Amaris “Diamond Girl” Quintana Scores Third Consecutive KO
By David A. Avila
Last minute replacements, undefeated fighters, fighting across the border are just traps for other fighters, not for Amaris “Diamond Girl” Quintana who roared to a third consecutive knockout win.
San Diego’s Quintana (12-3-2, 4 KOs) reached her goal of winning a WBC Intercontinental title in the minimum weight division over Luz Elena Martinez (5-1, 3 KOs) in Tijuana. It’s clear now she’s become a force.
Martinez, 37, walked in with a three-fight knockout streak and Quintana had a two-fight knockout streak. But immediately it was Quintana who forced the issue and used her experience of fighting world champions to work. It didn’t take long for the momentum to swing the San Diego fighter’s way.
After early exchanges a cut emerged over Martinez’s eye and when the second round culminated, the fight was stopped.
“She got a cut near her eye and they quit after the second round,” said Quintana, 28, who had her third fight this year.
Quintana claims her new team has helped work on her power and rebooting her fighting style that allowed her to compete with three world champions in the past including Sindy Amador, Melissa McMorrow and Kenia Enriquez.
“My biggest change has been my power,” Quintana said. “I have been working on my power and technique with my new trainers and it has been working.”
Her new trainers are Juan Estrada and Angel Estrada and along with her manager Alex Zamudio they have concentrated on carefully charting her comeback. Quintana looks at her last loss to Enriquez as motivation to return to the forefront. Winning a coveted title is a big start.
“It means the world to me after my last loss against (Kenia) Enriquez and my layoff due to heart surgery,” said Quintana who did not fight for nearly two years. “It means the world to me to come back and win the WBC Intercontinental title after a lot of people gave up on me.”
From 2009 to 2016 Quintana scored only one knockout after 13 pro bouts. Since her return she has fought three and all three ended by knockout.
“I’m back and this is only the beginning,” said Quintana. “This is only the start.
(Photo by Vivian Herrera)