International Women’s Boxing Hall of Fame and Female Fight News

Hall of Fame Week and More Female Fight News

 

By David A. Avila

Many of the best female prizefighters ever seen will gather in San Francisco on Friday Aug. 30, for the International Women’s Boxing Hall of Fame ceremony.

Wendy Rodriguez heads the list of this year’s 2019 fighter inductees that also includes Terri Cruz, Bridgett Riley, Lisa Holewyne, Carina Moreno, Melissa Fiorentino, and Martha Salazar. In the pioneer category Arvilla “Pat” Emerick an 88-year-old former prizefighter from the 1940s will also be inducted.

Others being introduced are those voted in 2016, 2017 and 2018. Our web site previously covered those classes the past two weeks.

The ceremony takes place at the Doubletree by Hilton Hotel San Francisco. Non-boxer inductees for this year include Blanca Gutierrez, Stephen Blea, David A. Avila and posthumously Patricia Moreno-Pino.

Here is a brief description of those being honored from the class of 2019:

Wendy Rodriguez (19-4-3, 3 KOs) – hails from Los Angeles, California and caught my attention with her pro debut in May 1999. The fight took place inside the tent at Pechanga Casino and her dazzling speed and fighting skills were far above average for anyone on the boxing card. That same night future light heavyweight world champion Julio Gonzalez was on the same card but it was Rodriguez who truly shined. The minimum weight prizefighter would win world titles in the minimum weight division and light flyweight division. She traveled to Germany and fought the great Regina Halmich and later participated in MMA. It was while training in MMA that she suffered a severe neck injury that curtailed her career. Rodriguez was a very gifted prizefighter and the reason I decided to follow women’s pro boxing.

Bridgett Riley (15-3, 7 KOs) – was a legend in the martial arts world and her entrance into boxing was big news. Known as “Baby Doll” Riley she was a fierce competitor who trained with Lily Rodriguez another legend in the martial arts world. She won the bantamweight world title in 1998 against Yvonne Trevino a very good fighter who was the only fighter to beat Germany’s Regina Halmich. It was Riley who twice defeated Trevino and would become a feared competitor in the female boxing world. Her bantamweight world title defense against Aicha Lahsen that saw both trade knockdowns was selected Fight of the Year. The two times I saw her fight she knocked out Del Pettis in the first round at the Arrowhead Pond in Anaheim. In her final bow she stopped Nicole Gallegos in the third round. After boxing Riley became an actress and worked on numerous television and movie parts including stunt work.

Lisa Holewyne (25-17-2, 8 KOs) – fought many of the best fighters in the world as a super lightweight. From 1998 until her last fight in 2006 the Texas-based fighter engaged in slugfests with future Hall of Famers such as Christy Martin, Mary Jo Sanders, Sumya Anani, Britt Van Buskirk and Layla McCarter. Her battle against Martin in Las Vegas was especially memorable and took place on the same card as Lennox Lewis versus Hasim Rahman in their rematch at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino. Both traded bombs for 10 rounds in front of a sold out crowd. It was a spectacular fight that took place just two months after the 9-11 attack. The female fight was one of the more impressive fights held that night on a boxing card that had several world title fights including Lewis re-taking the title.

Martha Salazar (13-5, 3 KOs) – is a former heavyweight world champion who exhibited tremendous fighting technique. The first time I ever saw “the Shadow” Salazar in action she battled another world champion Vonda Ward on the under card of the Roy Jones Jr. win over male heavyweight world champion John Ruiz in Las Vegas. That night the much taller Ward found Salazar very elusive though she was standing right in front of her. It was the art of the sweet science at its best. Salazar hails from the San Francisco Bay area and was never an easy fight for anyone with her defensive slip and counter moves. She is now passing on that knowledge to younger fighters in Northern California. Her last fight took place in 2016 when she lost the heavyweight world title by a controversial decision to Alejandra Jimenez. One could easily say Salazar was never truly beaten in a fight.

Terri Lynn Cruz (17-7-2, 8 KOs) – at first I thought I had never seen her fight, but I was in attendance for her fifth pro fight that took place in Las Vegas at the first encounter for Erik Morales and Marco Antonio Barrera in 2000. The fighter known as “La Loca” fought to a draw against Pamela Barker that night but would proceed to improve and engage against the best in the world as a bantamweight. The Denver prizefighter captured the bantamweight world title against the very good Heather Percival in 2005. Cruz was a very technically sound fighter who was unafraid of traveling to other countries and engaging against the best in her weight class such as Susi Ramadan, Alesia Graf and Eun Young Kim. From 1999 to 2011 she helped put female prizefighting in the public eye by taking accepting fights against the best.

Melissa Fiorentino (17-2, 6 KOs) – she fought mostly in the New England area from 2000 to 2008 in the super featherweight division. Among those she engaged were Cindy Serrano, Belinda Laracuente, Fujin Raika, Ela Nunez and Melissa Hernandez. All of those fighters were world champions at one time or another. She paved the way for future fighters from the New England area. Though only one inch above 5-feet in height she made up for it with an aggressive style.

Carina Moreno (25-6, 6 KOs) – has been involved in pro boxing since 2003. One of the first instances I saw her laced up was during an impromptu sparring group session with several other top female fighters. That day she sparred with Mariana Juarez, Kaliesha West, Heather Percival and Heather Heaps. It was an action-packed smorgasbord of sparring that foretold of Moreno’s fighting abilities. The Northern California boxer would win world titles in the minimum weight, light flyweight and flyweight divisions before stepping away for five years. She returned to boxing earlier this year and seeks yet another world title.

 

Pioneer boxer

Arvilla “Pat” Emerick – now 88 years old the South Bend, Indiana pro boxer won the Ladies Worlds Boxing Association world title in 1949. She would train for fights by running in the Notre Dame track. When she won the world title it was in front of 4,000 fans. The octogenarian will be in attendance for the induction ceremony on Friday Aug. 30. Her appearance will be one of the star attractions at the ceremony.

 

Non-boxer inductees

Blanca Gutierrez – is the founder of Beautiful Brawlers a boxing program in the San Francisco area and one of the most influential persons in women’s boxing today. Ever since the program began female boxing has exploded in Northern California. Gutierrez’s father was a pro boxer and she’s been one of the great ambassadors of women’s boxing. She continues to be a major influence for the growth of women’s boxing.

Stephen Blea – a long time boxing official from the Denver area who also served as a boxing coach for many years. Throughout his involvement in boxing he has been a strong supporter of female boxing. He is currently involved with the WBC Cares program for the state of Colorado.

David A. Avila – journalist from Southern California. Editor and writer for the female boxing site www.thePrizefighters.com and the male boxing site www.theSweetscience.com

 

Posthumous

Patricia Moreno-Pino – passed away in September 2018 and worked with AIBA and female boxing. She also paved the way for female boxing referees and judges in the amateur boxing world.

 

More Female Fight News

Argentina

Jennifer Sabrina Meza (1-0) defeated Catalina Mariel Alvarez (1-4) by majority decision after four rounds on Friday Aug. 23. The flyweight match was held in Buenos Aires.

 

Australia

On Friday Aug. 30, featherweights Krystina Jacobs (2-1) and Ranee Klinratree (0-0) meet in a six round fight at Flemington.

On Saturday Aug. 31, super bantamweights Shannon O’Connell (17-6-1) and Bianca Elmir (3-0) meet in a six round fight at Bendigo, Victoria. Also, featherweights Lorinda Webb (1-0) and Reanne Ware (0-1) meet in a four round fight.

 

Canada

Annie Mazerolle (8-3) was the winner by decision over Giovana Gonzalez (3-3) after six rounds on Saturday Aug. 24. The heavyweight contest was held at Richibucto, New Brunswick.

 

China

On Saturday Aug. 31, bantamweights Shu Wah Yan (0-0) and Qiu Li Chen (0-0) meet in a four round fight at Macao.

 

Germany

On Saturday Aug. 31, bantamweights Bilgenur Aras (4-0) and Mary Romero (4-2) meet in a 10 round fight at Hessen.

 

Japan

On Tuesday Aug. 27, bantamweights Saki Horiguchi (0-2) and Kae Okamura (0-0) meet in a four round fight at Tokyo. Also, minimum weights Ayaka Maeda (1-0) and Honoka Kano (1-0-1) meet in a four round match.

 

Mexico

Guadalupe Bautista (13-11-2) defeated Nayeli Verde (4-5-2) by unanimous decision after 10 rounds on Saturday Aug. 24. The WBC flyweight Silver title match was held in Ixtapaluca, Mexico City.

On Thursday Aug. 29, super featherweights Lauri Avendano (2-0) and Anahi Zamora (1-0) meet in a four round match at Ciudad Nezahuacoyotl. Also, minimum weights Sayury Mejia (0-1) and Karla Carmona (1-5) meet in a four round bout.

On Friday Aug. 30, flyweights Reyna Franco (1-1) and Alexa Nunez (0-3-2) meet in a four round bout at Mexicali.

On Saturday Aug. 31, minimum weights Anabel Ortiz (29-3) and Maria Milano (10-1-1) meet in a 10 round title fight at La Paz, Baja California.

 

Panama

Nataly Delgado (7-2-1) was victorious over Iliana Bonilla (4-4) by split decision after four rounds on Wednesday Aug. 21. The super flyweight contest took place at Panama City.

 

Serbia

On Saturday Aug. 31, bantamweights Saida Bukvic (3-0) and Jasmina Nad (10-21-4) meet in an eight round fight at Novi Pazar. Also, super featherweights Nina Pavlovic (3-2-1) and Kristina Svarc (0-1) meet in a four round bout, plus featherweights Ajla Lukac (1-2) and Jovana Milovanovic (0-3) meet in a four round match.

 

Slovakia

Denisa Cicoova (2-2) beat Klaudia Csaszar (1-3-1) by majority decision after four rounds on Monday Aug. 19. The lightweight match was held at Sturovo. Also, Claudia Ferenczi (20-71-8) won by unanimous decision after four rounds versus Scarlett Budai (2-1) in a light flyweight bout.

 

South Korea

On Saturday Aug. 31, super flyweights Hee Jung Yuh (21-3) and Loetizia Campana (5-5) meet in a 10 round title fight at Gimhae.

 

Sweden

On Saturday Aug. 31, super featherweights Jelena Jelic (1-0) and Natasa Rothpflug (0-1-1) meet in a four round fight at Malmo.

 

USA

Sonya Dreiling (1-0) won by first round knockout over Kara Wiggins (1-1) on Saturday Aug. 24. The middleweight fight took place at Kearney, Nebraska.

Amy Salinas (3-0) was the winner by unanimous decision after six rounds versus Samantha Salazar (6-6-2) on Saturday Aug. 24. The super flyweight title fight took place at Pojoaque, New Mexico.

Brittany Cruz (12-11-2) defeated Amorena Baca (3-2) by unanimous decision after eight rounds on Friday Aug. 23. The lightweight bout took place at Denver, Colorado.

On Thursday Aug. 29, super middleweights Alicia Napoleon (11-1) and Schemelle Baldwin (3-0-1) meet in a 10 round fight for the WBA world title; also super lightweights Kali Reis (15-7-1) and Patricia Juarez (4-1) meet in a six round fight; plus bantamweights Helen Joseph (16-3-2) and Martina Horgasz (5-3) meet in a six round bout all at Mashantucket, Conn.

 

Vietnam

Thi Thu Nhi (2-0) beat Chan Mi Lim (4-8-1) by unanimous decision after six rounds on Sunday Aug. 25. The minimum weight fight took place at Ho Chi Minh City.