Melissa St. Vil Back in Haiti Against Heavier Opponent

By David A. Avila

Last minute changes can’t stop Melissa St. Vil.

Despite a switch of opponents WBC Silver titlist St. Vil (9-2-4) will face a much heavier but willing opponent in Diana Garcia (14-25) in an eight round non-title fight set at three-minute rounds on Thursday Oct. 26.

The late addition of Garcia forced the contest to be held in the super lightweight level. But it takes place in Karibe Convention Center in Petionville, Haiti. It’s St. Vil’s favorite place to fight.

“I’ll be rocking the Mexican and Puerto Rican patch on my skirt for the hurricane victims and earthquake victims,” said St. Vil after the weighing today.

Originally Haiti’s first female world titlist was scheduled to fight Mexico’s Edith Ramos in a super featherweight clash. But things changed drastically in the last minute.

“I was fighting Edith Ramos but she took another fight,” said St.Vil.

No matter, the Brooklyn-based champion has always shown an eagerness to get in the boxing ring against anybody.

“I don’t run from nobody,” says St. Vil.

She especially loves fighting in her native country of Haiti.

“Tell my people I love them,” St. Vil says.

It was 18 months ago that the perky prizefighter fought and won the vacant WBC Silver title in New Zealand. Three months later she traveled to China to defend the newly won title against Dominican Katy Wilson Castillo a former world champion. St. Vil won the battle in a serious firefight.

“She was my hardest opponent,” said St. Vil.

This past March the Haitian native fought Mexico’s Jessica Gonzalez in her second title defense. The fight ended prematurely when a clash of heads caused a bloody gash on Gonzalez who was unable to continue. The fight was ruled a technical draw.

Her last-minute opponent Garcia is no stranger to St. Vil and vice versa. They fought each other last November in the same venue. St. Vil won their first encounter by unanimous decision.  Will a difference in weight make a difference on Thursday?

St.Vil weighed 132 and Garcia 140 on Wednesday. Despite the heavier weight St. Vil wants the fight.

“Hey, I feel good,” she says.

As long as she’s in a boxing ring she’s happy.

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