Female Fight News week of March 12, 2018 Television Barrier Cracked
By David A. Avila
Exciting times have arrived for female prizefighting and it continues this weekend too.
After years of American-based female boxers performing under a blackout from television, the door has been rammed open. Two separate female contests on different promotions were each televised this past weekend. On Friday another female fight will be televised.
But first, a Golden Boy fight card televised Maricela Cornejo who returned to Southern California and returned with a bang as she stopped veteran Lisa Garland in the fourth round on Friday March 9, at OC Hangar in Costa Mesa. The super middleweight bout was televised by ESPN2.
Cornejo fought twice in Mexico the past year and had not fought in the U.S. since winning by knockout last April on a rival promoter’s fight card. This was her first bout in the U.S. since signing with Golden Boy Promotions.
“That girl had power,” said Cornejo on Monday after a few days of thinking about the fight with Garland. “She really came to scrap. I thought I almost had her in the first round but she was pretty strong.”
Now training in Indio, California with the brothers Joel and Antonio Diaz, the tall brunette prizefighter known as “La Diva” was pretty accurate with her punches especially with the right cross. It was the main weapon in Cornejo’s arsenal and proved to be the equalizer when needed.
With rival middleweights and super middleweights across the nation watching, the Mexican-American fighter Cornejo fought in front of a largely supportive crowd and she was eager to perform.
“It was cool,” exclaimed Cornejo about fighting in front of friends, family and fans. “Some people from Indio actually came down as well. I was able to let it out. I don’t have that much experience but I was able to let it all out. I found my groove.”
A lead right cross connected solidly in the fourth round that clearly affected Garland who covered up and tried holding. Another short right connected and referee Raul Caiz Jr. stopped the fight.
Since training with the Diaz brothers it’s clear that they have added their polish to her athleticism and strength and the knockout win provided the proof.
“Antonio (Diaz) is very smart,” said Cornejo about her trainer in the corner Antonio Diaz. “He was a frigging world champion and I responded well to his instructions.”
Cornejo’s instructions now are to step back in the ring as soon as possible.
“I just want to get back in the ring quickly,” she said. “This is exciting.
Mikaela
On Saturday, March 10, about sixty miles north of Costa Mesa up the 405 Freeway, an outdoor event by Top Rank at the StubHub Center showcased the California return of super featherweight sensation Mikaela Mayer.
Rain or no rain the outdoor event took place and Mayer (4-0, 3 KOs) stepped in the boxing ring to face Greece’s Maria Semertzoglou (7-4, 3 KOs). It was a disappointment for the former US Olympian who wanted her fans to see her fight.
“I had planned to take my time and work some rounds but I was a little upset by all the rain. I decided to go in and take her out,” said Mayer by phone.
In the opening moments Mayer met Semertzoglou in the middle of the ring and fired jabs and ripped a right cross that connected solidly. Back went Semertzoglou against the ropes and Mayer chased her and unloaded about eight unanswered blows in a blur as the Greek fighter lay on the top rope. The referee jumped in to stop the slaughter 35 seconds into the fight.
“I was a little surprised. I expected her to come at me hard,” said Mayer. “She had never been stopped before. But I could see in her eyes that she was done as I was hitting her. I just wanted to finish her.”
Since turning pro Mayer has quickly shown explosive power in grabbing three knockout wins out of four total fights.
“It’s a lot different with pro gloves instead of those pillowy amateur gloves,” she said. “I remember the first time I put on pro gloves I couldn’t believe how small they were. My coach has been working on me delivering with power. It’s good to see the end results especially after working on it all these months.”
Mayer said her promoter Top Rank informed her that she will be fighting on May 12, at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
“I don’t like waiting long to fight,” Mayer said adding that she will be on the Vasyl Lomachenko fight card. “I want to fight a lot and get up to 10 rounds quickly by the end of the year.”
Mayer’s fight was shown in its entirety by ESPN before the main event.
“I’m glad people were able to see it,” said Mayer.
Seniesa
East L.A.’s undefeated Seniesa Estrada (11-0, 2 KOs) will be fighting Mexico’s Sonia Osorio in an eight round light flyweight bout on Friday March 16, at Belasco Theater in downtown Los Angeles. The Golden Boy Promotions card will be televised by Spanish language station Estrella TV and also streamed by RingTVLive.com.
Estrada, 25, was recently signed by Golden Boy last month and became the third female boxer signed by the L.A. based promotion company. The others signed by Golden Boy are Marlen Esparza and Maricela Cornejo.
The quick fisted Estrada will be the main event.
“I’m very excited about it,” said Estrada. “I’ve been working for this the last 18 years.”
Double trouble
On Saturday March 17, two female bouts will be showcased at Commerce Casino in the city of Commerce, California. The fight card is promoted by All Star Boxing.
Lisa Porter (1-1-1) a standout amateur lightweight fighting out of California will face debuting Aida Satybaldinova an amateur national champion from Kazakhstan now living in Southern California. It promises to be explosive.
Also, in a bantamweight clash undefeated Adelaida “La Cobra” Ruiz meets debuting Brenda Enriquez. Ruiz has a strong following and has quickly shaken off 10 years of rust.
Female Fight News
Argentina
On Friday March 16, super bantamweights Jennifer Rasjido (6-0-1) and Vanessa Calderon (6-14-1) meet in an eight round fight at Catamarca.
On Saturday March 17, featherweights Ana Guichapani (7-0) and Paola Ibarra (4-4) meet in a 10 round fight in Rio Gallegos, Santa Cruz.
On Saturday March 17, featherweights Nazarena Romero (1-0) and Maria Adam (0-2) meet in a four round fight at Villa Dolores, Cordoba.
Australia
On Friday March 16, welterweights Sarah Dwyer (2-3-1) and Kylie Hutt (2-1-2) meet in an eight round contest at Northbridge, Western Australia.
Denmark
Dina Thorslund (11-0) was the winner by unanimous decision after 10 rounds versus Alicia Ashley (24-12-1) on Saturday March 10. The interim WBC super bantamweight title fight took place in Struer.
Fiji
On Saturday March 17, super lightweights Paula Sauniveikau (0-0) and Lepani Ievatia (1-1) meet in a four round bout at Suva.
Germany
Raja Amasheh (21-1-1) was victorious by unanimous decision versus Tamao Ozawa (13-5) on Saturday March 10. The 10 round fight for the vacant WBO super flyweight title took place in Karlsruhe.
Indonesia
On Saturday March 17, bantamweights Felmi Sumaehe (2-0) and Rochnarongnoi Sithsaithong (9-1) meet in a contest at Jakarta.
Italy
On Friday March 16, flyweights Ilaria Scopece (6-0) and Claudia Ferenczi (16-61-7) meet in an eight round match in Cernusco sul Naviglio, Lombardia.
Japan
Kayako Ebata (12-7) was the winner by majority decision versus Ji Hyun Park (22-3) after 10 rounds to keep the WBO minimumweight title on Thursday March 8 in Tokyo. Also, Tenkai Tsunami (25-12) won the vacant WBO light flyweight title vacated by Naoko Fujioka by decision against Chaoz Minowa (5-1). (For more on these and other Tokyo results read the story by Yuriko Miyata on this site.)
Mexico
On Friday March 16, light flyweights Ana Polo (6-2) and Nayeli Verde (3-3-2) meet in a six round fight at Ciudad Neza, Mexico City. Also, Fernanda Torres (0-0) and Karla Carmona (1-1) meet.
On Saturday March 17, light flyweights Judith Vivanco (2-2) and Laura Yepez (3-3) meet in a six round fight at Distrito Federal, Mexico City.
New Zealand
On Friday March 16, heavyweights Geovana Peres (4-1) and Lani Daniels (2-0) meet in a 10 round clash at Auckland.
Norway
Eva Naranjo (11-0) stopped Angelique Hernandez (1-4) in the third round on Saturday March 10. The super flyweight contest took place in Oslo. Also, Joanna Ekedahl (5-0) was the winner by decision after four super welterweight rounds versus Sanja Ostojic (1-4).
Philippines
Norj Guro (10-7-1) defeated Umi Ishikawa (5-2) by unanimous decision after six rounds on Saturday March 10. The fight for the vacant WBC Asian Continental atomweight title took place in San Pablo.
Poland
On Saturday March 17, light flyweights Ewelina Pekalska (0-0) and Nevenka Mikulic (7-11-1) meet in a four round contest at Poznan. Also, bantamweights Dorota Norek (0-0) and Sonia Klos (0-1) meet in a four round fight.
Russia
On March 17, super lightweights Marina Popova (4-1) and Milena Svonja (3-2) meet in a six round fight at Anapa.
South Korea
Eun Hye Lee (11-1) won by majority decision after 10 rounds against Chie Higano (7-7) on Sunday March 4. The flyweight bout took place in Daejeon.
South Africa
Hedda Wolmarans (3-0) beat Ndabayini Kholose (10-5) by decision after four rounds on Sunday March 4. The welterweight fight was held in Johannesburg.
Spain
On Friday March 16, bantamweights Melania Sorroche (13-2-2) and Davinia Perez (6-0) meet in a 10 round fight for the vacant EBU title at Castellbisbal, Cataluna.
Switzerland
Ornella Domini (12-1) was the winner by unanimous decision after eight rounds over Mari Tatunashvili (2-1-2) on Saturday March 10. The welterweight fight took place in Geneva. Also, super bantamweight Pamela Treand (8-0) beat Gabriella Mezei (9-12-3) by decision after six rounds.
USA
Mikaela Mayer (4-0) knocked out Maria Semertzoglou (7-4) in 35 seconds of their clash on Saturday March 10. The super featherweight clash took place at Carson, California.
Natalie Gonzalez (4-0) defeated Judit Hachbold (4-4) by unanimous decision after six rounds on Saturday March 10. The light flyweight bout took place in Brooklyn, New York.
Maricela Cornejo (10-2) stopped Lisa Garland (15-10) in the fourth round on Friday March 9. The super middleweight fight took place in Costa Mesa, California.
On Friday March 16, middleweights Ema Kozin (12-0) and Mapule Ngubane (7-5-3) meet in a 10 round fight for the vacant GBC and WIBA titles in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
On Saturday March 17, featherweights Amanda Pavone (3-0) and Sarah Click (0-0) meet in a four round fight at Boston.
On Saturday March 17, bantamweights Adelaida Ruiz (3-0) and Brenda Enriquez (0-0) meet in a four round fight at Commerce Casino. Also, Lisa Porter (1-1-1) and Aida Satybaldinova (0-0) meet in a four round lightweight fight.
(Photos by Al Applerose)