Adelaida Ruiz and Dalia Gomez Blaze in L.A.
By David A. Avila
Los Angeles fight fans got a glimpse of the future of female prizefighting on Saturday.
Adelaida “La Cobra” Ruiz (3-0) and Dalia “La Pantera” Ruiz (1-2) battled in a quick-moving four round bantamweight clash at the Westin Bonaventure Hotel. The non-televised boxing card saw Ruiz emerge the winner.
“Many people said it was the fight of the night,” said Ruiz.
Both women entered the boxing ring with only two pro fights worth of experience yet they fought with precision and technique. It was not the norm for female boxing even 10 years ago.
The battle between the two bantamweights showed that female prizefighting has leaped ahead in terms of talent and fighting skills. Both possessed speed, agility and crackling power. More importantly, each had a plan of attack.
With Olympians gaining most of the focus this year and deservedly so, the other boxers have been ignored but a number of them are equally talented.
The winner Los Angeles resident Ruiz, 29, departed from the boxing world more than a decade ago while raising three children. That itch to return to the boxing game brought her back and though rust had gathered, the natural instincts remained intact.
Northern California’s Gomez, 35, had also quit the boxing world many years ago and moved from Oxnard to Oakland where she now works as a physical education teacher. That urge to box again was too strong to ignore so earlier this year Gomez returned.
A large contingent of fans from the San Francisco Bay area and from nearby South Gate arrived to see the female contestants clash in a four round bout. The agreed upon weight limit was 120 pounds.
Though Gomez seemed to have a two-inch height advantage it was Ruiz who immediately slipped into attack mode in the opening round. Both women were very athletic and quick-handed.
For the first two rounds Ruiz stayed aggressive and used feints to move into firing range. Gomez was never overwhelmed but more tactical and deliberate when firing blows.
Around the third round Gomez began to step into a faster gear and exchanged more freely than before. The Oakland-based fighter has extremely fast hands and solid power.
Ruiz also has fast hands and is more comfortable as the aggressor. The last two rounds saw both fighters exchange lightning combinations and each connected. But Ruiz seemed to get that last punch in whenever the blows were delivered on this night.
The four rounds went quickly, perhaps too quickly. Before the fight was made it was clear that a six round fight was more apt for these two women who have solid amateur experience. It showed in their fight.
When the judges read the card all three had Ruiz the winner 40-36. Gomez was clearly disappointed.
“I froze and put too much pressure on myself,” said Gomez. “I’m very disappointed and wish I could have given everyone a better performance but it didn’t work out that way.”
Ruiz was impressed with Gomez.
“Dalia is a great fighter I noticed she is able to fight southpaw, box and fight three different styles in the ring,” said Ruiz after the fight. “I think we did a great fight tonight.”
It was the type of fight only the best were capable of performing 10 years ago. But now it’s an example of things to come in the female fight world; especially if you are named Ruiz or Gomez.
(Photo by Al Applerose)
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