No Surrender in Female Boxing World – Serrano, Hardy plus Claressa and Seniesa News

 

By David A. Avila

If you watched the two world title fights this past weekend you saw a pair of electric performances.

First, we saw Amanda “The Real Deal” Serrano reclaim the WBO featherweight world title with a unanimous decision victory over fellow Brooklynite, Heather “The Heat” Hardy last Friday at Madison Square Garden.

For several years a number of New York area fighters have been knocking off other featherweights from around the country and around the world. Most fans of female prizefighting were anxious to see the New Yorkers fight each other and it finally happened.

Serrano had grabbed world titles in seven weight divisions. It was the reason she vacated the WBO featherweight title in 2016 so she could go after the super bantamweight world title against Alexandra Lazar in Puerto Rico. She followed that with title grabs in the bantamweight, super lightweight and super flyweight divisions.

It was unprecedented.

Meanwhile Hardy had been an important spark for female boxing when she fought Shelly Vincent in 2016 in a nationally televised clash. It proved the women’s version of prizefighting could be equal of the male version, if not more entertaining. After she defeated Vincent in October 2018 for the vacant WBO world title, the stage was set for the showdown with Serrano.

They did not disappoint.

Puerto Rico’s Serrano took her no-nonsense approach and pummeled Hardy in the opening round and visions of mismatch probably passed through all those watching on DAZN and those in attendance at Madison Square Garden. But for those who knew Hardy, it was merely a warm up round.

Both Brooklyn fighters boosted the energy level with Hardy using every ounce of boxing knowledge she knew to offset the heavy-handed southpaw’s incoming power shots. The chess match was on as Serrano was relentless and Hardy too stubborn to give up. Both got in their licks but though Hardy connected, she just couldn’t hurt the Boricua. Still, fans worldwide got to see the furious tenacity of Hardy. It was a shining moment for women’s boxing.

The streamed fight also showed that Serrano can match skills with anybody in the world if given the opportunity.

Promoter Eddie Hearn said a contract has already been signed by Serrano to face Katie Taylor, but for what amount?

Hopefully Serrano proved she’s worth near equal to what Irish superstar Taylor is getting. It will be ferocious.

 

Heavy Hitting Diva

The Los Angeles area saw WBC super middleweight titlist Franchon Crews Dezurn suddenly have her opponent switched when original opponent Mexico’s Alejandra Jimenez was unable to obtain a visa to enter the U.S. In stepped Maricela Cornejo who fought Crews last year for the WBC world title fight in Las Vegas. She lost in a lackluster performance by majority decision in their initial clash.

On Saturday night, the real Cornejo showed up and Crews was ready for her.

Cornejo, a popular Mexican-American fighter, had only two days-notice but had been working out in preparation for another fight. She had actually asked her former promoter Golden Boy Promotions for a rematch through her manager Nancy Rodriguez a month ago. But she thought it would come later in the year or early next year.

So when a call was made to Cornejo who was vacationing in Israel, the brunette fighter said yes. That was the answer of a real prizefighter.

Crews also could have declined the fight but she was in L.A. to fight regardless of the opponent.

“Nobody is taking s**t away from me,” said Crews when asked about the change of foes. “

Their encounter was explosive with each landing blows that would have knocked down a mule. It was a different Cornejo who showed up in the arena this time with thousands of Mexican fans cheering her on. Despite the boos that Crews heard when entering the boxing ring, she fought furiously to prove dominance.

Heads were snapping back from thunderous blows but neither fighter would go down. Legs were buckled and hair was disfigured yet each fighter tried desperately to knock the other out. You could see Cornejo trying to set up Crews for a knockout punch and Crews doing the same thing. Jabs be damned they wanted knockouts.

It was power versus power and the fans loved it. After 10 rounds all three judges gave it to Crews. The mostly Mexican fans booed the decision, not because it was incorrect, but they wanted Cornejo to win.

Crews won many of the fans over when she spoke about her Mexican sister and her love of boxing.

“My sister is Mexican, I love boxing just like you,” Crews told the crowd at Dignity Health Sports Park when handed the mic. “I’m for unity and this is not just for me. This is for women boxers from Mexico, China, Russia and America.”

Cheers erupted after she spoke.

Women’s prizefighting has entered another important plateau and there is plenty more yet to come.

 

Claressa’s Challenge

Up next will be Claressa Shields (9-0) who is dropping down a weight division to battle Croatia’s Ivana Habazin (20-3, 7 KOs) for the vacant WBO and WBC world titles on Saturday Oct. 5, in Flint, Michigan. Showtime will televise the world title clash.

Anytime Shields fights its must-see television. Few can match her speed and fire inside of a boxing ring.

This is a fight that was derailed due to a leg injury suffered by Shields. Words were exchanged by both fighters on social media. Any time a boxer drops a weight division it can be dangerous. But the former two-time Olympic gold medalist and former undisputed middleweight world champion looks pretty good physically.

Shields is always exciting to watch and if you like prizefighting this one is for you.

 

Seniesa and Marlen

According to Golden Boy Promotions the long-awaited showdown between Seniesa Estrada and Marlen Esparza will take place on Nov. 2, at Las Vegas, Nevada. It’s on the under card of Saul “Canelo” Alvarez versus Sergey Kovalev light heavyweight world title fight at the MGM Grand.

Las Vegas was chosen because it’s a neutral site, said Robert Diaz, the matchmaker for Golden Boy.

Esparza, who lives in Houston, Texas, did not want to fight in California and East L.A.’s Estrada did not want to fight in Texas. Las Vegas was the preferred location.

Estrada holds the WBC Silver light flyweight title and Esparza the NABF flyweight title. Both have been feuding for several years. The bout will be fought at 112-pound flyweight limit since Esparza has never fought below 112. Estrada is capable of fighting from minimum weight to flyweight and has fought much heavier opposition before. But this time “Super Bad” Estrada” fights a former Olympic bronze medalist. She’s not fazed a bit. DAZN will show the flyweight clash.

 

Victoriva

An all-female fight card took place last week in Tokyo called Victoriva. A story by thePrizefighters.com covering the event will be published by next week.

 

More Female Fight News

Albania

On Saturday Sept. 21, welterweights Patricia Berghult (12-0) and Borislava Goranova (11-56-4) meet in a six round welterweight fight in Shkoder.

 

Argentina

Romina Sosa (1-0) beat Daniela Molina (1-4-1) by decision after four rounds on Saturday Sept. 14. The flyweight match was held in Mar del Plata, Buenos Aires.

Laure Valdelbenito (2-4-1) won by decision over Virginia Carcamo (5-11-3) on Saturday Sept. 14. The super flyweight fight took place at Rio Negro.

 

Australia

Rachel Loder (5-0) was the winner by split decision after six rounds versus Quinita Hati (1-5-1) on Saturday Sept. 14. The lightweight fight was held in Tweed Heads.

 

Canada

Jelena Mrdjenovich (40-10-2) won by majority decision after eight rounds versus Marisol Corona (11-7-3) on Friday Sept. 13. The super featherweight bout took place in Edmonton.

On Saturday Sept. 21, lightweights Kylie Fallis (3-0) and Edna Maltos (2-2) meet in a six round fight at Ontario.

 

Germany

Felicitas Vogt (3-0) knocked out Ivana Sremcev (0-1) in the first round on Saturday Sept. 14. The bantamweight bout was held at Baden-Wurttemberg.

 

India

On Saturday Sept. 21, light flyweights Ramandeep Kaur (5-0) and Saranyaphong Theinthong (2-13) meet in a six round fight at New Delhi. Also, flyweights Kamla Roka (0-2) and Preeti Shah (0-1) meet in a four round bout, plus lightweights Geeta Solanki (0-0) and Shradha Jamliya (0-3) meet in a four round fight.

 

Japan

Saemi Hanagata (16-7-4) defeated Nao Ikeyama (18-6-4) by unanimous decision after 10 rounds on Thursday Sept. 12. The minimum weight title fight took place Tokyo. Also, Mexico’s Monserrat Alarcon (13-4-2) defeated Ayaka Miyao (23-8-1) by split decision to win the WBA minimum weight world title after 10 rounds. Other winners: Nanae Suzuki (9-3-1), Eri Matsuda(4-0), Aira Midorikawa (5-0), Rena Takahashi (2-3), Rena Koizumi (2-2) and Atsuko Ishiguro (1-1). Look for story coming on this important Japanese tournament.

On Monday Sept. 16, bantamweights Tomoko Okuda (5-2-1) and Kanako Taniyama (2-0) meet in an eight round title fight at Sakia, Osaka.

 

Mexico

On Friday Sept. 20, light flyweights Tania Enriquez (13-0) and Ana Polo (8-5) meet in a six round fight at Tijuana.

On Saturday Sept. 21, super flyweights Melissa Meraz (5-0) and Jazmin Medina (1-0) meet in a four round match at Mexicali.

 

Poland

Karina Kopinska (13-30-4) defeated Alla Sergeeva (1-1-1) by unanimous decision after 10 rounds on Saturday Sept. 14. The featherweight title bout took place at Katowice. Also, Sonia Klos (1-6) beat Timea Hirosova (0-1) by decision after a four round super bantamweight contest.

 

South Africa

On Sunday Sept. 22, lightweights Kholosa Ndobayini (12-7) and Raider Muleba (3-9-1) meet in an eight round bout at Eastern Cape.

 

Spain

On Saturday Sept. 21, featherweights Enerolisa De Leon (4-2-2) and Karla Mendoza (0-0-2) meet in a six round fight at Madrid.

 

Taiwan

On Sunday Sept. 22, flyweights Ching Hsin Wang (2-0) and Chian Huei Chin (0-0) meet in a four round bout at Taipei. Also, super featherweights Shi Ting Li (0-0) and Yi Chin Liu (0-0) meet in a four round fight.

 

Thailand

Thanchanok Phanan (3-1) won by technical knockout in the third round over Supansa Aimdee (2-3) on Saturday Sept. 14. The Thai bantamweight title took place at Pathum Thani. Also, Porchita Seehaburan (1-2) knocked out Wannapaporn Likhitpanyarat (0-2) in two rounds. Plus, Paimsuk Permkhunthod (1-0) won by knockout in round three against Naruemon Longlom (0-1) in a super flyweight match.

On Saturday Sept. 21, welterweights Sunsanee McDonnell (0-0) and Saule Tolegen (0-0) meet in a four round fight at Pattaya.

 

United Arab Emirates

Jasmina Nad (11-22-4) was victorious over Anahit Aroyan (6-1) by split decision after six rounds on Friday Sept. 13. The super bantamweight bout took place at Dubai.

 

United Kingdom

Lisa Whiteside (3-0) won by second round knockout of Evgeniya Zablotskaya (8-19) on Friday Sept. 13. The super flyweight fight was held in Bolton.

On Saturday Sept.21, lightweights Anelle Massey (0-1-1) and Denisa Cicoova (2-2) meet in a four round bout at London.

 

USA

Franchon Crews Dezurn (6-1) won by unanimous decision after 10 rounds against Maricela Cornejo (13-4) on Saturday Sept. 14. The WBC and WBO super middleweight world title fight took place in Carson, California. Cornejo was a late replacement for Alejandra Jimenez who allegedly suffered visa problems.

Amanda Serrano (37-1-1) won by unanimous decision over Heather Hardy (22-1) after 10 rounds on Friday Sept. 13. The WBO and WBC featherweight world title fight was held in New York City.

On Saturday Sept. 21, super welterweights Chevelle Hallback (30-8-2) and Szilvia Szabados (18-15) meet in a six round fight at St. Petersburg, Florida. Also, bantamweights Jasmine Artiga (6-0) and Judit Hachbold (5-8) meet in a six round fight.

On Saturday Sept. 21, super lightweights Bryanna Fissori (2-0) and Les Sandra Franklin (1-1) meet in a four round match at Lawrence, Kansas.

On Saturday Sept. 21, middleweights Shadasia Green (2-0) and Irais Hernandez (2-3-2) meet in a fight set for six three-minute rounds at Wilkes-Barre, Penn.

 

(Photo by JP Yim)