights often and is fearless.
“I’m giving her credit. She lasted longer than some of the others I stopped with more known names,” said Serrano. “She fought Shannon O’Connell and Heather Hardy to the distance so her toughness showed there.”
Because of the change of events regarding an opponent for the Puerto Rican brunette Serrano opted to continue MMA training. Even after learning that Kiss accepted the fight Serrano remained in MMA mode.
“I’m the only one to stop her and without training in boxing I will stop her again,” said Serrano who trained in New York City. “I’m a different breed of fighter.”
Five years have passed since Serrano’s last loss against Frida Wallberg by decision. It’s a loss that cannot be avenged because Wallberg suffered a career-ending knockout loss to Diana Prazak in her next fight back in 2013. The Swedish fighter suffered a brain bleed and was forced to retire.
Unrealistic demands
Since signing with DiBella Entertainment and being televised, the whip smart Serrano has found it difficult finding elite opponents willing to face her.
“They simply out price themselves,” said Lou DiBella who has attempted on numerous occasions to match Serrano with the other featherweight champions.
Serrano has stopped calling out opponents
“I wanted Jelena (Mrdjenovich) she out-priced herself and got a draw with a girl no one knew,” said Serrano on Mrdjenovich’s recent draw against Stephanie Ducastel in France several weeks ago. “I also wanted Marcela Acuna (Argentina) but they seem to think I’m Floyd Mayweather and to fight me they ask for unrealistic amounts of money.”
Serrano is content with fighting whoever is willing especially in Puerto Rico where she has quickly become a major star.
“I do all their TV shows and the newspapers keep me on every day so all in all I’m just getting recognized wherever I go,” Serrano said on Saturday. “It’s a great feeling!”
Serrano has also gained significant attention from New York television outlets and has had two of her fights televised on Showtime Extreme.
The WBO title fight on Friday will not be shown in the U.S. but will be televised in Puerto Rico.
Superbad in Anaheim
Another busy American prizefighter will be Southern California’s Seniesa “Super Bad” Estrada who enters the ring against a solid opponent Aracely Palacios of Durango, Mexico on Friday July 21.
Estrada, 25, was severely criticized in her last fight in fighting the winless Rachel Sazoff as an opponent. As expected, the bout did not last a minute. But this time Estrada meets an opponent who has fought two world champions and beaten one in Yulihan Luna Avila the IBF super bantamweight titlist.
The bout is expected to be six three-minute rounds if the California State Athletic Commission allows it. Although MMA fights are three and five minutes long, for some reason boxing is deemed to be different. The Estrada-Palacios fight will take place at M3 Anaheim Event Center in Anaheim, California. For more information call (714) 663-2100.
The undefeated Estrada is already scheduled to fight on Sept. 9 at StubHub Center on the “Superfly” card by K-2 Promotions.
Irish
Katie Taylor the Olympic gold medalist from Ireland will be making her first appearance on American soil in two weeks on the July 29 boxing card at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.
Many claim Taylor is one of the best amateur fighters of all time. So far the 2012 London Games gold medal winner in boxing has steamrolled through the competition with her lightning combinations and furious attack style.
Taylor (5-0, 3 Kos) is 31 years old and lives in Bray, Ireland. At press time no opponent had been designated for Taylor on the under card of the Mikey Garcia versus Adrien Broner main event. For more information call (917) 618-6100.
Detroit
Claressa Shields just recently was named Biggest Powerhouse by Nickelodeon Kids Choice Sports Award over sports stars such as Mike Trout, David Ortiz and others. But that’s just one of the awards she could pick up in the next few weeks.
On Aug. 4, she faces WBC super middleweight titlist Nikki Adler (16-0) for that title and the vacant IBF version at MGM Grand Detroit in Detroit, Michigan. The 22-year-old expects to add two more trinkets to her collection of awards that already include two Olympic gold medals.
It seems every time she enters a boxing ring Shields is making history.
Despite only three pro fights many pick Shields to conquer Adler a 30-year-old from Bayern, Germany.
Real deal
There’s new blood in female prizefighting and don’t expect any of them to take the slow road.
“It’s a beautiful thing that these amazing fighters are turning pro and getting signed,” said Serrano of the numerous Olympians joining the pro ranks. “Pro boxing (currently) has a bunch of girls with mediocre skills and they complain about exposure.”
Serrano says that many of the veteran pros are protecting their records and fighting poor opposition. But the influx of Olympians will change that because they want to fight anyone and they want them now.
“The good ones will survive and the bad ones will fade,” said Serrano of the veteran pros. “I’m the real deal.”
Female Fight News for week of July 17
Argentina
Tamara Garcia (1-0) won her pro debut by majority decision after four rounds versus Alejandra Juarez (0-3) on Saturday July 15. The super welterweight bout took place in Quilmes, Buenos Aires.
Anahi Sanchez (16-2, 8 Kos) knocked out Maria Brito (11-19) in the first round on Friday July 14. The lightweight clash took place in Pergamino, Buenos Aires. Sanchez, 25, fights out of Pergamino. In her previous fight in May, she was stopped in the fourth round by IBF super featherweight titlist Maiva Hamadouche in Paris, France.
Gloria Yancaqueo (4-8-3) won by split decision versus Makarena Gallastequi (4-2) on Friday July 14. The featherweight match was held in Tres Arroyos, Buenos Aires.
Silvana Juarez (3-0) beat Paolo Farfan (0-1) by unanimous decision after four rounds on Friday July 14. The super featherweight bout took place in San Pedro de Jujuy.
Nerina Ortubia (3-0) defeated Gisela Ledesma (0-6-1) by decision after a four round fight on Friday July 14. The cruiserweight contest was held in Tunuyan, Mendoza.
Colombia
On Friday July 21, bantamweights Dayana Cordero (15-5-2) and Julieta Cardozo (11-0) meet in a 10 round clash for the interim WBA title in Barranquilla. Cordero, 21, is making her second defense of the title she won in January 2016 over Sayda Mosquera in El Salvador. She fights out of Panama but is Colombian. The undefeated Cardozo, 23, holds the South American bantamweight title and fights out of Argentina. In another female bout, Monica Henao (1-0-2) fights Jenifer Rodriguez (1-2-1) in an eight round lightweight match. Henao, 29, is a model living in Panama City but originally from Colombia.
Italy
On Sunday July 23, featherweights Vissia Trovato (8-0) and Kleopatra Tolnai (12-11-1) meet in a six round bout in Milan. Also, flyweights Ilaria Scopece (4-0) and Claudia Ferenczi (16-58-6) meet in a six round bout.
Japan
Nao Ikeyama (18-3-3) and Saemi Hanagata (13-6-4) fought to a split draw after 10 rounds on Tuesday July 11. The minimum weight clash for the WBO title held by Ikeyama took place in Tokyo. Ikeyama, 47, was fighting Hanagata for the second time in a year. Both fights ended in a draw. Hanagata, 32, fights out of Yokohama and holds the OPBF title.
Jun Yabuki (8-0) won by technical knockout in the fifth round versus Yumiko Shimooka (3-4) on Monday July 10. The minimum weight clash was held in Tokyo.
Mexico
On Thursday July 20, light flyweights Karla Carmona (0-0) and Luz Arquello (0-1) meet in a four round match in Iztacalco, Mexico City.
Puerto Rico
On Friday July 21, WBO super bantamweight champion Amanda Serrano (32-1-1) defends against Hungary’s Edina Kiss (13-4) in San Juan. The champion Serrano, 28, is fighting Kiss a second time after her original scheduled opponent opted out. Kiss, 27, is a fearless boxer and has only been stopped once in her career. That was against Serrano back in April 2016.
Spain
Eva Naranjo (9-0) was the winner by unanimous decision after six rounds versus Jasmina Nad (6-18-4) on Friday July 14. The super flyweight clash took place in Benidorm, Valenciana. Also, Katharina Sanchez (6-0) beat Karina Kopinska (9-20-3) by decision in a six round super featherweight match.
USA
On Friday July 21, light flyweights Seniesa Estrada (9-0) and Mexico’s Aracely Palacios (8-6) meet in a six round contest at the M3 Anaheim event Center in Anaheim, California. Estrada was roundly criticized for picking a weak opponent in her last fight a month ago, but she has a very capable foe in Palacios. The Mexican fighter has a win over current IBF super bantamweight titlist Yulihan Luna Avila of Mexico. She has also fought super flyweight contender Isabel Millan. Despite her seemingly mediocre record Palacios has solid fighting experience. Estrada, fights out of East Los Angeles and is a former US National champion.
On Saturday July 22, super welterweights Logan Holler (7-0) and Eliza Olson (10-6-3) meet in a 10 round contest for the vacant WIBA International in Charlotte, North Carolina. The title fight will be three-minute rounds. For ticket information call (585) 281-2540.
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