Lulu “Bang, Bang” Hawton and Lorraine Villalobos Meet Again

 

By David A. Avila

Two title fights in the super lightweight and mini-flyweight divisions take place in New York two days apart this week. Both are expected to be streamed.

Argentina’s Ana Laura Esteche (14-5-3) arrives to face Indiana’s Mary McGee (25-3) in a 10-round clash for the vacant IBF world title at Terminal 5 in New York City. UFC Fight Pass will be streaming the prizefighting event live.

Esteche was the name bandied about several times as a possible foe for Chicago’s Jessica McCaskill who clasps the WBC and WBA super lightweight titles. Instead, a rematch with Erica Farias took place and Chicago’s only world champion walloped the former champion from Argentina like a whipping post.

McGee, 33, formerly fought as a lightweight and even ventured as heavy as a middleweight, but despite a 14-year career she’s had only two cracks at world titles – she lost to Holly Holm in 2013 and later that same year to Farias.

After six years of waiting in the trenches for another opportunity this might be her time.

A couple of days later in Brooklyn, WBC interim minimum weight titlist Louisa “Bang, Bang” Hawton (9-2) and Lorraine Villalobos (4-2) meet in a rematch at Barclays Center on Saturday Dec. 7. Showtime may stream the fight. It has yet to be confirmed.

The last time Hawton and Villalobos met in the boxing ring both erupted in a whirlwind of impressive blows for such tiny women. But after four rounds Villalobos –who was a last minute fill in- gassed out and Hawton took over with some vicious blows that forced the referee to stop the fight in the fifth round of a scheduled 10-round title fight. The loss didn’t sit well with Villalobos.

Since that fight Villalobos has fought twice more and won her last by devastating knockout. She’s feeling her oats. Hawton just wants to fight and doesn’t care who steps in the boxing ring.

“The people thought the first fight was exciting and when the opportunity presented itself to fight her again I said cool, let’s do it,” said Hawton a native of Perth Australia.

The Aussie fighter Hawton just might be female boxing’s most exciting fighter. She loves to bang and would probably fight someone twice her size.

“Light up the Barclays and show them what Bang Bang Lulu’s all about,” said Hawton.

She’s never been in a boring fight yet.

Those fans familiar with the little bangers know they don’t tire and are fearless. Hawton and Villalobos will deliver.

 

Braekhus

Norway’s Cecilia Braekhus shook off the year’s rust and handled Argentina’s Victoria Bustos decisively all while learning a few new tricks from “Mexican style” trainer Abel Sanchez. The new wrinkles were noticeable as the welterweight champion seldom backed up.

Following the decisive win her new promoter Eddie Hearn told the world that a showdown with lightweight and super lightweight titlist Katie Taylor will be hatched sometime next year.

Hearn added that each will fight at least once more before meeting in the boxing ring.

Braekhus will remain in Big Bear, California where Sanchez has his training camps. No doubt she will be quite comfortable in the snow that blanketed the mountains this past weekend. The welterweight world champion is the first female that I can recall Sanchez focusing on. It will be a new adventure for Sanchez, but his right hand man happens to be Ben Lira, who’s renown as the best trainer for female prizefighters in Southern California.

Need proof?

Lira taught Mexico’s super star Mariana “Barby” Juarez and the younger sister Lourdes Juarez the foundation for boxing and now Barby is close to becoming her country’s first female four-division world champion. He also taught several other USA national champions the art of boxing.

The tall lean welterweight has always been one of boxing’s best athletes and has faced many of the top welterweights in the world. But a pending clash against Ireland’s legendary Taylor could be a true test for Braekhus.

 

More Fight News

 

Argentina

Carolina Duer (19-6-2) and Marianela Ramirez (6-6-1) fought to a draw after 10 three-minute rounds on Friday Nov. 29. The South American super bantamweight title fight was held in Buenos Aires. Also, Jazmin Villarino (3-1) beat Daniela Molina (1-5-2) by split decision after a four round light flyweight bout.

On Friday Dec. 6, super flyweights Augustina Belen (3-0) and Antonella Molina (1-6-1) meet in a four round bout at Buenos Aires.

On Saturday Dec. 7, flyweights Ayelen Granadino (5-0-2) and Gabriela Alaniz (6-0) meet in an eight round fight at Buenos Aires. Also, bantamweights Florencia Juarez (6-0) and Natalia Alderete (3-3) meet in a four round match.

On Saturday Dec. 7, flyweights Anyelen Espinosa (8-1) and Rosa Laura Salazar (3-6) meet in a four round fight at Rio Negro.

 

Australia

Ebanie Bridges (3-0) won by knockout over Kanittha Ninthim (1-12) in the second round on Saturday Nov. 30. The bantamweight fight took place at South Brisbane.

 

Canada

On Friday Dec. 6, bantamweights Mikenna Tansley (2-0) and Maria Hernandez Garcia (6-4-1) meet in a six round fight at Edmonton.

On Saturday Dec. 7, light flyweights Kim Clavel (10-0) and Esmeralda Sagahon (7-3) meet in a 10 round title clash at Montreal. Also, featherweights Martin Vallieres-Bisson (0-0) and Tereza Dvorakova 0-2) meet in a four round bout.

 

Czech Republic

Fabiana Bytyqi (15-0-1) won by unanimous decision after 10 rounds versus Mexico’s Ana Arrazola (28-14-3) on Saturday Nov. 30. The WBC minimum weight title fight took place at Kladno.

 

Finland

Eva Wahlstrom (23-1-2) defeated Consolata Musanga (8-5-3) by unanimous decision after eight rounds on Saturday Nov. 30. The lightweight fight took place at Salo. Also, Satu Lehtonen (1-0) won her pro debut by decision after eight rounds versus Oksana Romanova (10-28-1) in a light flyweight bout.

 

France

On Saturday Dec. 7, featherweights Sabrina Flamand (0-0-1) and Sandra Morcet (1-0) meet in a four round match at Val de Marne.

 

Germany

Eda Essaoudi (3-0) beat Zeliha Ercin (0-1) by decision after four rounds on Saturday Nov. 30. The featherweight bout was held in Nordheim-Westfalen.

On Saturday Dec. 7, welterweights Olja Kljajic (2-2) and Zorana Jakovlevic (0-2) meet in an eight round clash at Bayern.

On Saturday Dec. 7, super lightweights Derya Saki (8-0) and Boglarka Bojer (0-1) meet in a six round bout at Bruchsal.

On Saturday Dec. 7, super featherweights Hasna Tukic (11-8) and Gabriella Mezei (9-21-5) meet in a six round fight at Hameln.

 

Italy

Amahl Wahby (2-0) defeated Ksenija Medic (0-17-2) by decision after six rounds on Wednesday Nov. 27. The lightweight match was held in Florence.

 

Japan

On Friday Dec. 6, minimum weights Mizuki Chimoto (2-0) and Yumi Narita (3-4-3) meet in a six round contest in Tokyo.

On Saturday Dec. 7, featherweights Kimika Miyoshi (14-12-1) and Aira Midorikawa (5-0) meet for the Japan title at Kawasaki. Also, bantamweights Michiko Abiru (1-3) and Kae Okamura (1-0) meet in a four round match.

On Saturday Dec. 7, minimum weights Mika Iwakawa (8-5-1) and Momoko Kanda (10-11-2) meet in an eight round fight at Hyogo.

On Sunday Dec. 8, super flyweights Yuko Henzan (8-8-4) and Gretel de Paz (5-5-2) meet in a six round clash in Okinawa.

On Sunday Dec. 8, minimum weights Natsumi Aga (0-1) and Kaoru Iga (1-1-1) meet in a four round fight at Osaka.

 

Malta

Patricia Berghult (14-0) was the winner by unanimous decision after 10 rounds against Scotland’s Hannah Rankin (8-4) on Wednesday Nov. 27. The IBO super welterweight title fight took place at St. Julians. Berghult, 25, fights out of Sweden.

 

Mexico

On Saturday Dec. 7, welterweights Alejandra Ayala (12-5) and Maria Guadalupe Duran (2-3) meet in an eight round clash at Tijuana. Also, bantamweights Myrka Aguayo (2-2) and Jennifer Salgado Hernandez (1-4-1) meet in a four round match.

On Saturday Dec. 7, light flyweights Gabriela Sanchez Saavedra (6-3) and Silvia Torres (20-1-2) meet in an eight round clash at Puebla.

 

Monaco

Cecilia Braekhus (36-0) won by unanimous decision after 10 rounds versus Argentina’s Victoria Bustos (19-6) on Saturday Nov. 30. The welterweight world championship fight took place in Monte Carlo. Also, a super featherweight fight saw Victoire Piteau (5-1) win by technical knockout in the third round over Raphaelle Lachaume (0-2).

 

New Zealand

Alrie Meleisea (5-0-1) defeated Ashley Campbell (2-3) by decision after six rounds on Friday Nov. 29. The heavyweight fight took place at North Shore.

 

Panama

Monica Cruz (2-1) won by majority decision after four rounds versus Estefania Alvarado (1-1-1) on Wednesday Nov. 27. The bantamweight clash was held in Panama City.

 

Poland

Wiktoria Sadej (1-1) beat Dani Hodges (5-3) by decision after four rounds on Saturday Nov. 30. The light flyweight fight was held at Raszyn.

 

Russia

Valeria Rodionova (1-0) beat Darya Kutyrova (0-2) by decision after four rounds on Friday Nov. 29. The super bantamweight fight was held in Moscow.

 

Singapore

On Friday Dec. 6, flyweights Efasha Kamarudin (4-0) and Floryvic Montero (5-8) meet in a four round bout at Singapore.

 

Spain

Miriam Gutierrez (13-0) was the winner by unanimous decision after 10 rounds versus Keren Batiz (6-2-1) on Friday Nov. 29. The WBA interim lightweight title fight was held at Madrid.

Melania Sorroche (16-2-2) defeated Violeta Gonzalez (7-2) by knockout in the eighth round on Saturday Nov. 30. The EBU bantamweight title fight was held at Barcelona.

Lorea Murgoitio (1-0) was the winner by decision after six rounds versus Naiara Olmedo (1-2) on Saturday Nov. 30. The featherweight clash took place in Galicia.

 

Taiwan

Kai Ti Chuang (1-0) beat Chian Huei Chin (0-1-1) by decision after four rounds on Saturday Nov. 30. The straw weight fight took place in Taipei.

 

Thailand

Somwang Sawinchai (1-0-1) knocked out Rattika Paisuwan (0-1) in the fourth round on Sunday Dec. 1. The bantamweight fight was held in Pathum Thani. Also, Pornchita Seehaburan (2-2) beat Supannee Ketmanee (0-1) by decision in a six round super bantamweight fight.

Panida Chatluang (1-4) knocked out Tassana Paladsrichuay (4-6) in the first round on Tuesday Nov. 26. The minimum weight fight took place in Bangkok.

 

United Kingdom

Rachel Ball (5-1) was the victor by decision after 10 rounds against Bec Connolly (3-7) on Saturday Nov. 30. The featherweight title fight took place at Wiltshire.

 

USA
Kim Wabik (3-0-2) defeated Jacqueline Boyle (0-1) by decision after four rounds on Wednesday Nov. 27. The super featherweight bout was held at Windham, New Hampshire.

On Thursday Dec. 5, super lightweights Ana Laura Esteche (14-5-3) and Mary McGee (25-3) meet for the vacant IBF world title at New York City. Esteche fights out of Argentina. UFC Fight Pass will stream.

On Thursday Dec. 5, super flyweights Rianna Rios (0-0) and Elizabeth Tuani (0-0) meet in a four round fight at Costa Mesa, California.

On Friday Dec. 6, lightweights Anyela Lopez (1-0) and Chelsey Anderson (2-0) meet in a four round clash at Phoenix, Arizona.

On Saturday Dec. 7, minimum weights Louisa Hawton (9-2) and Lorraine Villalobos (4-2) meet in a 10 round clash at Brooklyn, New York for the WBC interim world title.

On Saturday Dec. 7, super lightweights Patricia Juarez (4-2) and Hannah Terlep (3-0) meet in a six round fight at Denver.

On Saturday Dec. 7, featherweights Marcia Agripino (3-2-1) and Michelle Cook (1-1-2) meet in a six round clash at Mashantucket, Conn.

On Saturday Dec. 7, welterweights Jessica Klabak (0-0) and Jessica Jacobs (0-0) meet in a three round fight at Madison, Wisconsin.

 

(Photo by Al Applerose)