Chantelle Cameron vs Mary McGee in London, Mexicans Clash and More
By David A. Avila
Two Americans hold super lightweight world titles and one British fighter Chantelle Cameron aims to topple their hold.
Can she do it?
WBC titlist Cameron (14-0, 8 KOs) has homefield advantage on Saturday when she meets IBF titlist Mary McGee (27-3, 15 KOs) a veteran with loads of pedigree at O2 Arena in London, England. DAZN will stream the Matchroom Boxing card.
Cameron, 30, had never fought outside of the United Kingdom until meeting American veteran Melissa Hernandez last May in Las Vegas, Nevada. It was a one-sided affair with Cameron overwhelming Hernandez for a stoppage win.
McGee, 35, has extensive pro experience somewhat like Hernandez. The native of Indiana has been lacing up professionally for 16 years and has faced champions like Holly Holm and Erica Farias. About two years ago she met Argentina’s Ana Esteche and stopped her in the last round to win the IBF title in New York City. Three months later she stopped Deanha Hobbs in the ninth round in her first title defense.
Inactivity could be the weak link for McGee. It will be 20 months since her last fight. Cameron fought a mere five months ago.
It’s the first salvo of the super lightweight tournament to decide who will be undisputed champion at the 140-pound division.
Later, on November 19, WBA and IBO titlist Kali Reis will clash with Jessica Camara for the vacant WBO version at Manchester, England. The winner will face the winner of Cameron versus McGee.
Three of the four participants are managed by Brian Cohen of Philadelphia. He’s one of the top managers in the USA and has invested heavily in female prizefighting. Reis, McGee and Camara are all under his wing. Also, new WBC bantamweight titlist Jamie Mitchell and contender Ebanie Bridges are aligned with Cohen.
Its ready, set, go for the super lightweights beginning this Saturday.
Mexican legends clash
Two of Mexico’s most legendary fighters Mariana “Barbie” Juarez and Jackie Nava finally meet in the boxing ring on Saturday October 30, in Tijuana. Azteca in Mexico will televise it.
Neither Juarez (55-10-4) or Nava (38-4-4) hold a world title any longer but the WBC will be giving the winner an honorary belt of some kind.
This fight has been scheduled numerous times in the past including August 2017 when it was set to take place on the exact same day as Floyd Mayweather versus Conor McGregor in Las Vegas. There have been other times as well.
Juarez, 41, began her pro career in 1998. But there were underground fights she had partook even before that. She rose from a girl who spurned a career as a fashion model to become perhaps the most famous fighter in Mexican history. She also won world titles in the flyweight, super flyweight, and bantamweight divisions.
Perhaps her greatest accomplishment was attracting an estimated 400,000 fans to her world title fight against Catherine Phiri in Mexico City in April 2017. It remains a record attendance for any prize fight male or female.
Nava, 41, began her fighting career in 2001 in the border city of Tijuana. Known as the Aztec Princess she was more warrior than princess and engaged in two of the most violent and riveting battles ever seen with Ana Maria Torres in 2011. Along with being a longtime super bantamweight world titlist she became a Mexican senator representing her area.
Will they finally meet in the boxing ring on Saturday? And who will emerge victorious?
Japan’s Tada Loses Baffling Decision in S. Korea
The WBO minimumweight world title changed possession as Vietnam’s Thi Thu Nhi Nguyen was declared the winner by unanimous decision over former champion Etsuko Tada of Japan.
All three judges scored it 96-94 for Nguyen. They seem to be wrong.
The fight is available on Youtube.com and it appeared Tada was the clear-cut winner. The taller Tada used her southpaw jab and experience to win at least eight rounds. Maybe more.
Nguyen was very inaccurate though busy with her punches. Perhaps her best attribute was her ability to take a good punch. She absorbed many straight lefts from Tada who was scored last years Knockout of the Year.
Tada deserves better than to be stripped of her title by politics. For more on this story read Yuriko Miyata’s piece on thePrizefighters.com.
Beautiful Brawlers Tournament in N. Calif.
The Beautiful Brawlers, a massive female amateur boxing tournament, takes place on Saturday October 30 and Sunday October 31 at Pacifica, California. More than 100 boxers are scheduled to participate at Baby Face Boxing located at 1021 Terra Nova Blvd. in Pacifica.
It’s the 10th year that the Beautiful Brawlers stage their tournament that includes female boxers from all over the USA and a team from Mexico. Many of today’s top fighters participated in previous tournaments including Czarina McCoy, Jamie Mitchell and Roxanne Verduzco. Expect many future champions to emerge from his tournament held in the San Francisco Bay area.
Every year Beautiful Brawlers headed by Blanca Gutierrez, Martha Salazar, Lupi Gutierrez, Coco Militar and Sonya Hernaes showcases new talent in this annual tournament. Last year the pandemic forced a postponement, but this year a huge response by boxers across the country and beyond make this a tournament to watch.
So much talent.
Doors open at 11 a.m. Action begins at noon. For more information call 415) 694-1907. Beautiful Brawlers is also on social media sites like Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.
More Fights News
Argentina
Karen Carabajal (18-0) won by technical knockout over Cintia Castillo (10-9) in the 10th round on Saturday Oct. 23. The Argentine super lightweight title fight took place at Buenos Aires.
Ayelen Granadino (6-1-4) and Debora Gomez (7-6-2) fought to a split draw after 10 rounds on Saturday October 23. The South American flyweight title fight took place at Neuquen.
Aldana Ponds (0-0-1) and Lourdes Grand (0-0-1) battled to a draw after four rounds on Saturday Oct. 23. The super lightweight match was held in Buenos Aires.
On Saturday Oct. 30, lightweights Maira Moneo (7-1) and Paola Benavidez (8-4-3) meet 10 rounds at Cordoba. Also, welterweights Victoria Bustos (21-6) and Yamila Reynoso (11-8-3) meet eight three-minute rounds. Plus, flyweights Aldana Lopez (2-0) and Victoria Benavidez (0-0) meet four rounds.
Australia
Shannon O’Connelll (22-6-1) won by split decision after 10 rounds versus Taylah Robertson (3-1) on Saturday October 23. The British Commonwealth bantamweight title fight was held at Broadbeach, Queensland.
On Saturday October 30, featherweights Krystina Jacobs (5-1) and Rebecca Hawker (3-0) meet eight rounds at Tasmania.
Azerbaijan
On Saturday Oct. 30, welterweights Maryam Jabrayilova (0-0) and Shahla Allahverdiyeva (0-0) meet four rounds at Baku.
Colombia
Yesica Bopp (37-2) won by technical knockout over Johana Zuniga (16-1) in the fourth round on Saturday Oct. 23. The WBA light flyweight title fight took place at Barranquilla. Also, Clara Lescurat (4-0) knocked out Kairuan Montenegro (3-9) in the second round of a super flyweight fight.
France
Elsa Hemat (3-4-2) defeated Marion Montanari (2-6) by unanimous decision after eight rounds on Saturday Oct. 23. The French super lightweight title fight was held at Puiseux-Pontoise.
Emma Gongora (1-2) beat Eva Debacker (2-1) by unanimous decision after eight rounds on Thursday Oct. 21. The French lightweight title fight was held at Marseille.
On Friday October 29, light flyweights Cassandra Crevecoeur (3-0) and Hadria Bader (0-1-1) meet eight rounds at Calais.
Germany
Lucie Sedlackova (13-1-1) knocked out Sonja Pilipovic (0-12) in the first round on Saturday Oct. 23. The featherweight fight was held at Northeim.
On Saturday October 30, lightweights Ramona Kuehne (31-1) and Klaudia Vigh (3-32-1) meet eight rounds in Brandenburg.
Mexico
Sulem Urbina (12-2-1) and Tania Itzel Garcia (6-6-1) fought to a majority draw after eight rounds on Wednesday Oct. 20. The flyweight bout took place in Hermosillo.
On Friday Oct. 29, super lightweights Prisca Vicot (12-8) and Simone Aparecida (17-17) meet 10 rounds for a regional title at Torreon.
On Saturday Oct. 30, super bantamweights Mariana Juarez (55-10-4) and Jackie Nava (38-4-4) meet 10 rounds at
New Zealand
On Saturday October 30, welterweights Ariane Nicholson (1-2) and Karen Te Ruki (3-2) meet 10 rounds at Waipu.
Panama
On Friday October 29, super flyweights Nataly Delgado (8-3-1) and Teresa Almengor (6-1-2) meet for eight three-minute rounds at Bella Vista.
Poland
Justyna Walas (1-0) beat Kateryna Drozd (0-3) by decision after four rounds on Saturday October 23. The welterweight fight took place at Zakopane.
South Korea
Thi Thu Nguyen (5-0) won by unanimous decision after 10 rounds versus Etsuko Tada (20-4-3) on Saturday October 23. The WBO minimumweight title fight was held at Ansan. Nguyen fights out of Vietnam and becomes her country’s first champion.
United Kingdom
Carly Skelly (4-0-1) defeated Dorota Norek (6-3) by unanimous decision after 10 rounds on Saturday October 23. The super bantamweight title fight was held at Liverpool.
Ellis Booth (1-0) defeated Vanesa Caballero (4-12-3) by decision after four rounds on Saturday Oct. 23. The flyweight bout took place at Hampshire.
Gemma Ruegg (1-0) defeated Claudia Ferenczi (20-84-8) by decision after six rounds on Friday Oct. 22. The light flyweight bout took place at Hampshire.
On Saturday October 30, super lightweights Chantelle Cameron (14-0) and Mary McGee (27-3) meet 10 rounds for the WBC and IBF titles at London. Also, super bantamweights Ellie Scotney (2-0) and Eva Cantos (2-1) meet six rounds.
On Saturday October 30, super bantamweights Tysie Gallagher (0-0) and Cara Mclaughlin (0-1) meet six rounds at Watford.
USA
Rosalinda Rodriguez (13-0) moved up in weight to fight Elizabeth Tuani (1-4) and won by technical knockout in the second round on Saturday Oct. 23. The super featherweight fight was held in Tampa. Usually, Rodriguez fights at bantamweight.
(Photo by DAZN)