Claressa, Seniesa and La Avispa and More Boxing News
By David A. Avila
Two stars on opposite sides of the US await their turn.
Claressa Shields and Seniesa Estrada fight in vastly different weight divisions but are considered to be the best. Shields currently dwells among the super welterweights and Estrada below the light flyweights.
Both are about to lace up in March.
For more than a year Shields, the top American fighter, has waited for an opportunity to meet Canada’s Marie Eve Dicaire in a super welterweight clash for all the world titles. It may happen in March and in Michigan.
Shields has dominated in every weight division she participated beginning with the super middleweights then middleweights and now super welterweights. Dominated.
Though Shields has recently dipped into the MMA world all eyes are now focused on her upcoming unification bout against Dicaire. Both are their country’s respective best.
Mark Taffet, co-manager of Shields, said a formal announcement on a loaded fight card that involves the two-time Olympic gold medalist will be coming soon. A major announcement is expected in the next few days.
West Coast USA
In the West, we have news regarding the other burgeoning American superstar.
Estrada, though undefeated in 19 professional bouts, has yet to claim a world title in any of the weight divisions that she’s participated. From bantamweights down to minimumweights the petite prizefighter from East L.A. has dominated with six knockouts in seven fights.
But no world title opportunity has emerged. Yet.
“I’m really anxious to get back into action,” said Seniesa, whose only fight in 2020 lasted a record-making seven seconds when she knocked out Miranda Adkins. “I feel this year will be a lot better and I will be fighting world titles fights one after the other.”
In Europe fighters with less than half of Estrada’s experience are wielding world title belts in their fifth pro fights. That’s just the way things are in the female prizefighting world. Whoever has the money, the media outlet and willing fighters dictates who grabs the opportunities for world title fights.
This is not new.
Estrada, 28, fights under the Golden Boy Promotions banner established by another fighter with East L.A. roots Oscar De La Hoya. The Los Angeles-based organization also has media coverage via DAZN the streaming app. and in the past year has signed a number of other female prizefighters such as Marlen Esparza, Sulem Urbina, Franchon Crews-Dezurn and one other new signee from Mexico City.
La Avispa
WBA minimumweight titlist Anabel “La Avispa” Ortiz recently signed with Golden Boy Promotions and was scheduled to defend against Seniesa Estrada on Feb. 13 at Fantasy Springs Casino. But Ortiz caught the coronavirus and though it occurred in December the doctors recommended she wait until March to return.
La Avispa, or “the Wasp,” has rampaged through her weight division for years and has not lost a fight since 2012. Of her defeats all three were delivered by former or current top pound for pound fighters Yesica Bopp, Naoko Fujioka and Ibeth Zamora.
Ortiz, 34, has held the WBA world title since 2013 when she defeated Etsuko Tada in Tokyo. She has defended the title 12 times including two stops in Japan.
This coming March, the Mexico City pugilist will be defending against East L.A.’s Estrada probably in Dallas, Texas. Expect a confrontation of epic proportions.
More Fight News
Belgium
On Saturday Jan. 23, super welterweights Marianne Ahlborg (1-0) and Veronika Andriskova (0-3) meet six rounds at Brussels.
Bulgaria
Ivanka Ivanova (3-12-3) and Snezana Siljkovic (1-7-3) fought to a split draw after four rounds on Saturday Jan. 16. The super flyweight fight took place at Sofia.
Chile
Iris Puchel (1-0) won by split decision after four rounds against Claudia Uribe (0-1) on Friday Jan. 15. The super featherweight bout took place at Paillaco.
France
Jeyssa Marcel (2-0) was the winner by unanimous decision after six rounds versus Eva Hrkotova (0-3) on Saturday Jan. 16. The super bantamweight match took place at Drancy.
Japan
On Thursday Jan. 21, bantamweights Nanae Yamaka (3-0) and Ai Sugimoto (2-0) meet four rounds at Tokyo. Also, atomweights Mikiko Muto (2-5) and Yurie Kishi (1-1) meet in a four-round bout. Plus, flyweights Saki Horiguchi (0-3-1) and Risa Mihara (0-0) meet four rounds.
(Photo by Felipe Leon)