Persoon vs Mekhaled, Montebello Fights and More Female Fight News
By David A. Avila
A super featherweight match featuring two French-speaking champions takes place far from their native soil.
It could be called the battle of the French Foreign Legion when Belgium’s Delfine Persoon (46-3) and France’s Elhem Mekhaled (15-0) meet 10 rounds on Saturday May 14, for a regional title at Dubai. It will be streamed via pay-per-view on www.globaltitans.com at 10:30 a.m. PT/1:30 p.m. ET.
If you follow women’s boxing then Persoon’s name has that extra oomph because of her nonstop junkyard dog attacking style. She does not quit once the bell rings. Any doubts? Just look at her two fights with Katie Taylor.
Mekhaled, 31, grabbed a few titles over the past few years but has never fought anyone close to Persoon’s talent. She allegedly retired after a recent proposal for her to fight Alycia Baumgardner as a late replacement. The reason: she was insulted by the proposal with less than a month to prepare.
But you know the old boxing adage: be ready so you don’t have to get ready.
Baumgardner was a replacement and she was willing to fight Terri Harper and we know what happened. All boxers should be ready to fight at any time. No one needs three months preparation.
I can imagine the ghosts of fighters from the 30s and 40s laughing at fighters who demand no less than eight weeks preparation. Those old-timers like Henry Armstrong, Jack Britton, and Baby Arizmendi fought almost every other week. They were always in shape and they had to weigh-in the day of the fight.
Persoon and Mekhaled are battling for a minor title around 9:30 p.m. Dubai Time.
UFC Fight Pass in Montebello, Calif.
On Thursday May 12, a super featherweight clash between Chelsea Anderson (4-0) and Jessica Juarez (3-1) takes place at the Quiet Cannon Country Club in Montebello, Calif. UFC Fight Pass will be streaming the 360 Promotions fight card live.
It’s the main event.
Anderson, 31, is a tall, lean, power-punching fighter from Orange County who shocked fans with her skill set despite only having a few fights. She defeated a very good fighter in Elvina White last September 2021. One of her advisors is Erin Toughill a veteran of both boxing and MMA.
Juarez, 22, fights out of San Diego and lost her last bout against Australia’s talented Skye Nicolson. This time she fights someone with pop who stands right in front but presents a different kind of challenge.
It should be an interesting fight.
The promoter is Tom Loeffler who has long been a supporter and believer in women’s boxing. He advises Cecilia Braekhus and formerly worked with Christina Hammer.
Madison Square Garden
Speaking of men who believe in women’s boxing, a number of male stars attended the Katie Taylor versus Amanda Serrano event at New York City over a week ago. Ryan Garcia was one of those young stars who believes in the future of women’s boxing as do retired champions like Sergio Mora.
Promoters like Loeffler, Eddie Hearn, Jake Paul, Oscar De La Hoya and a few others understood the value immediately and are reaping the benefits for early entry into women’s prizefighting.
There is a future.
When a women’s main event can sell out Madison Square Garden with more than 19,000 fans while a rival promoter has an event in Las Vegas that sold a mere 10,000 seats well that pretty much proves the value.
Need more proof?
How about 1.5 million separate views watched DAZN for the Taylor-Serrano match while Shakur Stevenson fought Oscar Valdez on the same night.
It’s definite proof that women’s prizefighting can sell.
More Fight News
Argentina
Julia Celes (4-0-2) beat Gisela Avalos (2-6-1) by decision after four rounds on Saturday May 7. The lightweight bout was held in Buenos Aires.
Australia
Nicila Costello (4-1) knocked out Hannah Morgan (0-1) in the first round on Saturday May 7. The super flyweight bout took place at Bowen Hills, Queensland.
Kendall Byrnes (1-0) defeated Jaala Tomat (0-1) by decision after four rounds on Saturday May 7. The super featherweight match was held at Nathan, Queensland.
On Wednesday May 11, super flyweights Linn Sandstrom (4-2-1) and Floryvic Montero (5-8-1) meet eight rounds at Newcastle South Wales. Also, featherweights Amber Amelia (1-0) and Sara Jalonen (1-1) meet five rounds.
On Saturday May 14, featherweights Deanha Hobbs (9-2) and Siriphon Chanbuala (13-11-2) meet six rounds at Carrara, Queensland.
Austria
Denise Stanojev (5-0) knocked out Tamara Miladinovic (0-1) in the second round on Saturday May 7. The featherweight fight took place at Maria Enzersdorf.
Canada
Carolyn Redmond (5-0) beat Simone Aparecida (17-21) by decision after eight rounds on Saturday May 7. The super welterweight match was held at Sydney, Nova Scotia.
On Saturday May 14, super bantamweights Tania Walters (2-1) and Lindsay Garbatt (9-8-2) meet eight rounds at Ontario.
Costa Rica
On Friday May 13, minimumweights Naomy Valle (1-0) and Richer Baltodano (0-0) meet four rounds at San Jose. Also, super bantamweights Soraida Garcia (0-0) and Cristel Ruiz (0-1) meet four rounds.
France
Segolene Lefebvre (16-0) won by unanimous decision after 10 rounds versus Melania Sorroche (18-3-2) on Saturday May 7. The WBO super bantamweight world title match was held at Nord.
Cassandra Crevecoeur (5-0) defeated Gabriela Timar (6-1) by unanimous decision after 10 rounds on Friday May 6. The EBU light flyweight title fight took place at Calais.
Germany
Christina Hammer (28-1) defeated Luiza Davydova (6-4) by decision after eight rounds on Saturday May 7. The super middleweight fight took place at Cologne. Also, Sophie Alisch (8-0) beat Eva Cantos (3-5-1) by decision after six rounds in a featherweight match.
Italy
On Friday May 13, super bantamweights Mary Romero (7-2) and Maria Cecchi (7-0) meet at Lombardia for the vacant EBU title.
Japan
On Tuesday May 10, minimumweights Honoka Kano (3-0-2) and Megumi Hosoda (3-3-1) meet six rounds at Tokyo. Also, atomweights Natsuki Yamada (0-1) and Yurie Kishi (2-1) meet four rounds.
On Sunday May 15, minimumweights Mizuki Chimoto (3-0) and Kaori Nagai (6-3-3) meet eight rounds at Tokyo.
Mexico
On Friday May 13, bantamweights Czarina McCoy (8-0) and Eloisa Martinez (2-14-3) meet eight rounds at Tijuana. Also, lightweights Carisse Brown (6-1) and Rocio Guerrero (5-1-1) meet eight rounds.
Poland
On Friday May 13, light flyweights Wiktoria Sadej (2-1) and Valentina Milazzo (4-0) meet six rounds at Jaworzno.
Spain
On Monday May 9, featherweights Jennifer Miranda (6-0) and Sayda Mosquera (9-3-1) meet 10 rounds for a featherweight title at Madrid.
Turkey
On Friday May 13, bantamweights Seren Cetin (9-0) and Eva Voraberger (26-7) meet 10 rounds at Istanbul. Also, welterweights Dilara Yucel (9-0) and Happy Daudi (10-10-1) meet 10 rounds. Welterweights Adel Khuri (0-0) and Altyn Agayeva (0-0) meet four rounds; and super lightweights Rengin Balaban (0-1) and Yasemin Akturk (0-3) meet four rounds.
United Arab Emirates
On Saturday May 14, super featherweights Delfine Persoon (46-3) and Elhem Mekhaled (15-0) meet 10 rounds for the regional title at Dubai.
United Kingdom
Kate Radomska (3-0) won by decision after six rounds versus Ivette Garcia (0-2) on Friday May 6. The flyweight fight was held in Glasgow, Scotland.
Kirstie Bavington (6-2-2) defeated Timea Belik (5-5) by decision after 10 rounds on Friday May 6. The EBU welterweight title fight was held at West Midlands, England.
On Friday May 13, super welterweights Hannah Rankin (11-5) and Alejandra Ayala (14-5) meet 10 rounds for the WBA and IBO world titles at Glasgow, Scotland. It can be watched on www.fightzone.uk
On Friday May 13, super featherweights Katharina Thanderz (13-1) and Tereza Dvorakova (4-6) meet six rounds at London, England.
USA
Maureen Shea (30-2-1) beat Calista Silgado (19-14-3) by decision after eight rounds on Saturday May 7. The super bantamweight bout took place at New York City.
Mary Casamassa (1-0) beat Jozette Cotton (0-2-1) by decision after four rounds on Saturday May 7. The middleweight fight was held at Murrysville, Penn.
Carmen Vargas (3-0) defeated Kim Colbert (3-21) by decision after four rounds on Thursday May 5. The featherweight bout was held in Pasadena, Texas.
On Thursday May 12, super featherweights Chelsea Anderson (4-0) and Jessica Juarez (3-1) meet six rounds at Montebello, Calif.
On Friday May 13, featherweights Lizette Lopez (0-0) and Neveah Martinez (0-0) meet four rounds at Sacramento, California.
On Saturday May 14, super bantamweights Shurretta Metcalf (10-3-1) and Danielle Bennett (4-1) meet eight rounds for a regional title at Dallas, Texas.