Seismic Changes as Mikaela Mayer and More Female Fight News
By David A. Avila
Seismic changes of extraordinary proportions erupted the past few days with many new world champions announcing their arrivals with their fists.
America’s Mikaela Mayer claimed the WBO super featherweight title with dominance in wresting the title from Poland’s Ewa Brodnicka despite that fighter’s constricting style last Saturday in Las Vegas, Nevada.
After winning, Mayer immediately made a vocal challenge to Great Britain’s Terri Harper who holds the WBC version.
“I definitely want to unify this division. I don’t want to wait around. I don’t want to take a couple of years to do it. I want to do it right away. So, {WBC champion} Terri Harper told me to get a belt. Eddie Hearn told me to get a belt. I have the WBO belt now, so let’s make that fight happen. I want Terri Harper next,” said Mayer after winning the world title on Saturday.
The super featherweight division remains one of female boxing’s deepest weight classes with France’s Maiva Hamadouche, South Korea’s Hyun Mi Choi, and Harper holding the other belts. Among the contenders are America’s Tiara Brown, Finland’s Eva Wahlstrom, Norway’s Katherina Thanderz and Belgium’s Delfine Persoon just to name a few.
It’s deep.
Mayer, 30, finally was able to lure one of the champions into the boxing ring after nearly two years. During the past 12 months the 2016 American Olympic representative tried every possible way to bait one of the champions to bite. Brodnicka was forced to defend against Mayer or be stripped by the Puerto Rico-based WBO organization.
A battle between Mayer and Harper would be an epic encounter. Both are tall with Mayer having the speed advantage and Harper packing slightly more power. Where the fight takes place depends on who wins the bid: America’s Top Rank or United Kingdom’s Matchroom Boxing?
Already it will be one of the most anticipated female fights of 2021.
Speaking of the United Kingdom, last Saturday England’s Savannah Marshall stopped Scotland’s Hannah Rankin with a heavy-fisted barrage in the sixth round. It was systematic destruction and showcased Marshall’s boxing abilities. It also gained her the vacant WBO middleweight world title.
Marshall wants a crack at America’s queen Claressa Shields who now resides in the super welterweight division after conquering the super middleweight and middleweight divisions. Both know each other well and are eager to prove in the boxing ring who truly is the best.
It’s another clash that will take place in 2021.
Lower weight classes
Any division below the 135-pound weight class boasts larger numbers of participants than any of the heavier divisions. Yet, the boxing world outside of Asia and South America have yet to discover it.
Last Friday, for instance, two elite flyweights battled in a short eight round fight that riveted fans in the U.S. with Marlen Esparza defeating Sulem Urbina in a spirited battle. It was far too short at eight two-minute rounds to prove dominance in the professional fight, but it did showcase their boxing skills.
Esparza and Urbina changed tactics mid-stream and pummeled each other in the brief encounter. It deserves a rematch with more rounds and at three-minute stanzas. Their first encounter proved once again that the smaller weight classes do not lack excitement.
Both would love to fight East L.A.’s Seniesa Estrada who may be the best fighter below 135 pounds without a world title.
Barbie
Mexico’s legendary Mariana “Barbie” Juarez was soundly defeated by Yulihan Luna Avila in their battle for the WBC bantamweight world title on Saturday. It was not a close decision.
Immediately after the fight Juarez demanded that Luna’s gloves be checked for irregularities. They were inspected by various people. Fans were upset by Juarez’s actions and a tidal wave of taunts and verbal blasts on social media attacked the three-division world champion.
It was kind of sad, but as a prizefighter she is within her rights to demand that gloves be inspected again. Mexico does not have the best reputation for following the rules and just recently loaded gloves have been found in championship fights. Juarez is not out of line asking for the gloves to be inspected.
But otherwise, Luna is the new world champion and has won a world title years ago when she held the IBF version of the bantamweight title in 2014 when she was only 20 years old. She is now 26 and looked very fast and very skilled.
World Title Fight
A clash for the vacant super lightweight title between Kali Reis (16-7-1) and Kande Wyatt (10-1) takes place on Friday Nov. 6, for the vacant WBA super lightweight world title at St. Petersburg, Florida. It will be televised on Impact TV network.
Reis, 34, is a former middleweight champion and is moving down three divisions for this fight with Wyatt. This will be Canada’s Wyatt’s second attempt at a world title. She challenged Christina Linardatou for the WBO version 20 months ago but was stopped in the sixth round.
Both Wyatt and Reis are managed by Brian Cohen.
More Fight News
Argentina
Yamila Abellaneda (10-4) beat Sofia Rodriguez (2-4) by unanimous decision after six rounds on Friday Oct. 30. The welterweight fight took place at Buenos Aires.
Colombia
Maria Angel (1-0) defeated Luisa Meza (0-1) by technical knockout in the second round on Thursday Oct. 29. The super featherweight bout was held at Sucre.
France
On Friday Nov. 6, super bantamweights Segolene Lefebvre (13-0) and Mary Romero (6-2) fight 10 rounds for a vacant regional title at Nord.
Italy
On Friday Nov. 6, super featherweights Anna Lisa Brozzi (1-1) and Jaime Wallis Bates (0-1) meet for four three-minute rounds at Fondi.
Germany
On Saturday Nov. 7, super lightweights Natalie Zimmerman (1-0) and Wiebke Braatz (0-0) meet four rounds at Hamburg.
Japan
Natsuki Tarui (4-6-2) defeated Sayo Segawa (1-1) by split decision after six rounds on Friday Oct. 30. The atom weight fight took place in Tokyo.
Hiroko Takayama (0-0-1) and Saka Horiguchi (0-3-1) fought to a draw after four rounds on Monday Oct. 26. The super flyweight match was held in Tokyo.
Mexico
Yulihan Luna Avila (20-3-1) defeated Mariana Juarez (54-10-4) by unanimous decision after 10 rounds on Saturday Oct.31. The WBC bantamweight world title fight took place at Cancun. Luna, 26, is a former IBF titlist. Juarez, 40, was making her 10th defense of the title since winning it on April 2017. Also, Yesenia Gomez (18-5-3) beat Mirna Sanchez (6-1-1) by decision to retain the WBC light flyweight title.
Ibeth Zamora (31-6) vanquished Edith Flores (7-15) by unanimous decision after eight rounds on Friday Oct. 30. The flyweight match was held at Ciudad Nezahualcoyotl. Also, Monserrat Alarcon (14-4-2) defeated Itzayana Cruz (6-7) by decision in an eight round atom weight match.
On Saturday Nov. 7, super flyweights Czarina McCoy (3-0) and Karla Islas (3-13-1) meet four rounds in Tijuana. Also, heavyweights Nadia Meknouzi (5-0) and Berenice Estrella (1-1) meet four rounds.
Russia
Firuza Sharipova (12-1) won by unanimous decision after eight rounds versus Sara Marjanovic (7-8) on Friday Oct. 30. The lightweight match was held at Moscow. Also, Angelina Semenova (1-1) knocked out Natalya Sava (0-1) in the first round of their lightweight bout.
South Africa
Matshidiso Mokebisi (12-8-1) won by unanimous decision after eight rounds against Kholosa Ndobayini (13-8) on Friday Oct. 30. The welterweight fight took place at Johannesburg. Also, Monalisa Takane (1-0) beat Lufuno Mutshayi (0-2-1) by split decision after four rounds in a super bantamweight match.
United Kingdom
Savannah Marshall (9-0) stopped Hannah Rankin (9-5) in the sixth round on Saturday Oct. 31. The WBO middleweight world title fight took place at London, England. Also, super bantamweights Carly Skelly (3-0-1) and Amy Timlin (4-0-1) fought to a split draw after 10 rounds. Plus, Ramla Ali (1-0) defeated Eva Hubmayer (1-1) by decision after six rounds in a lightweight fight.
USA
Mikaela Mayer (14-0) defeated Ewa Brodnicka (19-1) by unanimous decision on Saturday Oct. 31. The WBO super featherweight world title fight took place at Las Vegas, Nevada. Mayer, 30, wins her first world title. Poland’s Brodnicka, 36, did not make weight and was not eligible to keep the title had she won.
Marlen Esparza (8-1) won by unanimous decision after eight rounds versus Sulem Urbina (12-1) on Friday Oct. 30. The flyweight bout was held in Indio, California.
On Friday Nov. 6, super lightweights Kali Reis (16-7-1) and Kandi Wyatt (10-1) meet 10 rounds for the vacant WBA super lightweight world title at St. Petersburg, Florida. Also, super featherweights Carissa Brown (0-1) and Jaica Pavilus (0-1) meet in a four-round bout. Plus, featherweights Feif Faiva (2-0) and Mysasia Oglesby (0-6) meet four rounds.
On Friday Nov. 6, lightweights Stephanie Aquino (2-0) and Nina Gallegos (0-5) meet four rounds at Houston, Texas.
On Saturday Nov. 7, super welterweights Summer Lynn (2-0) and Latasha Burton (4-14) meet four rounds at Davenport, Iowa. Also, super middleweights Kristine Ion-Rood (2-0) and Julie Guiste (0-1) meet four rounds.
On Saturday Nov. 7, super lightweights Carly Holman (1-0) and Rebeka Laws (0-0) meet for four three-minute rounds at Rock Hill, South Carolina.
(Photo by Bastion Boxeo)