Female Fight News April 16 Down Argentine Way and More
By David A. Avila
Down under in Argentina a battle between two of their top world champions saw youth take the forefront as Daniel Bermudez won her duel with the first of that country’s top fighter’s Marcela Acuna.
Bermudez, a speedy southpaw, was able to use her quickness and youth in attaining a unanimous decision victory over the legendary Acuna. She had not fared as well against the other legend Yesica Bopp in two previous encounters.
For those not understanding the significance of this win, Acuna was the very first female prizefighter to get a license in Argentina. Her first two pro fights took place in the U.S. where she fought Christy Martin and Lucia Rijker in back to back installments.
But after years of toiling at the forefront of the female boxing program in Argentina, new and younger fighters are emerging with an abundance of talent. One of those is Bermudez.
This is not a surprise.
Bermudez scored a win over Mexico’s legendary Mariana “La Barby” Juarez a few years back in Mexico City. She has also won world titles in the super flyweight and bantamweight divisions. Now she has both the IBF and WBO super bantamweight world titles and is still in her 20s.
More Argentina
This week two others in Argentina vied for the IBF bantamweight title as Marie Roman defeated Ana Maria Lozano to retain the belt she wrested from Carolina Duer last summer.
This coming Friday two former world titlists clash for the vacant WBA super lightweight belt when Argentina’s Anahi Sanchez and Colombia’s Enis Pacheco meet in Buenos Aires.
Mexico City
Mexico City saw a couple of young contenders battle to get a foothold in the world championship plateau as Jessica Nery Plata defeated Silvia Torres to win the interim WBA light flyweight title Mexico City. Nery lost a close bid for the WBC interim light flyweight title to Kenia Enriquez last year and this time was the winner against another emerging star in Torres.
In another part of Mexico City, Jasseth Noriega beat Eloisa Martinez to win the vacant Mexican super flyweight title.
In Cancun, an interesting development took place as WBC heavyweight titlist Alejandra Jimenez shed some pounds and delved into the light heavyweight division to test the waters. Her opponent Irais Hernandez moved up in weight to meet Jimenez and the two engaged in an eight round clash that ended in a draw.
Jimenez was trying to see if dropping down to the super middleweight division was feasible for her. Some say it’s to possibly challenge budding American super star Claressa Shields. Fighting to a draw with Hernandez was not an embarrassment for Jimenez. The women are much faster as you drop down in weight. Jimenez is discovering this factor.
MMA
One other fighter making a discovery was Amanda Serrano who made her professional debut in MMA last Friday in Los Angeles. Despite preparations for the ground game she was still taken down and nearly defeated. Only grit and pure determination enabled her to emerge with a draw.
As a boxer Serrano may have few peers when it comes to trading blows standing up. But on the ground it’s a totally different element. It’s like teaching fish to fly. It can be done but it could take a lifetime to learn. But the Boricua brunette grabbed a hefty payday from the affair in Southern California. She was paid far more than she had ever received as a pro boxer.
Serrano is going back for more. But she will return to boxing.
“I’m going to fight for the 140-pound belt,” she said.
Incidentally, another who ventured into MMA and is returning to boxing this weekend is Heather “The Heat” Hardy. The Brooklyn-based featherweight meets Mexico’s Iranda Torres in an eight round fight at Barclays Center.
Hardy, though she has a loss in MMA, has never lost in boxing and returns to the boxing ring on Saturday. It should be an entertaining fight.
Tijuana
On April 28 two female bouts of significance take place.
First, WBC interim light flyweight titlist Kenia Enriquez defends against Costa Rica’s Yokasta Valle in a 10 round battle in Tijuana, Mexico for the title.
Valle recently battled Japan’s mega champion Naoko Fujioka for the WBO light flyweight world title last year. The speedy Costa Rican has shown no fear when it comes to match ups. Instead of looking for an easy fight she is going right back into the lion’s den for yet another tough battle.
“I only want to fight the best,” said Valle.
On the same day, in a different venue, San Diego’s Amaris ”Diamond Girl” Quintana returns after a month to the boxing ring to face Carol Castro Madrid in a six round bout in Tijuana. After losing nearly two years to inactivity due to injury, Quintana has come back with a vengeance and is wasting no time.
Female Fight News
Argentina
Marie Roman (12-4-1) defeated Ana Maria Lozano (14-8-1) by unanimous decision after 10 rounds on Saturday April 14. The win retains Roman, 35, the IBF bantamweight world title she took from Carolina Duer last year. The fight took place in San Juan and was her second title defense. Both were against Lozano.
Daniela Bermudez (23-3-3) defeated Marcela Acuna (46-7-1) by unanimous decision after 10 rounds on Friday April 13. Bermudez, 28, took the vacant WBO and Acuna’s IBF bantamweight title with the win. She has grabbed world titles in the super flyweight, bantamweight and now super bantamweight divisions. Her last two losses came in challenges for the flyweight and light flyweight world titles against another Argentine legend Yesica Bopp. In another bout, Brenda Carabajal (14-4-1) beat Gloria Yancaqueo (5-10-3) by decision in a super featherweight clash. The fights took place in Hurlingham, Buenos Aires. (For more on this fight read Diego Morilla’s story on this site)
Jennifer Rasjido (7-0-1) beat Vanesa Calderon (6-15-1) by fourth round technical knockout on Friday April 13. The featherweight match took place in Catamarca.
On Friday April 20, super lightweights Anahi Sanchez (18-3) and Enis Pacheco (17-4-2) fight 10 rounds for vacant WBA title at Pergamino, Buenos Aires. Sanchez 26, is the former lightweight titlist now moving up after losing to Katie Taylor. Pacheco, 30, fights out of Colombia and is a former lightweight world titlist.
Australia
On Saturday April 21, flyweights Sara George (2-4) and Monthida Rattanachai (0-2) meet in a six round fight for Australian-Queensland state title at Ipswich, Queensland.
Belgium
Sanae Jah (15-2-1) was the winner by unanimous decision after eight rounds versus Claudia Ferenczi (16-63-7) on Saturday April 14. The flyweight bout was held in Hainaut.
Brazil
On Saturday April 21, lightweights Rose Volante (12-0) and Lourdes Borbua (8-0) meet in a 10 round clash for the WBO world title at Santos, Sao Paolo. Volante, 35, is making her first defense of the title. Borbua, 29, fights out of Panama. In another bout, Danila Ramos (4-0) meets Caroline Antunes (0-1) in a six round bantamweight fight.
Canada
On Friday April 20, super flyweights Shelly Barnett (3-0) and Guadalupe Rodriguez (3-1) meet in a six round fight at Toronto.
China
On Saturday April 21, bantamweights Wensi Huang (9-3) and Qi Wang (0-0) meet at Chong Qing.
France
Oshin Derieuw (8-0) defeated Lina Tejada (11-5) by unanimous decision after 10 rounds on Saturday April 14. The win gives Derieuw, 30, the vacant WBF super lightweight title that took place in Henin-Beaumont.
Elodie Bouchlaka (4-1-2) took the win by unanimous decision against Jessica Sanchez (1-5-2) after six rounds on Saturday April 14. The super flyweight bout was held in Canohes. Also, Donia Darouiche (1-0) beat Anisa Benyoub (1-1) by decision in a four round lightweight fight.
India
Kirti (4-1) was the winner by split decision after four rounds versus Noemi Bosques (11-12-3) on Saturday April 14. The bantamweight fight took place in Panchkula.
Japan
Yuko Henzan (6-6-4) was the winner by unanimous decision after eight rounds versus Phannaluk Kongsang (3-5-1) on Sunday April 8. Henzan, 31, captured the vacant OPBF bantamweight title in Tomigusuku, Okinawa.
On Tuesday April 17, minimum weights Yuko Kuroki (17-5-1) and Momoko Kanda (10-9-2) meet in an eight round fight at Tokyo. Also, featherweights Rimin Shimano (1-0) vs. Yoshie Wakasa (4-0); and super bantamweights Akane Fujiwara (0-1) vs. Michiko Abiru.
On Sunday April 22, flyweights Yume Hirayama (1-0) and Akane Wada (0-1) meet at Kasuga, Fukuoka.
Mexico
Alejandra Jimenez (10-0-1) fought to a majority draw versus Irais Hernandez (2-1-1) after eight rounds on Saturday April 14. Jimenez, 30, the WBC heavyweight champion dropped down to light heavyweight for this non-title affair to face light heavyweight Hernandez whose last fight was a split decision loss to Maricela Cornejo.
Jessica Nery Plata (22-2) defeated Silvia Torres (18-1-1) to take the interim WBA light flyweight title by split decision after 10 rounds on Saturday April 14. The title fight took place in Tlalpan, Mexico City. Nery had previously lost to Kenia Enriquez for the WBC version last November. Both Nery, 23, and Torres, 27, fight out of Mexico City.
Jasseth Noriega (22-4-2) was the winner by unanimous decision against Eloisa Martinez (2-8-1) after 10 rounds on Friday April 13. The super flyweight bout took place in Colonia Portales, Mexico City and gives Noriega the vacant Mexican super flyweight title.
Maria Salinas (18-6-3) beat Edith Flores (5-11) by majority decision after eight rounds on Friday April 13. The flyweight match took place in Monterrey.
Poland
On Saturday April 21, super featherweights Ewa Brodnicka (14-0) and Sarah Pucek (8-2-1) meet in a 10 round world title fight for the WBO title at Zuzlowa, Czestochowa. Brodnicka, 33, holds the WBO interim title and Pucek, 31, fights out of Canada.
Singapore
On Friday April 20, super flyweights Efasha Kamarudin (0-0) and Sumalee Tongpootorn (8-8-1) meet in a four round fight in Singapore.
Spain
Cristina Garrobo (2-0) won by technical knockout in the third round over Kitti Kolompar (0-3) on Saturday April 14. The flyweight bout took place in Castilla La Mancha.
On Friday April 20, middleweights Elin Cederros (2-0) and Elene Sikmashvili (10-6) meet in an eight round fight at Valencia.
Sweden
On Saturday April 21, super welterweights Mikaela Lauren (29-5) and Verena Kaiser (10-0) meet in a 10 round clash for the vacant IBO title at Sundsvall.
Thailand
On Tuesday April 17, bantamweights Jutamas Jitpong (3-2) and Banjamas Phakra (9-10) meet in a six round fight for Thailand title at Ramkamhaeng, Bangkok.
United Kingdom
Ashley Brace (8-0-1) captured the vacant EBU title by unanimous decision after 10 rounds versus Xenia Jorneac (8-3) on Saturday April 14. The super flyweight match was held in Cardiff, Wales.
Nina Bradley (5-0) was the winner by decision after six rounds against Borislava Goranova (11-54-3) on Saturday April 14. The welterweight fight was held in Leicester, England.
Terri Harper (3-0) beat Bojana Libiszewska (5-28) by decision after four rounds on Friday April 13. The lightweight match was held in Doncaster, England.
On Saturday April 21, super featherweights Natasha Jonas (5-0) and Taoussy L’Hadji (5-6-1) meet in a 10 round fight at Liverpool, England.
USA
On Saturday April 21, featherweights Heather Hardy (20-0) and Iranda Torres (12-2-1) meet in an eight round fight at Brooklyn, New York. Hardy, 36, last fight was in MMA where she beat fellow boxer Ana Julaton in the cage. Since then, Julaton retired and this is Hardy’s return to the boxing ring.
On Saturday April 21, super bantamweights Iris Contreras (1-0) and Rebecca Light (0-1) meet in a four round bout at Pleasanton, California.
Venezuela
Mariam Moreno (8-0-2) defeated Michelle Uribe (0-5) by third round technical knockout on Saturday April 14. The featherweight fight took place in Los Teques. Also, Eva Guzman (12-1-1) won by unanimous decision after four rounds against Deysi Hernandez (0-2) in a minimum weight bout.