Dina Thorslund and World of Super Bantamweights

Dina Thorslund Wins Super Bantamweight Fight; What’s Next for Division?

 

By David A. Avila

Super bantamweights where have you been?

Denmark’s Dina Thorslund successfully defended the WBO super bantamweight world title with a solid victory over Serbian veteran Nina Radovanovic. It was the blonde bomber’s third title defense in two years.

With fans now attending fights in European and Asian countries, the focus has bent toward those countries in the 122-pound limit division. But Latin America holds the heaviest concentration of talent when it comes to the super bantamweights.

Thorslund brings an exciting aggressive style and believes in her abilities. Hopefully, her promoter brings some of that Latin American power to Europe, or she makes the trek to Argentina, Mexico or Venezuela.

One of the best super bantamweights for years has been Mexico’s Jackie Nava. Yes she is older and slowing down but no one has ever soundly defeated the Tijuana-based prizefighter. If you go deep into South America you find another veteran in Marcela Acuna. Whether in Europe or Latin America, it will not be easy defeating Nava or Acuna.

Others like Mexico’s Yazmin Rivas and Venezuela’s Mayerlin Rivas are also powerful fighters with extensive experience in world title fights. They know how to win at the championship level.

Then you have the truly outstanding boxers like bantamweight world champions Daniela Bermudez of Argentina and Mariana Juarez of Mexico. They have mentioned moving up in weight and they are both top pound for pound fighters.

And what about further north with Amanda Serrano of New York City?

Fans forget that Serrano is not in the lightweight division though she was willing to face Ireland’s Katie Taylor at 135 pounds. The Puerto Rican slugger can make 122 pounds if necessary. She’s won world titles from 115 pounds to 140 pounds and of all the fighters previously mentioned, can any of them go toe to toe with Serrano?

Ten years ago the 122-pound vision was dominated by American fighters like Melinda Cooper, Kaliesha West, Celina Salazar and Ana Julaton. Today there’s a scarcity of talent for super bantamweights in the US.

If you look near Asia, in particular Australia has a number of solid super bantamweights like Shannon O’Connell, Ebanie Bridges and former super bantamweight world titlist Susie Ramadan. Recently both Bridges and Ramadan signed with American manager Brian Cohen.

It’s a very interesting weight division that’s about to blow up.

 

Other news and results

China

HeXiu Wang (1-1-1) beat Manli Lei (0-2-1) by decision after four rounds on Friday Sept. 25. The featherweight fight was held at Chengdu.

 

Czech Republic

Fabiana Bytyqi (16-0-1) defeated Claudia Ferenczi (20-76-8) by unanimous decision after eight rounds on Friday Sept. 25. The flyweight bout was held at Sluneta. Bytyqi holds the WBC Atomweight world title.

 

Denmark

Dina Thorslund (15-0) defeated Nina Radovanovic (14-4) by unanimous decision after 10 rounds to retain the WBO super bantamweight world title on Saturday Sept. 26. The fight took place in Struer.

 

Germany

Sophie Alisch (6-0) remained undefeated with a unanimous decision win after eight rounds versus Edina Kiss (15-14) on Saturday Sept. 26. The featherweight contest took place at Munich.

Verena Kaiser (14-1) won by stoppage in the fourth round over Karina Kopinska (13-36-4) on Saturday Sept. 26. The lightweight fight took place at Duesseldorf. Her only loss was against welterweight Mikaela Lauren two years ago.

 

Japan

Mika Iwakawa (10-5-1) won by split decision after 10 rounds versus Nanae Suzuki (10-4-1) to retain the WBO Atom weight title on Saturday Sept. 26. The world title fight was haled at Kobe. It was Iwakawa’s first title defense since winning it in July 2018. Also, minimum weights Rin Murai (1-0-2) and Marina Hamada (1-0-1) fought to a split draw after four rounds. Plus, Kaoru Iga (3-1-1) beat Natsumi Aga (0-2) by decision after four rounds in an atom weight bout.

 

Mexico

Yamileth Mercado (16-2) defeated Irasema Rayas (4-6-1) by third round technical knockout on Friday Sept. 25. Mercado, 22, holds the WBC super bantamweight world title but fought at featherweight for this fight held at Tijuana.

On Saturday Oct. 3, super middleweights Martha Lara Gaytan (11-8) and Shadasia Green (5-0) meet in an eight round clash for the WBC International title at Ocotlan, Jalisco.

 

Poland

Laura Grzyb (4-0) defeated Monia Gentili (6-12) by unanimous decision on Saturday Sept. 26. The super featherweight match was held at Zuzlowa.

 

Thailand

Pornchita Seehaburan (6-2) knocked out Phetcharat Chankasemsuk (0-1) in the fifth round on Saturday Sept.26. The featherweight match was held at Pathum Thani. Also, Wathanya Buanak (1-0) knocked out Wannapaporn Likhitpanyarat (0-3) in round three of a light flyweight bout; plus Promporn Poolsawat (1-0) knocked out Paphavadee Kongthon (0-2) in the second round of a bantamweight fight; also super flyweights Nattarat Prempida (1-2-1) and Chisakan Ariphipat (0-0-1) fought to a split draw after four rounds. In a bantamweight bout Thanchanok Phanan (6-2) beat Aphinya Konkhamtan (0-1) by decision after six rounds.

 

United Kingdom

On Sunday Oct. 4, super lightweights Chantelle Cameron (12-0) and Adriana Dos Santos Araujo (6-0) meet 10 rounds for the vacant WBC super lightweight world title at London, England.

 

USA

Feifilimai Faiva (1-0) defeated Jaica Pavilus (0-1) by decision after four rounds on Thursday Sept. 24. The lightweight match was held at Miami, Florida.

Ashley Sciscente (1-0) knocked out Mysasia Olglesby (0-6) in the second round on Saturday Sept. 26. The super bantamweight fight took place at Rock Hill, South Carolina.