Adelaida Ruiz Wins in L.A; Amaris Quintana Wins in Tijuana and other results
By David A. Avila
A number of high octane female fights took place from Tijuana to Los Angeles led by Adelaida “La Cobra” Ruiz and Amaris “Diamond Girl” Quintana on Saturday.
Knockouts were the theme.
In downtown L.A. the return of that area’s newest sensation saw Ruiz (5-0, 2 KOs) meeting Mexico City’s Reyna Cotija (5-1, 2 KOs) in a battle of undefeated bantamweights at the Westin Bonaventure Hotel.
It was a pure firefight with guns blazing from the start.
“I wasn’t trying to get a knockout or planning on finishing up the fight early,” said Ruiz, 29. “My plan from the start was to get some respect in the ring.”
She got it.
Ruiz fires blinding combinations and stands her ground. Cotija has the same style and in the first round they discovered that fact immediately. Within 30 seconds each had slight markings from the opening exchange of blows.
The fight was on.
Cotija was about the same height as Ruiz and for bantamweights their 5’5 height is rather tall for that weight division. Both had the same goal to knock the other out. There was little strategy. It was a hit and continue-to-hit type of fight. At the end of the first round each had felt the other’s power. It was difficult to assess who actually captured the round. They looked at each other when the bell rung to see if there was damage or surrender in each other’s eyes.
The second round saw Ruiz come in deliver her fluid combinations but before engaging she used more feints. Cotija remained the same and after receiving incoming fire she tried to counter but her blows were slipped under by Ruiz who made the change to become a little more defensive. From that moment on the momentum changed in favor of Ruiz. She took command and was landing more blows though Cotija was still firing bombs but her blows were wider. Ruiz continued to fire five and six punch combinations that allowed Cotija to land after finding the moment in between the combos. It’s a flaw that Ruiz has that could be exploited by a better boxer. But not on this night as a furious exchange of blows by the two fighters ends with the Mexico City fighter returning to her corner with blood on her face. It was the first time either fighter showed signs of a weakness.
Ruiz glanced at the bloody Mexico City fighter when she returned to her corner. When the bell rang to start the third round the Southern California fighter moved in quickly with a determined look. She seemed to want to take the will out of Cotija and moved in with a volley of damaging blows to the body and head. Cotija tried to fire back but was caught with a big right that snapped her head back. Before she could counter Ruiz connected with another left hook that sent the Mexico City fighter along the ropes. Cotija tried to fire back and was caught with a slicing Ruiz left hook that dropped her to her knees. The wise trainer for Cotija ran up with a white towel to stop the fight as referee Sharon Sands began counting the fallen fighter. The fight was stopped at 1:28 of the third round and Ruiz declared the winner by knockout.
Promoter Ed Holmes said that the Mexico City team had sought this fight. Ruiz’s team had been searching for an opponent so they accepted the fight against the undefeated Cotija. Both fighters not only wanted a win, but their actions showed they preferred a knockout.
“She came to L.A. confident and sure she was going to get that win,” said Ruiz. “I don’t want to say she was better than the rest of my opponents, but she was tougher. She was strong. But I felt with every round that passed I was breaking her.”
When the smoke cleared from the firefight it was Ruiz who emerged the clear winner. One of the journalists watching Ruiz for the first time mentioned “she looks ready for a title shot.”
That could happen.
Other L.A. bouts
Two other female bouts took place in the same L.A. venue.
Local fighter Lorraine Villalobos (2-0) has problems finding opponents at her 105-pound weight limit. The only fighter she could find was Elvia Trivino of Mexico whom she fought last summer. They decided to test each other again.
This time the fight was much closer. Trivino has above average defense and is pinpoint with her counter punches. But Villalobos swarmed the Mexican fighter every round and simply out-worked Trivino. It was a gamble that paid off. After four seemingly even-matched rounds the judges gave it to Villalobos once again. The scores were 40-36 and 39-37 twice for Villalobos. Trivino seemed disappointed in the scores. Each round was hotly contested but the busier Villalobos was rewarded for her punch output.
In a third female bout Kazakhstan’s Aida Satybaldinova (2-0-1) clashed with Huntington Beach’s Kailyn Hansen (0-1) in a four round lightweight match.
Satybaldinova recently fought last week in Tijuana where she won by decision after four rounds. She returned to the boxing ring against Hansen who was making her pro debut. It was a match between two equally strong lightweights. The difference is Satybaldinova has experience and knows how to use it. She fired quick combinations and was especially effective with a crisp one-two combination. Hansen showed resilience and despite her inexperience was able to keep her composure. Two judges scored it 40-36 and one 39-37 all for Satybaldinova who had dozens of Kazakhstani fans in attendance.
Tijuana
About 130 miles south Amaris Quintana (11-3-2) was facing Carol Castro Madrid (6-12) in a light flyweight bout set for six rounds. Six rounds was unnecessary.
Quintana, 28, a petite brunette from San Diego, had undergone surgery and needed two years to recover. It was rumored that her boxing career was over. That has proven to be erroneous.
“I think everybody doubted me but with these last two fights I’ve proven that I’m back and better than ever,” said Quintana, 28. “We have been working on my strength and conditioning with this trainer and he has me sitting down on my punches more.”
After many months of rehabilitation Quintana returned to the boxing ring last March and won by knockout in Tijuana. On Saturday she returned again to Tijuana and once again she won by knockout. This time the end came in the third round against Madrid.
Quintana looked very sharp and powerful against Madrid who tried to keep pace but was unable to match the speed and precision. Immediately Quintana connected especially with a right cross that nearly snapped Madrid’s head off.
After a fierce third round filled with powerful combinations from Quintana, the fight was stopped and the win by knockout given to the brunette from San Diego.
“People in Tijuana say I’m back with more experience and sharper than ever,” said Quintana. “My trainers Juan Estrada and Angel Estrada are pushing me and giving me that confidence I was missing. Also, proving to the people who doubted me and thought I was done, they are wrong. I have my fire back.”
Since losing to Kenia Enriquez two years ago Quintana seems on a path of vengeance.
“My goal is to stay busy, shoot for a title, get a couple of more fights and get my rematch with Kenia,” Quintana said. “They will see the new Diamond Girl.”
Tecate card canceled
A rival fight card featuring Kenia Enriquez and Yokasta Valle in nearby Tecate, Mexico was canceled. Enriquez, the interim WBC light flyweight titlist fromTijuana, was expected to meet Costa Rica’s former strawweight world titlist for the title. The fight was postponed and May 12 was the suggested date.
Zanfer Promotions did not reveal the reason for the cancellation at press time.
(Photos by Carlos Angel)