Female Fight News for week of Oct. 23, 2017 Katie Taylor and more
By David A. Avila
Several world title fights took place in various parts of the world this past weekend from Europe to Asia. This coming Saturday a former Olympian seeks to grab a world title in Wales.
Ireland’s Katie Taylor (6-0) makes her first attempt to wrest a world title when she faces Argentina’s Anahi Esther Sanchez (17-2) in a 10 round contest for the WBA world title in Cardiff, Wales. It’s on the massive under card led by heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua defending against Carlos Takam.
This is Sanchez first defense of the title that she won by technical knockout last month against Cecilia Mena in Argentina. Sanchez, 26, fights out of Pergamino, Buenos Aires and has power in her fists. The big question is can she land against the Irish speedster?
It’s an interesting bout and Taylor’s best challenge yet. That’s the way it should be.
Taylor, 31, still has many of her amateur bad habits such as wailing her punches in bunches and not sitting down on her legs to enhance the power. It will come in time. But will it be too late? Though Taylor has four knockouts they were stoppages.
Sanchez knows how to hit with power but she lacks the speed. But in boxing speed can be beaten by timing. It happens over and over again.
Still, the former Olympic gold medalist Taylor is not easy to hit. One day soon she will figure out how to use that speed and agility and combine it into power. Most female boxers that stay in amateurs a long period of time have the same problem; except for Mikaela Mayer. She has it figured out.
Mexican wars
Last weekend a number of former world champions returned to the boxing ring in Mexico.
Ibeth “La Roca” Zamora Silva nearly shut out Isabel “La Estrella” Millan over 10 rounds in a battle between former world champions in Zapopan, Jalisco. The expected non-stop punching was all in favor of two-division world champion Zamora who was simply too skilled for the always game Millan.
Zamora wants another crack at the flyweight world title now held by Jessica Chavez.
In Cuernevaca, Morelos, former bantamweight world champion Yazmin Rivas showed the young upstart Yareli Larios that she’s not ready for the big stage yet in winning by split decision after 10 rounds.
Larios, 19, is the daughter of former world champion Oscar “Cholulo” Larios and has plenty of time to add to her arsenal.
Rivas, 29, lost the WBC bantamweight world title to Catherine Phiri two years ago who in turn lost to Mariana “La Barby” Juarez this past April. Rivas, the fighter from Torreon, Mexico lost to Puerto Rico’s Amanda “Real Deal” Serrano earlier this year in an American televised world title fight. She’s looking for a rematch with the Brooklyn-based Serrano.
Speaking of Amanda Serrano, the brunette bomber will be fighting on Nov. 4, at Barclays Center against Marilyn Hernandez (26-10) of the Dominican Republic. It could be Serrano’s last hurrah in boxing for a while. Don’t miss her.
Asia calling
China’s Zong Ju Cai (9-1) and Gretchen Abaniel (18-8) meet in a 12 round bout for the IBF world title in Macao. This is Cai’s first defense of the world title she won on January of this year. This is also a rematch between Cai, 26, and Abaniel, 31, who fights out of the Philippines.
China has slowly but steadily begun developing professional prizefighters. It’s not difficult to imagine female fighting erupting up and down the various divisions in a country that has more than 1 billion in population.
South America
Uruguay’s queen of boxing Chris Namus kept the IBF world title by unanimous decision after 10 rounds versus Katia Alvarino (8-4-1) in a very pedestrian affair on Saturday in Montevideo. It was her first defense of the belt she won last August.
Further south, Argentina’s Daniela Bermudez captured her second world title in a second weight division. The southpaw from Rosario, Santa Fe known as “La Bonita” has proven to be as impressive on foreign shores as in her homeland. She has wins in Japan and Mexico, countries that are usually unkind to intruders. She must be that good.
Female Fight News
Argentina
Daniela Bermudez (22-3-3) won the vacant WBO world title by unanimous decision after 10 rounds versus Soledad Frias (12-10-4) on Friday Oct.20. The bantamweight clash took place in Palpala, Jujuy. Also, Brenda Carabajal (13-3-1) defeated Maria Capriolo (7-8-4) by unanimous decision after 10 rounds to win the vacant IBF Latino super featherweight title.
Yanina Orozco (3-0) beat Micaela Cabral (2-1) by decision after four rounds on Friday Oct. 20. The super welterweight bout took place in Las Heras, Mendoza.
Ana Guichapani (7-0) was victorious by unanimous decision after six rounds versus Paola Ibarra (4-4) on Friday Oct. 20. The featherweight clash took place in Pico Truncado, Santa Cruz.
Tamara Demarco (4-0) defeated Romina Gorosito (0-7-2) by unanimous decision after four rounds on Friday Oct. 20. The flyweight bout took place in Saladillo, Buenos Aires.
Australia
Cherneka Johnson (7-0) won by knockout in the second round over Febriyanti Lubis (0-1) who was making her pro debut on Saturday Oct. 21. The super bantamweight fight was held in Melbourne Park, Victoria.
Belgium
On Saturday Oct. 28, bantamweights Jill Serron (2-0) and Dendi Fleis (16-25-1) meet in an eight round clash in West-Vlaanderen.
Canada
On Wednesday Oct. 25, welterweights Marie Eva Dicaire (8-0) and Yamila Reynoso (8-2-3) meet in a 10 round clash in Gatineau, Quebec. Also, Claire Hafner (1-1) and Claudia Ramirez (1-1) meet in a four round heavyweight clash.
On Friday Oct. 27, flyweights Kim Clavel (0-0) and Clarisabel Nataren (3-1) meet in a four round match in Montreal, Quebec.
On Saturday Oct. 28, welterweights Jessica Camara (1-0) and Erika Hernandez (6-0-1) meet in four round fight in Hamilton, Ontario.
China
On Saturday Oct. 28, minimum weights Zong Ju Cai (9-1) and Gretchen Abaniel (18-8) meet in a 12 round bout for the IBF world title in Macao. This is Cai’s first defense of the world title she won on January of this year. Abaniel, 31, fights out of the Philippines. This is a rematch of a fight that Cai won in February 2015. Cai, 26, is a southpaw fighting out of Jinan, China.
Denmark
On Saturday Oct. 28, featherweights Sarah Mahfoud (3-0) and Gabriella Mezei (8-10-2) meet in six round clash in Copenhagen.
Estonia
Elena Gradinar (7-0) beat Maria Jose Nunez (17-13-1) by technical knockout in the eighth round on Saturday Oct. 21. The featherweight fight took place in Narva.
France
On Saturday Oct. 28, super featherweights Licia Boudersa (9-1-1) and Taoussy L’Hadji (5-6) meet in a six round fight in Calvados.
Japan
On Sunday Oct. 29, flyweights Marina Sayama (1-0) and Mont Blanc Miki (1-0) meet in a four round match in Sapporo, Hokkaido.
Mexico
Ibeth Zamora Silva (28-6) defeated Isabel Millan (19-4-1) by unanimous decision after 10 rounds on Saturday Oct. 21. The flyweight clash took place in Zapopan, Jalisco. Millan fights out of Guadalajara.
Yazmin Rivas (37-10-1) handed Yareli Larios (12-1) her first defeat after 10 rounds on Saturday Oct. 21. The win by Rivas in Cuernavaca gives her the WBC International super bantamweight title.
Norway
Cecilia Braekhus (32-0) retained the welterweight world championship by knockout of Mikaela Lauren (29-5) in the sixth round on Saturday Oct. 21. The rematch took place in Oslo. Also, Joanna Ekedahl (2-0) defeated Hannah Rankin (2-1) by split decision after six rounds in a super welterweight fight. Plus, Valgerdur Gudstensdottir (3-0) won by decision after four rounds versus Domenika Novotna (0-1) in a super featherweight bout.
Katherina Thunderz (7-0) won the vacant EBU title by unanimous decision versus Maria Semertzoglou (6-3) by unanimous decision after 10 rounds on Saturday Oct. 10. The super featherweight fight took place in Skien, Norway.
South Korea
On Saturday Oct. 28, minimum weights Eun Bit Hwang (0-0) and Se Eun Park (0-0) meet in a four round bout in Seoul.
Sweden
On Saturday Oct. 28, bantamweights Angelique Hernandez (1-2) and Lenka Kardova (1-0) meet in a six round fight in Katrineholm.
Switzerland
Aniya Seki (32-3-2) defeated Kleopatra Tolnai (13-13-1) by unanimous decision for the WBC Silver bantamweight title on Saturday Oct. 21. The match took place in Gumligen bei Bern.
United Kingdom
On Saturday Oct. 28, lightweights Anahi Esther Sanchez (17-2) and Katie Taylor (6-0) meet in a 10 round contest for the WBA world title in Cardiff, Wales. This is Sanchez first defense of the title she won by technical knockout last month against Cecilia Mena in Argentina. Sanchez, 26, fights out of Pergamino, Buenos Aires. Taylor,31, is a former Olympic gold medalist from Ireland and one of the greatest female amateur boxers of all time.
USA
Raquel Miller (5-0) was victorious by knockout in the first round over Lisa Garland (15-9) on Saturday Oct. 21. The middleweight clash took place in San Francisco, California.
Kali Reis (12-6-1) was the victor by unanimous decision after four rounds versus Sydney LeBlanc (4-5-1) on Thursday Oct. 19. The middleweight clash took place in Washington D.C.
Bertha Aracil (4-0, 3 Kos) won by first round knockout over Rayven Chatmen (0-1) on Saturday Oct. 14. The super welterweight fight took place in Springfield, Virginia. Aracil fights out of Yonkers, New York.
On Friday Oct. 27, super bantamweights Brittany Cruz (11-8-2) and Patricia Juarez (3-0) meet in six three-minute rounds at Denver, Colorado. The undefeated Juarez, 36, is the middle sister of Mariana “Barby” Juarez and Lourdes “Lulu” Juarez.
Uruguay
Chris Namus (24-4) retained the IBF world title by unanimous decision after 10 rounds versus Katia Alvarino (8-4-1) on Saturday Oct. 21. The super welterweight clash took place in Montevideo. This was Namus first title defense since winning it last August.
(Photo by JP Yim)
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