Female Fight News for week of Jan. 1, 2018 New Year
By David A. Avila
One year ago women’s prizefighting started with a bang and never eased up. If 2018 can match or surpass 2017 we’re in for one blockbuster year.
Things have truly changed.
A good example of the change in female boxing was seen last week when two former amateur stars in Selina Barrios and Lisa Porter met for the NABF lightweight title in Louisiana. Despite only two pro fights of experience they both consented to fight each other.
Before last year’s flood of former Olympians and other amateur stars the sport of female prizefighting was filled with undefeated women refusing to fight anyone with a pulse. Even with television willing to showcase a female bout boxers were refusing tough matches.
That defeatist attitude seems to be washed away by this new wave.
Barrios and Porter represent the new “why wait” attitude that seems to dominate the new crop of boxers. Both found it difficult to find opponents so they eagerly agreed to fight each other. And not just at four rounds but in a 10-round clash.
Neither had ever boxed more than four rounds but they accepted the challenge and fought hard all 10 rounds in a magnificent battle.
This new wave of American fighters really understands that it’s not about undefeated records any longer. They want action.
Verona, N.Y.
On Jan. 12, the WBC and IBF super middleweight titles held by Claressa Shields will be the ante for challenger Tori Nelson at the Turning Stone Resort and Casino in Verona, New York. Showtime will be headlining this female world title fight.
Mark down this day because it’s the first time that a female bout is the main event on any network this year. Hopefully we see more.
Shields, 22, has dominated with her athleticism and skills acquired over years as an amateur star. But she will get even better as the years mount. Imagine Shields in five years?
It’s a scary thought for anyone from super welterweight to light heavyweight. Prizefighter.com staff writer Felipe Leon believes that it’s easily conceivable for Shields to win the heavyweight world title if she wants in the near future.
Nelson, 41, was offered a fight with Shields earlier in the year. But she deigned to wait until this year to face the two-time Olympic gold medalist. But the boxer from Virginia has never been defeated in 20 pro fights. Can she compete with the tidal wave of talent coming from Shields?
Female Fight News
Argentina
Erica Farias (25-2) won by unanimous decision versus Ana Laura Esteche (13-5-3) after 10 rounds on Saturday Dec. 30. The super lightweight clash took place in Concordia, Entre Rios and was a non-title fight between two world titlists holding all the belts. (For more on this read the story by Diego Morilla on this site.). Also, Maria Laura Cano (2-3) won by majority decision after six rounds versus Andrea Sanchez (8-1-1) in a flyweight bout. Plus, Yanina Del Carmen (1-0) beat Amanda Lopes (1-4) by decision in a lightweight contest.
Belgium
Jill Serron (4-0) defeated Amra Okugic (0-7) by sixth round technical knockout on Monday Dec. 25. The bantamweight fight took place in Izegem.
China
Lan Xiao (2-0) beat Li Chen (0-2) by decision after four three-minute rounds on Tuesday Dec. 26. The flyweight bout took place in Xi An. Also, Yuan Nie (2-0) beat Huijiao Chen (0-2) by decision in a four round flyweight fight. Plus, Fan Yin (2-0) defeated Xianrui Lu (0-2) after four three-minute rounds in a bantamweight clash.
Denmark
On Friday Jan. 5, featherweights Sarah Mahfoud (4-0) and Nana Chakvashvili (4-1) meet in an eight round fight at Copenhagen.
Estonia
On Saturday Jan. 6, featherweights Elena Gradinar (7-0) and Karina Kopinska (10-22-3) meet in a 10 round clash in Kalev.
Italy
Silvia Bortot (3-0-1) was the winner by technical knockout in the fourth round over Sandra Zekic (2-11) on Tuesday Dec. 26. The super lightweight fight was held in Veneto, Italy.
Japan
Jun Yabuki (10-0) knocked out Yokkao Saenchaigym (0-3) in the first round on Monday Jan. 1. The flyweight bout took place in Tokyo. Also, Momoko Kanda (10-9-2) won by second round knockout over Petchompoo Mor Krungthepthonburi (2-2) in a minimum weight clash.
Kazakhstan
Firuza Sharipova (8-1) defeated Djemilla Gontaruk (13-5-1) by unanimous decision on Saturday Dec. 30. The win by Sharipova gives her the IBO world title and WBC Silver title in the super featherweight division. It took place in Almaty. Also, in a super welterweight clash, Inna Sagaydakoskaya (7-0) stopped Jennifer Retzke (16-4-1) in the second round to win the interim WBC title.
Kenya
Rebah Matanda (1-0) won by unanimous decision Nicholine Achieng (0-5) after four rounds on Tuesday Dec. 26. The featherweight contest took place in Nairobi.
Serbia
On Friday Jan. 5, lightweights Ajla Lukac (1-1) and Ksenija Medic (0-6-1) meet in four round fight at Novi Pazar.
Switzerland
Aniya Seki (33-3-2) won by unanimous decision after eight rounds versus Judit Hachbold (4-3) on Tuesday Dec. 26. The bantamweight fight took place in Berne.
USA
Selina Barrios (3-0) defeated Lisa Porter (1-1-1) by unanimous decision after 10 rounds on Friday Dec. 29. The lightweight contest took place in Alexandria, Louisiana and the win gives Barrios the NABF title. (For more on this read the story on this web site)