Female Fight News for week of Oct. 30, 2017 Melissa St. Vil
By David A. Avila
Haiti’s first female champion Melissa St. Vil returned to the island once again and won by technical knockout in a non-title fight.
It was significant for St. Vil because it was her first win by knockout after 16 professional bouts.
“Getting my first knockout was nice. Now I’m excited to see what’s next because I just discovered my power thanks to my team,” said St. Vil (10-2-4, 1 Ko) who had previously never won by knockout. “The knockout is something I should have done more in my career.”
St. Vil, who is based in Brooklyn, New York, has fought professionally since 2007 and though considered one of the top super featherweights in the world had never stopped somebody before the scheduled end.
“I never had anybody want to take the time to teach me the right way to fight,” said St. Vil, 34, who won the WBC Silver title in China last year against Katy Wilson Castillo.
Last week on Thursday, Oct. 26, the Haitian native returned to her island nation but was forced to find another opponent when the originally scheduled foe pulled out. Dominican fighter Diana Garcia was called and accepted the fight but weighed 140 pounds though the weight set for the fight was 132. No problem, the fight was made.
St. Vil showed off her speed and agility but early in the fight she also exhibited her new found power and floored veteran Garcia 44 seconds of the fifth round for the stoppage.
“I’m going back to basics like sitting down on my punches,” said St. Vil who is ranked number one by the WBC and number two by the WBA. Eva Wahlstrom is the WBC titlist and is based out of Finland. The WBA titlist is Hyun-Mi Choi of South Korea.
The Brooklyn-based fighter wants a title fight and especially the WBC belt.
“I want that gold,” she says referring to the WBC gold title that Wahlstrom has. “It’s my time.”
Katie wins title
Ireland’s Katie Taylor (7-0, 4 Kos) won the WBA lightweight title by unanimous decision after 10 rounds over Argentina’s Anahi Sanchez who was making her first defense of the belt.
Taylor, 31, a 2012 Olympic gold medalist, floored Sanchez in the fourth round with a body shot but was unable to finish off the tough Argentine. Still, she won easily by unanimous decision 99-90 on all three cards.
In Europe the media is claiming Taylor is the most decorated fighter in the history of women’s boxing. It shows an ignorance of female boxing. But Taylor is indeed talented but not without faults.
Like most female fighters arriving from the amateur boxing world, she does not sit on her punches. Taylor and many other amateur stars flail, batter and overwhelm their foes. But few actually sit down on their punches and strike with power. Battering is ok in the amateur world but it doesn’t work for knockouts in the pro world against the elite fighters. It will take time but Taylor does have power.
American power
It’s a busy time in the U.S. for American female prizefighting. And the machine keeps rolling with five division world champion Amanda “The Real Deal” Serrano in perhaps her last fight in boxing.
Serrano (33-1-1, 25 Kos) meets Marilyn Hernandez (26-10, 17 KOs) in a battle between two female fighters that really know how to end a fight by knockout. Combined they have 42 knockouts.
Puerto Rico’s Serrano fights Dominican’s Hernandez on Saturday Nov. 4, at Barclays Center in Brooklyn. After the fight the slender brunette bomber will be fighting in mixed martial arts.
“I’m done with boxing,” said Serrano, 29. “They aren’t going to pay me what MMA is.”
For more on Serrano read Felipe Leon’s piece on the Prizefighter.com later this week.
Hopefully Serrano returns one day soon if the price is right.
Several other fight cards feature elite level fighters around the USA.
In Atlanta, former boxing champ Terri Moss now promotes fight cards and has a big one this Saturday in Atlanta Georgia. The main event features Helen Joseph and Elizabeth Anderson meeting for the vacant WBF Intercontinental title.
In Ashburn, Virginia, flyweights Tyriesha Douglas and Crystal Hoy meet in a 10 round clash for the UBF title.
In Rayne, Louisiana, a pair of former amateur stars Selina Barrios and Russia’s Zarina Tsoloyeva meet in a six round fight on Thursday night. These two females are going at it with no pretext of warming up to the pro world.
“Even though Tsoloyeva is making her pro debut, she’s a big step up in competition,” Barrios said. “She had a great amateur career and I know she’s going to be a tough opponent. All I know is I’m going to bring the heat, and show her why I’m the most dangerous fighter in women’s boxing.”
Juarez
A female clash across the Mexican border takes place when Lourdes Juarez tangles with hometown fighter Diana Laura Fernandez in a flyweight title fight on Saturday Nov. 4, in Juarez, Mexico. They’re calling it the “Battle of the Beauties.”
Lourdes “Little Lulu” Lourdes, 30, is the younger sister of Mariana “Barby” Juarez and has been steamrolling opponents for the past year. It seems she finally figured out what works.
Fernandez is a young 23-year-old who recently fought for the IBF world title in Argentina and was competitive in losing to long-time champion Debora Dionicius.
On the same day, but several hundred miles north, the middle sister of Lourdes and Mariana Juarez will be fighting too.
Patricia Juarez, 36, tangles with veteran Britttany Cruz in a super bantamweight clash in Westminster, Colorado. The six-round fight will be set for three-minute rounds. Next week the oldest sister Mariana defends her WBC bantamweight world title against Germany’s Alesia Graf.
Germany
Speaking of Germany, the middleweight champion Christina Hammer defends the WBC and WBO titles against hard-hitting Gifty Ankrah of Ghana on Saturday. It’s especially of interest to American fans who are interested in seeing Claressa Shields fight Hammer next year.
Shields recently won the IBF super middleweight world title and is anxious to face Hammer in a mega battle early in 2018. It’s been said Shields will drop down in weight to challenge Hammer. It will definitely be a super fight.
Female Fight News
Argentina
Laura Griffith (15-1) defeated Edith Matthysse (14-10-1) to retain the South American title by unanimous decision after 10 rounds on Saturday Oct. 28. The super bantamweight match took place in Villa Maria Cordoba.
Danila Ramos (4-0) was the victor by majority decision after six rounds over Johana Gimenez (3-4-1) on Saturday Oct.28. The super bantamweight fight was held in Villa Madero, Buenos Aires.
On Friday Nov. 3, super flyweights Debora Dionicius (25-0) and Julieta Cardozo (11-1) meet for the IBF world title in Cutral Co, Neuquen. The champion Dionicius, 29, is making her 10th defense of the world title since 2012. Cordozo, 23, fights out of Buenos Aires and is dropping down in weight for this fight.
Belgium
Jill Serron (3-0) won by technical knockout in round four against Dendi Fleis (16-26-1) on Saturday Oct.28. The super bantamweight clash was held in Vlaams Brabant.
Canada
Jessica Camara (2-0) was the winner by unanimous decision after four rounds versus Mexico’s Erika Hernandez (6-1-1) on Saturday Oct. 28. The welterweight fight was held in Hamilton, Ontario.
Marie Eve Decaire (9-0) defeated Argentina’s Yamila Reynoso (8-3-3) by unanimous decision after 10 rounds on Wednesday Oct. 25. The welterweight clash took place in Gatineau, Quebec. Also, heavyweight Claire Hafner (2-1) won by decision after four rounds against Claudia Ramirez (1-2).
Colombia
On Wednesday Nov. 1, bantamweights Mayerlin Rivas (15-3-1) and Dayana Cordero (16-5-2) meet for the WBA world title in Medellin. Rivas, 29, fights out of Venezuela and is making the third title defense. Cordero, 21, fights out of Panama but is originally from Colombia and holds the interim title.
Denmark
Sarah Mahfoud (4-0) won by unanimous decision after six rounds against Gabriella Mezei (8-11-2) on Saturday Oct. 28. The featherweight match was held in Copenhagen.
France
Licia Boudersa (9-1-2) and Taoussy L’Hadji (5-6-1) fought to a draw after six rounds on Saturday Oct. 28. The super featherweight contest took place in Calvados.
Justine Lallemand (7-0) defeated Anne Sophie Da Costa (24-3) by unanimous decision after 10 rounds on Saturday Oct. 28. The win gives Lallemand the WBF minimum weight title.
On Friday Nov. 3, super bantamweights Segolene Lefebvre (8-0) and Naroyuki Koasicha (6-2-1) meet in a 10 round bout for the WBF title in Nord. The champion Lefebvre, 24, is making the first defense of the title she won in March. The challenger Koasicha fights out of San Luis Potosi, Mexico.
Georgia
Nana Chakvashvili (3-0) won by technical knockout in the first round over Nino Chkheidze (0-5) on Tuesday Oct. 24. The super bantamweight match was held in Tbilisi.
Germany
Dina Thorslund (10-0) defeated Nevenka Mikulic (7-10-1) by unanimous decision after eight rounds on Friday Oct. 27. The super bantamweight clash took place in Schwerin.
On Saturday Nov. 4, middleweights Christina Hammer (21-0) and Gifty Ankrah (7-4-1) meet for the WBC and WBO world titles in Munich, Bayern. The champion Hammer, 27, is fighting for the second time this year. Ankrah, 36, fights out of Ghana and has five knockout wins.
On Saturday, Nov. 4, flyweights Steffi Schuenke (11-1) and Gabriella Mezei (8-11-2) meet in an eight round fight in Hessen.
Haiti
Melissa St. Vil (10-2-4) won by technical knockout in the fifth round over Diana Garcia (14-26) on Thursday Oct. 26. The fight was held at super lightweight because Garcia, a last-minute replacement, was eight pounds over the suggested weight. The fight took place in Petionville.
Japan
On Sunday Nov. 5, minimum weights Mizuki Matsuoka (0-2) and Saki Akimaru (1-1-1) meet in a four round bout in Tagawa-Gun, Fukuoka.
Kenya
Consolata Musanga (6-2-3) knocked out Christine Auma (0-5) in the second round on Tuesday Oct. 24. The super featherweight fight took place in Nairobi.
Macao
Zong Ju Cai (10-1) retained the IBF world title by decision after 10 rounds versus Gretchen Abaniel (18-9) of the Philippines on Saturday Oct. 28. The minimum weight title fight took place in Macao. It was Cai’s first title defense.
Jutamas Jitpong (3-1) beat Gretel De Paz (4-2) by decision after eight rounds on Friday Oct. 27. The bantamweight clash took place in Macao. Also, Olga Gurova (1-0) defeated Chun Yan Xu (6-4) by unanimous decision in an eight round bantamweight fight. Gurova, 20, fights out of Russia.
Mexico
Silvia Torres (17-0-1) won by knockout in the second round of Edith De Jesus Flores (5-10) on Saturday Oct. 28. The light flyweight contest was held in Tlalpan, Mexico City.
Jaqueline Mucio (4-4-1) defeated Alejandra Soto (4-5-1) by split decision after eight rounds on Friday Oct. 27. The super flyweight contest took place in Mexico City.
On Saturday Nov.4, flyweights Lourdes Juarez (21-2) and Diana Laura Fernandez (16-1) meet in a 10 round clash for the WBC Fecombox title in Juarez, Chihuahua. The titlist Juarez, 30, fights out of Mexico City. The challenger Fernandez, 23, fights out of Juarez.
Serbia
Marina Djekic (1-1) defeated Kristina Svarc (0-1) by decision after four rounds on Saturday Oct. 28. The bantamweight match was held in Becej. Also, Ksenija Medic (0-5-1) and Ana Nikolic (0-0-1) fought to a draw after four rounds in a lightweight fight.
South Africa
Mapule Ngubane (7-5-3) was the winner by decision after eight rounds versus Julie Tshabalala (6-4-2) on Friday Oct. 27. The middleweight clash took place in Seshego.
Ruth Chisale (10-0) won by technical knockout in the sixth round over Ndabayini Kholose (10-4) on Friday Oct. 27. The lightweight clash took place in Mmabatho.
Bukiwe Nonina (12-3-1) won WBF title by majority decision after 10 rounds versus Matshidiso Mokebisi (8-8-1) on Thursday Oct. 26. The bantamweight title clash took place in Welkom, Free State. Also, Siphosethu Nxazonke (4-7) won by technical knockout in round two over Tshepang Majola (1-2) in a bantamweight match.
South Korea
Eun Bit Hwang (1-0) won by decision after four rounds versus Se Eun Park (0-1) in a battle of debuting boxers on Saturday Oct. 28. The minimum weight fight was held in Pocheon.
Sweden
Lenka Kardova (2-0) was the winner by unanimous decision after six rounds versus Angelique Hernandez (1-3) on Saturday Oct. 28. The bantamweight clash took place in Katrineholm.
United Kingdom
Katie Taylor (7-0) won the vacant WBA lightweight title by unanimous decision after 10 rounds versus Argentina’s Anahi Esther Sanchez (17-3) on Saturday Oct. 28. The world title match was held in Cardiff, Wales. Taylor, 31, fights out of Ireland.
On Saturday Nov. 4, super welterweights Stacey Copeland (2-0) and Klaudia Vigh (2-20-1) meet in a six round fight in Manchester, England.
USA
Shelly Vincent (21-1) defeated Colombia’s Calixta Silgado (15-9-3) by unanimous decision after eight rounds on Saturday Oct. 28. The super featherweight fight took place in Mashantucket, Conn.
On Thursday Nov. 2, flyweights Marlen Esparza (3-0) and Karla Valenzuela (3-16-3) are set to meet in a six round bout in Tucson, Arizona. Esparza, 28, is a former 2012 Olympic bronze medalist who now fights out of Oakland, Calif.
On Thursday Nov. 2, super lightweights Selina Barrios (2-0) and former Russian amateur star Zarina Tsoloyeva (0-0) fight in a four round bout set at three-minute rounds in Rayne, Louisiana. Also, light heavyweights Kayla Williams (0-0) and Samantha Pill (1-0) meet in a four round bout.
On Friday Nov. 3, super bantamweights Brittany Cruz (11-8-2) and Patricia Juarez (3-0) meet in a six round fight set at three-minute rounds in Westminster, Colorado. Juarez, 36, is the middle sister of Mariana and Lourdes Juarez of Mexico City. Also, on the same card, Amorena Baca (0-1) fights Karen Carver (0-0) in a four round lightweight bout.
On Saturday Nov. 4, super bantamweights Amanda Serrano (33-1-1) and Marilyn Hernandez (26-10-1) meet in an eight round non-title fight in Brooklyn, New York at the Barclays Center. The five-division world champion Serrano will be transitioning into mixed martial arts after this fight. (For more on this story read Felipe Leon’s story on this web site later this week.)
On Saturday Nov. 4, flyweights Tyriesha Douglas (12-1) and Crystal Hoy (5-7-4) meet in a 10 round clash for the UBF title in Ashburn, Virginia. The champion Douglas, 28, fights out of Baltimore and is making her first title defense. Hoy is 37 and is from Las Vegas.
On Saturday Nov. 4, bantamweights Helen Joseph (14-3-1) and Elizabeth Anderson (5-8) meet for the vacant WBF Intercontinental title in Atlanta, Georgia. Both are looking for their first title. Joseph, 28, fights out of Connecticut and is originally from Nigeria. Anderson, 32, fights out of Salt Lake City, Utah. The fight takes place at the Buckhead Fight Club in Atlanta.
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