Female Fight News for week of Sept. 4, Southern California Heating Up
By David A. Avila
Southern California has become the heart and soul of prizefighting when it comes to the men. In the past female prizefighters were in abundance up and down the state, but over these past five years the talent pool dried up with many women leaving the sport.
A few remained and a few are returning. Could it mark a resurgence in female prizefighting for Southern California fight fans?
Television has launched a slow moving tidal wave that is gaining momentum especially with the arrival of Olympians from around the world. Fighters from the past are slowly returning to the pro and amateur ranks.
Adelaida “La Cobra” Ruiz a 28-year-old mother of three, is one of those piqued by the recent interest in female boxing by major television networks and major boxing promoters. Despite being out of boxing for a decade the South Gate, California soccer mom has returned to the gym.
Ruiz returned to the boxing ring for the first time since 2007 when she had her pro debut last April at the Quiet Cannon golf course and won by unanimous decision. As an amateur, she had accomplished some goals including winning a bronze in the US Nationals.
“I lost by one point to Christina Cruz,” said Ruiz, who developed a reputation as a standout boxer in the Southern California gyms. But she departed from the boxing ring to become a mother and left the sport behind.
Last year Ruiz returned to the boxing ring as an amateur and participated in one amateur bout to see what remained of her former talent. Then she became a professional.
“Before that it was 2007 and no way am I the same (fighter),” says Ruiz who turns 29 next month. “I am still a bit rusty but I am working on it.”
This past Saturday at the Westin Bonaventure Hotel in downtown Los Angeles, the South Gate prizefighter entered the ring against Hawaii’s Haley Pasion (1-2). The fight was held at the bantamweight level.
Pasion, 24, is a very strong fighter who had won her pro debut in San Diego against an MMA fighter trying out boxing. The Hawaiian boxer was able to pound her way to a majority decision. But her last contest that also took place at the Bonaventure Hotel was a loss to the more agile Lisa Porter.
Ruiz had shown some mobility in her pro debut that was held in the super featherweight division. But in the match with Pasion she dropped down easily to bantamweight. The mobility seemed to remain in her legs as she circled and jabbed around the more stationary Pasion. Neither fighter was ever hurt in the four-round fight but it was clear that Ruiz was the more efficient in landing blows. All three judges scored it 40-36 for Ruiz.
“I will get back to where I was 10 years ago,” promises Ruiz. “Little by little I see the difference as the months go by.”
The promoter of the event at downtown Los Angeles is All Star Boxing who are well known for putting on female bouts. They plan to stage Ruiz and other female bouts in the near future.
More Southern Calif.
Another stalwart from the Los Angeles area performing soon will be Seniesa “Super Bad” Estrada meeting Mexico’s Anahi Torres in a bout set for eight rounds. The light flyweight match takes place on the “Superfly” fight card at the StubHub Center in Carson, Calif.
Estrada, 25, has been busy the past two years after a very slow almost nonexistent boxing period following a freak foot injury. But since May 2015, the very fast and nimble Estrada has shown marked improvement in the professional fight game.
Fighting against East L.A.’s Estrada will be veteran Mexican warrior Torres who has engaged against the world’s best over the years including Argentina’s super star Yesica Bopp, South Korea’s Ji Hyun Park and Mexico’s Arely Mucino. She knows how to fight.
It should prove to be a proper measuring stick for Estrada who has been mentioned as a primary target by former Olympian Marlen Esparza who has her own fight next week. A number of weeks ago Esparza, who fights under Golden Boy Promotions banner, sought a fight with Estrada via Twitter.com.
Could they be fighting each other by the end of this year?
Little Lulu
Mexico’s Lourdes “La Pequena Lulu” Juarez won the vacant WBC Fecombox flyweight title by decision over Cecilia Santoscoy last Saturday in Leon, Mexico. Juarez, 30, has shown steady improvement with her technique and punching ability the past year and a half.
A world title fight in the next year is a strong possibility and could make her and her sister Mariana “Barby” Juarez the only sister pair in their country to hold world titles simultaneously. At the moment Puerto Rico’s sisters Amanda and Cindy Serrano hold that sole distinction.
Other Female Fight News
Argentina
On Saturday Sept. 9, lightweights Cecilia Mena (10-1-1) and Anahi Esther Sanchez (16-2) meet in a 10 round contest for the vacant WBA world title in San Miguel, Tucuman.
Australia
On Saturday Sept. 9, super lightweights Deanha Hobbs (3-0) and Sarah Dwyer (2-2-1) meet in an eight round bout for the Australian title in Newstead, Queensland. Also, Flor Hani and Irva Nurmalia meet in a four round featherweight bout. Debuts for both.
Bosnia
On Sunday Sept. 10, super middleweights Jasmina Merdic (2-2) and Sanja Ristic (0-2) meet in a six round contest in Banovici.
Brazil
Rose Volante (11-0) knocked out Luana Da Silva (0-2) in the second round on Friday Sept. 1. The lightweight match was held in Santos, Sao Paulo. Also, in a bantamweight fight, Danila Ramos (3-0) knocked out Paula Vieria da Silva (0-1) in the second round.
Germany
Kim Angelina Jaeckel (1-0) won her pro debut by second round knockout of Marion Farkas (0-5) on Saturday Sept. 2. The lightweight bout took place in Neumuenster.
Indonesia
On Saturday Sept. 9, super bantamweights Felmi Sumaehe (1-0) and Anchalee Mankong (1-0) meet in a six round bout in Jakarta.
Japan
Nanae Suzuki (5-2) was the winner over Chie Higano (7-6) by decision after six rounds on Friday Sept. 1. The minimum weight clash took place in Tokyo. In a light flyweight fight, Naoko Shibata (17-4-1) won by technical knockout in the second round against Shisa Manopgym (0-3).
On Sunday Sept. 10, bantamweights Yuko Henzan (4-6-3) and Jutamas Jitpong (2-0) meet in a six round match in Nakagami, Okinawa.
Mexico
Lourdes Juarez (21-2) defeated Cecilia Santoscoy (2-5) by decision after 10 rounds to capture the vacant WBC Fecombox title on Saturday Sept. 2. The flyweight title fight was held in Leon, Guanajuato. Juarez, 30, fights out of Mexico City and won her first title. She is the younger sister of Mariana “Barby” Juarez the current WBC bantamweight world title. Also, in a light flyweight bout, Lucia Hernandez (6-7) defeated Jessica Rangel (1-7-1).
On Saturday Sept. 9, super flyweights Estrella Valverde (14-5-2) and Carolina Arias (12-1) meet for the vacant WBC International title in Tecamac, Mexico City. Arias, 30, fights out of Costa Rica. Valverde, 32, fights out of Mexico City.
On Saturday Sept. 9, super bantamweights Jessica Arreguin (14-1-1) and Nazly Maldonado (5-6) meet in a 10 round contest for the WBC Fecombox title in Sonora.
New Zealand
Baby Nansen (6-2-1) defeated Quinita Hall (0-2) to win a regional title on Friday Sept. 1. The super lightweight fight was held in St. Johns. In a super welterweight bout, Missy Elliot defeated Mellisa Huruwai (0-1) by decision after four rounds.
Panama
Nataly Delgado (5-2-1) stopped Osiris Renteria (0-5) in the first round on Thursday Aug. 31. The flyweight contest took place in Panama City.
Spain
Miriam Gutierrez (2-0) knocked out Mirabela Calugareaunu (0-11) in the second round on Friday Sept. 1. The lightweight contest was held in Arona, Canary Islands.
South Africa
Lillian Molala (2-8-1) and Shayvonne Pattison (0-4-3) fought to a draw after four rounds on Sunday Sept. 3. The middleweight fight was held in Johannesburg.
Tanzania
Rehema Abdallah (3-0-1) won by first round knockout of Zuhura Shabani (0-1) on Saturday Sept. 2. The lightweight match took place in Bagamoyo.
Thailand
Phannaluk Kongsang (1-3) won by technical knockout in the second round over Daorueng Pakkhetanang (1-5) on Sunday Aug. 27. The light flyweight battle was held in Bangkok. In a featherweight bout, Sumanthar Baenkham (2-3) defeated Suwanun Antanai (0-6) by decision.
USA
Adelaida Ruiz (2-0) won by unanimous decision against Haley Pasion (1-2) after four rounds on Saturday Sept. 2. The bantamweight fight took place in downtown Los Angeles, Calif. (For more read above.)
On Saturday Sept. 9, light flyweights Seniesa Estrada (10-0) and Anahi Torres (16-16-1) meet in an eight round contest in Carson, Calif. Estrada, 25, is based in East Los Angeles. Torres, 28, fights out of Mexico City.
(Photo by Carlos Angel)