Female Fight News Feb. 26, 2018 Open Season
By David A. Avila
A couple of world title fights this Saturday kick off an impressive number of female fights one after another for the next two months. It’s open season for female fighting.
New York’s Alicia Napoleon battles Belgium’s Femke Hermans for the vacant WBA super middleweight world title at Barclays Center in Brooklyn on Saturday March 3. This is Napoleon’s second attempt and biggest stage.
A win by Napoleon could set up a showdown with Raquel Miller. Both Miller and Napoleon are signed with DiBella Entertainment and a couple of wins here and there and either one could be in the Claressa Shields sweepstakes. That would mean television and bigger exposure.
Meanwhile, on the same night, Layla McCarter battles New Mexico veteran Victoria Cisneros for the GBU and WIBF welterweight titles in Ignacio, Colorado. Many consider McCarter the best female fighter pound for pound. She hasn’t lost a fight in more than 10 years.
“I want to maintain my number one ranking as a welterweight,” said McCarter, 38, who fights out of Las Vegas.
Sadly, McCarter and many others hoped a match with Norway’s Cecilia Braekhus could have been made. Though negotiations took place, the two sides could not find a common ground and a deal could not be made.
Braekhus versus McCarter will be the super fight of this century.
West Coast heat
This past Saturday 108-pound light flyweights battled at the Fabulous Forum and fans saw a riveting clash between Australia’s Louisa Lawton and Mexico’s Anahi Torres. After eight intense rounds with the powerful Lawton going for the homerun, the Mexican fighter emerged with the victory in somewhat of an upset.
Those familiar with Torres knew that she posed a danger for Lawton because of her vast experience against some of the best in the world including: Yesica Bopp, Arely Mucino and Mariana Juarez. In fact Torres lives in the same fighting town as Juarez.
It was a terrific fight that saw Lawton calmly walk through some big shots like gnats hitting her face, but she could never connect solidly against the veteran Torres. Fans were ecstatic about the fight and cheered both equally.
It’s just the beginning. Next week, the West Coast really heats up especially in Southern California.
California rolling
Middleweight contender Maricela Cornejo is scheduled to fight on Friday March 9, at the OC Hangar in Costa Mesa. At press time an opponent had not been established on the Golden Boy Promotions fight card. It will be televised on an ESPN channel.
Cornejo, 30, like all prizefighters above 160 pounds, has a rough time finding opponents. Once you get above the middleweight division the roster of potential foes gets slim. Her last appearance took place in Cancun, Mexico last November.
On Saturday March 10, Mikaela Mayer will be fighting at the StubHub Center in Carson. The 27-year-old former U.S. Olympian will be facing Maria Semertzoglou of Greece on the Top Rank fight card. It’s getting tougher for the talented Mayer to find opponents too, but her fight is slated to be televised on ESPN. Any time a fighter can appear on television that’s worth fighting against anybody, even the dangerous Mayer.
On Friday March 16, light flyweight sensation Seniesa “Superbad” Estrada will be the co-main event at Belasco Theater in downtown Los Angeles. The talented fighter from East L.A. recently signed with Golden Boy Promotions and will be fighting for the first time under their banner against Mexico’s Sonia Osorio. It will be televised by Estrella T.V.
Estrada, 25, last fought against Mexico’s Anahi Torres and won a decisive victory over the veteran. Now she fights another veteran in Osorio who fought for a world title two years ago. The signing of Estrada by Golden Boy brought raised eye brows for many in the fight game because the L.A. outfit already have another light flyweight in Marlen Esparza.
The former 2012 Olympian Esparza is set to fight in April possibly at Fantasy Springs in Indio, Calif. On many occasions Esparza has let it be known on social media that she yearns for a showdown against East L.A.’s undefeated Estrada. It’s a fight that many in Southern California would love to see. It’s also a made-for-television moment. Estrada’s answer to Esparza: “anytime she wants it.”
St. Vil
Brooklyn-based Melissa St Vil was scheduled to contend for the WBC super featherweight world title against Eva Wahlstrom on March 9, but the fight has been moved to a later date. According to St. Vil the new date will be April 6, in Finland. St. Vil, 34, already won the WBC Silver title and now targets the gold titlist in undefeated 37-year-old Wahlstrom.
“I can’t wait to get back in the ring,” said St. Vil whose last fight was a knockout win over Diana Garcia in October 2017.
Katie
Ireland’s Katie Taylor arrived in New York last week to talk about her upcoming WBA title defense against Argentina’s Victoria Bustos at Madison Square Garden on April 28. No word official word yet on whether it will be televised in the U.S. The Irish champion will definitely be televised in the United Kingdom on Sky Sports.
Taylor’s last fight was a solid scrap against Chicago’s Jessica McCaskill who wasn’t merely a speed bump. The hard-hitting McCaskill nearly dropped the former Olympian and showed the world there’s another lightweight who can fight and knows how to really hit.
Female Fight News
Argentina
Evelyn Bermudez (7-0) was the winner by unanimous decision after six rounds versus Macarena Gallastegui (4-5) on Friday Feb. 23. The bantamweight fight took place in Ceibas, Entre Rios.
On Friday March 2, bantamweights Julieta Cardozo (11-2) and Jorgelina Guanini (7-1-1) meet in a 10-round bout in San Salvador de Jujuy.
On Saturday March 3, super bantamweights Eliana Cuello (1-1) and Angela Sanchez (0-0) meet in a four round bout in Arroyo Seco, Santa Fe.
Belgium
Jasmina Nad (8-21-4) defeated Jill Serron (4-1) by technical knockout in round three on Saturday Feb. 24. The bantamweight fight took place in Sint Truiden.
Finland
Lotta Loikkanen (3-0) won by decision after six rounds against Sonia Klos (0-1) on Saturday Feb. 24. The flyweight bout took place in Rysa.
France
Licia Boudersa (11-1-2) stopped Nana Chakhvashili (4-3) in the third round on Saturday Feb. 24. The featherweight clash took place in Caen, Calvados.
Georgia
Mari Tatunashvili (2-0-2) won by technical knockout in the third round against Mzia Lomidze (2-6) on Saturday Feb. 24. The super lightweight match took place in Tbilisi. Also, Sopo Kintsurashvili (1-0) beat Anuki Tsopurashvili (0-1) in a super bantamweight fight; Alina Iskandarova (2-0) beat Nana Georgkiani (0-1) in a bantamweight bout.
Italy
Ilaria Scopece (6-0) was the winner by decision after six rounds against Marina Djekic (1-3) on Friday Feb. 23. The flyweight match was held in Cernusco sul Naviglio.
Mexico
Carolina Arias (14-2) defeated Lourdes Jacinto Torres (0-3) by decision after eight rounds on Friday Feb. 23. The super flyweight fight took place in Oaxaca, Oaxaca. Arias, 30,fights out of Costa Rica.
New Zealand
Dawn Chalmers (1-0) defeated Megyn McLennan (0-1) by decision after four rounds on Saturday Feb. 24. The welterweight fight took place in Motueka.
South Africa
Simangele Hadebe (4-1-1) defeated Gabisile Tshabalala (10-3-1) by split decision after six rounds on Friday Feb. 23. The bantamweight fight took place in Gauteng.
South Korea
On Sunday March 4, flyweights Eun Hye Lee (10-1) and Chie Higano (7-6) meet in a 10 round clash for the WIBA title in Daejeon.
Spain
Joana Ekedahl (4-0) was the winner by decision after four rounds against Bianka Nagy (0-2) on Saturday Feb. 24. The welterweight fight took place in Leon, Castilla.
Thailand
On Saturday March 3, featherweights Nurshahidah Roslie (7-1) and Sumanthar Baenkham (3-3) meet in an eight round fight in Ramkamhaeng, Bangkok. Also, Sandy Lam (2-1) and Sutthinee Bamrungpao (2-2) fight eight round minimum weight clash.
United Kingdom
Natasha Jones (5-0) won by decision after six rounds versus Karina Kopinska (10-24-3) on Sunday Feb. 25. The lightweight match was held in Manchester, England.
Kristen Fraser (3-0) defeated Claire Ciantar (2-3) by decision after six rounds on Saturday Feb. 24. The featherweight bout was held in Aberdeen, Scotland.
On Friday March 2, super welterweights Stacey Copeland (3-0) and Dora Tollar (2-1) meet in a six round fight at Manchester, England.
On Friday March 2, lightweights Sam Smith (7-1) and Sylwia Maksym (2-2) meet in a six round fight in Leeds, Yorkshire.
On Saturday March 3, lightweights Chantelle Cameron (5-0) and Myriam Dellal (15-7-3) meet in a 10 round clash for IBO title in Glasgow, Scotland. Cameron, 26, is making the first defense of the title she won last December.
On Saturday March 3, super welterweights Cherrelle Brown (0-0) and Monika Antonik (1-8) meet in a six round fight in London, England.
USA
Anahi Torres (17-17-1) defeated Louisa Lawton (7-1) by unanimous decision after eight rounds on Saturday Feb. 24. The light flyweight contest took place at Inglewood, Calif. Torres wins the vacant WBC International title.
Edith Ogoke (1-0) defeated Kiara Marquez (0-1) by decision after four rounds on Friday Feb. 23. The middleweight fight took place in Warren, Michigan.
Shurreta Mecalf (3-3-1) and Jamie Mitchell (2-0-1) fought to a draw after four rounds on Thursday Feb. 22. The bantamweight fight took place in Dallas, Texas.
On Saturday March 3, super middleweights Alicia Napoleon (8-1) and Femke Hermans (6-0) meet in a 10 round contest in Brooklyn, New York for the vacant WBA world title. Napoleon, 32, fights out of Lindenhurst, NY. Hermans, 28, fights out of Belgium.
On Saturday March 3, welterweights Layla McCarter (40-13-5) and Victoria Cisneros (13-19-2) fight 10 rounds for the vacant WIBF and GBU titles. The match takes place in Ignacio, Colorado. Also, featherweights Alma Garcia (2-5) and Katie Ramirez (0-2-1) meet in a four round featherweight bout.