Fight of the Year Candidates in LA with Seniesa Estrada, Tsunami Tenkai, Naoko Fujioka and Sulem Urbina
By David A. Avila
Maybe it was the intense heat, but Los Angeles and the world witnessed two electrifying world title bouts between Japan and the US last Friday.
Both are candidates for Fight of the Year.
Thanks to Golden Boy Promotions we saw two of the best fights this year.
First, we saw WBA flyweight titlist Naoko Fujioka enter the stadium with temperatures near 100 degrees against Sulem Urbina in a 10-round affair at Banc of California Stadium. It was hot.
Fujioka started slowly against Urbina who showed off excellent combinations and defensive skills in the first two rounds. It looked like the great Japanese fighter who captured world titles in five weight divisions had lost a step or two. Or maybe it was just Urbina’s athleticism.
“I felt I boxed very well,” said Urbina. “My defense was like never before.”
Urbina, a Phoenix, Arizona prizefighter, seemed comfortable in the sweltering heat of Los Angeles. Though she was facing Japan’s best fighter in history she looked confident and comfortable.
Fujioka seemed a step or two slow until the third round when she made adjustments. They were crucial in turning the fight around.
“I did not look good in the ring, but I was ok, and figured what to do,” said Fujioka who had defeated other great fighters like Mariana Juarez and Yokasta Valle. “I adjusted in rounds three and four. I got to attack her body and it worked.”
Urbina’s head movement and footwork made it difficult for Fujioka to score on top, but when she targeted the body it changed the complexion of the fight. Then it became a matter of who punched more.
Fujioka’s volume punching especially to the body convinced two judges that she was the winner. A third judge scored it even at five rounds apiece.
Both fighters seemed unfazed by the intense heat and fired away with big blows. It was impressive stuff and showed why Fujioka has won world titles in five weight divisions. It also showed that Urbina is a force to reckon with for anyone.
Fans were very impressed.
It definitely earned consideration for Fight of the Year.
World title fight number two featured Japan’s Tsunami Tenkai defending her WBO light flyweight world title against Seniesa “Super Bad” Estrada of East Los Angeles.
For many this fight had a big question mark on Tenkai’s fighting ability. Yes, she had fought Fujioka to a draw two years ago, but could she really match skills with Estrada who recently entered the Top 12 pound for pound rankings after an impressive win against Anabel Ortiz this past March.
Fans witnessed a savage affair between two world champions. It was definitely another possible Fight of the Year candidate.
Estrada mixes her speed, agility, power and skills in a super blended form of fighting that seems unique. It also confuses many who step in the prize ring against her. When Tenkai stepped inside the ropes she seemed equally puzzled at first.
“Her quickness and continual attack made me hesitate,” said Tenkai.
The East LA fighter fired off lightning combinations and slipped out of range then darted in to unleash more dazzling combos. It was all Estrada in the first round and part of the second round. Then Tsunami got her bearings.
A stiff left jab by Tenkai jammed an Estrada combination who returned with her own left hook. Tenkai returned with two right hands then unleashed her own five-punch combination at the end of the round. The fight was on.
It was all about who could impose their will and who would break. Neither was able to dominate but Estrada was the busier fighter throughout. Tenkai had her moments and made each round very close.
Neither fighter could take a breath in any of the 10 rounds. It was fast and furious until the final bell.
Though judges saw it pretty wide for Estrada, many experts saw it much closer with Tenkai winning more than two rounds. The Prizefighters gave Tenkai three maybe four rounds, not a mere two. Still, Estrada was a definite winner in the savage encounter.
“I did not do everything I should have to get the win,” admitted Tenkai. “I should have thrown more punches after using my defense.”
It was an extremely electric performance by both fighters and worthy of a rematch. In fact, both female fights are worthy of a rematch if others are hesitant about engaging with the two winners.
“Though I did not win, what a joy it was to compete at this high level,” said Tenkai.
“I had to really dig deep and show that I can fight on the inside, exchange punches and work the body. I showed a different side to me. Tsunami is really tough, and I was surprised at her ability to take a lot of punches,” said Estrada who collected her second division world title.
Fans were finally able to see world class fighting by women in Los Angeles. They were not disappointed.
Lourdes
WBC super flyweight titlist Lourdes Juarez (31-2) meets Diana “La Bonita” Fernandez (23-3) for the second time on Friday July 16, at Ciudad Juarez, Mexico.
Juarez won their first encounter over Fernandez back in November 2017. That fight also took place in Juarez. It’s also Fernandez’s hometown.
Fernandez has only lost to Lourdes Juarez and her sister Mariana Juarez, and former world champion Debora Anahi of Argentina. It should be another exciting match.
Juarez will be making the first defense of the world title she took from Guadalupe Martinez last December.
More Fight News
Argentina
Yamila Belen (12-4-1) won by majority decision after 10 rounds versus Estefania Alaniz (5-5-1) on Thursday July 8. The Argentine lightweight title fight took place at Buenos Aires. Also, Debora Anahi Lopez (19-0-1) beat Lucia De Los Angeles (2-5) by unanimous decision after a six-round super flyweight bout; and Oriana Sanchez (1-1) beat Claudia Landaida (0-1) in a minimum weight fight.
On Saturday July 17, flyweights Sandra Villarruel (1-1-1) and Camila Avaca (0-0) meet four rounds at Villa Carlos Paz, Cordoba.
Australia
Linn Sandstrom (1-1-1) and Natalie Hills (0-0-1) fought to a split draw after six rounds on Wednesday July 7. The super flyweight fight took place at Newcastle, New South Wales.
On Friday July 16, super featherweights Deanha Hobbs (8-2) and Brooke Cooper (0-0) meet 10 rounds at Burleigh Heads, Queensland.
France
Victoire Piteau (9-1) defeated Aleksandra Vujovic (4-13-2) by unanimous decision after six rounds on Saturday July 10. The lightweight match was held in Charente-Maritime.
On Tuesday July 13, featherweights Aleksandra Ivanovic (0-3-1) and Sofia Nabet (0-0) meet six rounds at Val-de-Marne.
Germany
Naomi Mannes (5-0) won by unanimous decision after six rounds versus Klaudia Vigh (3-30-1) on Saturday July10. The super welterweight bout took place in Nordrhein-Westfalen.
On Saturday July 17, super featherweights Lara Ochmann (5-1) and Angela Cannizzaro (6-9-1) meet six rounds at Magdeburg.
Mexico
On Friday July 16, super flyweights Lourdes Juarez (31-2) and Diana Fernandez (23-3) meet 10 rounds for the WBC world title at Ciudad Juarez.
On Friday July 16, bantamweights Wendy Avila (2-0) and Genoveva Saldivar (1-1) meet four rounds at Gomez Palacio, Durango.
On Saturday July 17, lightweights Carisse Brown (2-1) and Monserrat Garcia (2-1) meet six rounds in Tijuana.
New Zealand
Sequita Hemingway (1-0) beat Alrie Meleisea (5-1-1) by majority decision after four rounds on Saturday July 10. The heavyweight clash was held at Putaruru.
South Korea
Ryu Kyung Suh (2-0-1) and Ji An Son (0-0-1) fought to a majority draw after four rounds on Saturday July 10. The flyweight bout took place in Seoul.
Sweden
Marianne Ahlborg (4-0) defeated Luiza Davydova (5-3) by unanimous decision after six rounds on Saturday July 10. The super welterweight match was held in Orebro. Also, Karina Kopinska (14-38-4) defeated Claire Sammut (4-7) by unanimous decision after a six round lightweight fight.
Tanzania
On Saturday July 17, flyweights Jesca Mfinanga (2-0) and Dorothea Muhoza (0-2) meet four rounds at Dar es Salaam; and super lightweights Grace Mwakamele (0-2) and Ridia Mdetele (0-0) meet four rounds.
Turkey
On Wednesday July 14, super bantamweights Seen Cetin (7-0) and Gulay Bozdogan (0-1) meet 10 rounds at Istanbul.
On Saturday July 17, featherweights Bilgenur Aras (6-1) and Claudia Ferenczi (20-79-8) meet 10 rounds at Alanya. Also, welterweights Janina Neumann (2-0) and Ilka Adam (2-0) meet 10 rounds.
USA
Seniesa Estrada (21-0) defeated Tsunami Tenkai (28-13-1) by unanimous decision after 10 rounds on Friday July 9. The WBO light flyweight world title fight took place in Los Angeles. Also, Naoko Fujioka (19-2-1) won by majority decision after 10 rounds versus Sulem Urbina (12-2) to retain the WBA flyweight world title.
On Saturday July 17, super bantamweights Nicole Chisolm (1-1) and Kedra Bradley (1-1) meet six rounds at Rock Rapids Iowa.
On Saturday July 17, middleweights Olivia Curry (1-0) and Miranda Barber (1-1)meet four rounds at Rosemont, Illinois.
(Photo by Al Applerose)