“Super Bad” Seniesa Estrada Wins in L.A.

By David A. Avila

LOS ANGELES-In front of a sold out hometown audience East L.A.’s Seniesa “Super Bad” Estrada simply was too quick and too elusive in defeating Mexico’s Sonia Osorio on Friday.

It was Estrada’s debut as a newly signed Golden Boy Promotions fighter and for the first time a female boxer was in a televised main event. These were all glittery bangles but her bigger and heavier opponent was standing in her way.

Before more than 600 fans at Belasco Theater, the undefeated Estrada (12-0, 2 KOs) out-maneuvered and out-fought Osorio (8-6-1) to capture the historic win. It wasn’t easy.

Mexico has long been a producer of some of the toughest fighters in the boxing world. The fighters there are able to compete on a regular basis unlike female fighters in the U.S. They engage in toe-to-toe encounters and know their way around grueling battles.

But Estrada offers a different style not seen in Mexico or usually anywhere.

From the opening bell Osorio unlike most Mexican fighters in the past, did not attack Estrada. Instead she offered to counter the quicksilver local fighter. It was an intelligent strategy.

By forcing Estrada to make the first move Osorio guaranteed herself a chance to catch the elusive East L.A. fighter on the way out. It was a smart strategy.

For the first three rounds Estrada swayed and feinted then would suddenly attack with cobra-like speed. Her punches arrived from all angles but the most effective was a snapping left hook. And when the two fighters would get tied up, Estrada would always exit with a blow to the head. Sometimes it was the uppercut and other times the left hook. Osorio’s corner decided to change strategy.

Speed and accuracy

From about the fifth round on Osorio became the aggressor and though Estrada’s speed could have allowed her to simply box and move, she offered to engage and out-punch Osorio.

The battle between the two flyweights became a numbers game. Each was able to land solid blows but the winner of each round was the fighter who landed the most telling blows. Estrada’s speed and accuracy was the difference.

Osorio never surrendered and was very successful with looping overhand rights. But soon Estrada adjusted and took that weapon away.

Later, Osorio found success by using a jab then an uppercut as Estrada attacked. But that also was taken away by Estrada who adjusted.

Most times Estrada simply pulled the trigger quicker than Osorio and though the Mexican fighter scored, she simply was out-hit four to one. For every blow Osorio scored Estrada landed four.

The East L.A. fighter’s ability to slip punches and use angles in escaping dangerous situations was the difference in the fight. All three judges scored it the same way 80-72 in favor of Estrada. There were no knockdowns in the eight-round fight.

“It’s an honor to be the first woman to headline a Golden Boy Promotions event,” said Estrada. “I hope this is the first of better and even bigger events. I had a bit of ring rust because I hadn’t fought since September, so I look forward to getting back in the gym and coming back soon.”

For the first time in the history of Golden Boy Promotions a female fighter was the main event.

(Photo by Al Applerose)