Champions Week All Over and Female Fight News
By David A. Avila
Champions all over the world engaged this past weekend from Argentina to Germany and in between.
Three standout world titlists retained their grip on their championship belts but one was unable to maintain her title when Monserrat Alarcon lost to former three-time flyweight world champion Arely Mucino in a terse battle in Guadalajara, Mexico.
Mucino added the WBO title to the IBF, WBC and WBA titles she had already won in previous battles over the years. The circuit is now complete for the brunette from Monterrey, Mexico. The loser Alarcon was making her first defense of the title she won in Japan.
On the same night in Mexico City, the darling of Mexico, Mariana “La Barby” Juarez, successfully defended the WBC bantamweight world title a third time since winning it last year. Juarez out-fought Uruguay’s Gabriela Bouvier by unanimous decision after 10 rounds. It was the first time in three attempts that Bouvier heard the final bell. Two previous attempts ended by knockout.
Juarez has publicly acknowledged that she seeks to win a fourth world title in a fourth weight division. It is something that no other Mexican female fighter can claim. If possible, a clash with former super bantamweight champion Jackie Nava will take place this summer. Both are eager for the super clash at 122-pounds. Nava fights out of Tijuana, Baja California.
Han
In the border town of El Paso, Texas, Jennifer Han the IBF featherweight world titlist made her fourth defense of the title since winning it in September 2015. This time the Texas native defeated Argentina’s Lizbeth Crespo by unanimous decision.
“I would really like to fight every two months if possible,” said Han.
Crespo, 27, is the current South American featherweight champion. It was her first fight in the U.S. and first time fighting outside of Argentina.
“I hope it was the first of many,” said Crespo before the fight.
Eleven defenses
In Argentina, the IBF super flyweight world champion Debora Dionicius warded off Japan’s Terumi Nuki to retain the world title. It was the speedy fighter’s 11th successful world title defense since winning it in 2012 against Michele Preston. Some of the foes she overcame were Mexico’s Diana Laura Fernandez, Colombia’s Olga and Uruguay’s Gabriela Bouvier.
Maybe a match with Argentina’s other speedy champion Yesica “La Tuti” Bopp can be the match that puts both fighters on the world map.
Heat vs. Hurricane
Heather “The Heat” Hardy won the first leg of a two-part battle against Ana “The Hurricane” Julaton by decision on Friday at Mohegan Sun in Connecticut. It was an MMA battle promoted by Bellator.
Like most MMA fights it was dominated by clinching and grappling and despite both women experts in the world of boxing, there was very little of punching in the three five-minute rounds. Hardy looked to be the stronger in the clinching department and won on all three judge’s cards.
Now the two champion boxers face each other in the boxing ring. This is what they have been trained to do for many years. Brooklyn’s Hardy has been fighting professionally for six years and San Francisco’s Julaton has done it 11 years.
Expect fireworks in the boxing match whenever it happens.
Julaton’s promoter is Allan Tremblay who has already engaged in discussions with Bellator regarding the next move.
Hardy’s promoter is Lou DiBella and he has already given her his blessing for the two-fight arrangement with Julaton. Both fighters emerged unscathed in terms of suspensions for cuts or knockouts. It’s just a matter of when the two parties want the boxing match to take place and where.
Expect the boxing portion to be much more action-packed than the MMA clash. This is what they have been doing for many years and quite successfully.
Female Fight News
Argentina
Yamila Reynoso (10-3-3) was the winner by unanimous decision after 10 rounds versus Tamara Nunez (6-8-3) on Saturday Feb. 17. Reynoso wins the Argentina welterweight title that took place in General Pico, La Pampa. Also, Marianela Ramirez (1-1) beat Maria Adam (0-2) by decision in a four round super bantamweight fight.
Debora Dionicius (27-0) defeated Terumi Nuki (9-3) by unanimous decision after 10 rounds on Saturday Feb. 17. The IBF super flyweight world title fight took place in Cutral Co.
Melisa Dozo (0-1-3) and Lorena Moreyra (0-4-1) fought to a majority draw after four rounds on Friday Feb. 16. The super featherweight bout took place in Rosario, Santa Fe.
Belgium
On Saturday Feb. 24, bantamweights Jill Serron (4-0) and Jasmina Nad (7-21-4) meet in a 10 round clash for the Belgium title at Sint Truiden, Belgium.
Bolivia
On Friday Feb. 23, flyweights Mariela Valverde (5-5) and Daniela Vargas (0-0) meet in a six round bout in Santa Cruz de la Sierra.
Canada
Marie Eve Dicaire (11-0) won by majority decision after 10 rounds against Marisa Nunez (7-9-2) on Thursday Feb. 15. The super welterweight fight for the NABF title took place in Montreal, Quebec. Also, Jessica Camara (4-0) beat Guadalupe Ortiz (2-6) by majority decision after a four round super lightweight match.
Chile
Daniela Asenjo (6-2-2) defeated Isis Macarena (4-1) by unanimous decision after eight rounds on Saturday Feb. 17. The super flyweight match took place San Francisco de Mostazal.
Finland
On Saturday Feb. 24, flyweights Lotta Loikkanen (2-0) and Sonia Klos (0-0) meet in six round fight at Rysa, Finland.
Germany
Nina Meinke (7-1) won by unanimous decision over Vissia Trovato (10-1) after 10 rounds on Saturday Feb. 17. The WIBF featherweight title fight took place in Ludwigsburg.
Italy
On Friday Feb. 23, flyweights Llaria Scopece (5-0) and Marina Djekic (1-2) meet in a six round match at Cernusco sul Naviglio, Lombardia.
Mexico
Arely Mucino (26-3-2) defeated Monserrat Alarcon (10-4-2) by unanimous decision after 10 rounds on Saturday Feb. 17, to take the WBO world title. The flyweight match took place in Guadalajara and gives Mucino her goal of holding all four major world title belts in the flyweight division at one time or another.
Mariana Juarez (48-9-4) won by unanimous decision after 10 rounds versus Uruguay’s Gabriela Bouvier (13-8-1) on Saturday Feb. 17. The win in Mexico City was Juarez’s second defense of the WBC bantamweight world title she won last April.
New Zealand
On Saturday Feb. 24, super welterweights Dawn Chalmers (0-0) and Megyn McLennan (0-0) meet in a four round bout at Motueka, New Zealand.
Scotland
On Saturday Feb. 24, super featherweights Kristen Fraser (2-0) and Claire Ciantar (2-2) meet in a six round fight in Aberdeen, Scotland.
South Africa
On Friday Feb. 23, bantamweights Gabisile Tshabalala (10-2-1) and Simangele Hadebe (3-1-1) meet in a six round fight at Gauteng.
Spain
Cristina Garrobo (1-0) won her pro debut by decision over Claudia Ferenczi (16-61-7) by unanimous decision after five rounds on Saturday Feb. 17. The bantamweight fight took place in Madrid.
United Kingdom
Gabriella Mezei (9-11-3) defeated Belinda Skinner (0-1) by unanimous decision after four rounds on Saturday Feb. 17. The super bantamweight match was held in Manchester, England.
USA
Jennifer Han (17-3-1) was the winner by unanimous decision after 10 rounds against Argentina’s Lizbeth Crespo (12-4) on Saturday Feb. 17. The IBF featherweight world title fight was held in El Paso, Texas.
On Saturday Feb. 24, flyweights Louisa Hawton (7-0) and Mexico’s Anahi Torres (16-17-1) meet in an eight round fight for the WBC International title in Inglewood, California. Hawton lives in Australia.
On Saturday Feb. 24, lightweights Amorena Baca (1-1) and Darci Vigil (0-0) meet in a four three-minute round fight at Denver, Colorado.