Mexico’s Kenia Enriquez and Lulu and More News and Notes
By David A. Avila
(Photo by Barbara Ramos)
Along the Mexican blue water shores Kenia Enriquez proved that more than two years of inactivity in the prize ring was not enough to prevent a knockout win over previously unstoppable Gabriela “La Bonita” Sanchez in their flyweight clash.
Enriquez is back and just as strong as ever.
“It felt natural like a fish in the water,” said Enriquez, 28, on returning to action.
Tijuana’s Enriquez (24-1, 10 Kos) moved back to flyweight after five years as a light flyweight and was able to defeat a determined effort by Sanchez (8-5) who never wavered on Saturday May 28, at the Mexican resort town of Nuevo Vallarta.
After years of forced limbo as the WBC number one light flyweight contender, Enriquez remained vigilant and always ready to fight. Though that sanctioning organization never allowed her to fight the champion Yesenia Gomez, she kept quiet and kept ready.
Now Enriquez is fighting as a full-fledged 112-pound flyweight.
Sanchez, 27, proved willing and ready to meet Enriquez and from the opening bell never backed off against the Tijuana fighter. Despite her nickname of “La Bonita” the flyweight from Puebla, Mexico was fearless and aggressive.
Enriquez advanced behind a very stiff jab that often moved Sanchez backward and the Tijuana fighter never fought in her counter-punch style that previously was her trademark. Apparently, those days are gone under her new trainer Raul “Jibaro” Perez a former two-time world champion. Now she’s a full on Mexican-style hunter.
In the fourth round Enriquez connected with a right cross and down went Sanchez. However, the referee called it a slip despite a clear punch had caused the knockdown.
“I believed I knocked her down,” said Enriquez.
Enriquez continued to pummel away at the resilient Sanchez and often seemed to be on the verge of stopping the Puebla fighter, especially in the seventh round when a left hook connected solidly
“From the first round I thought I would knock her out, but she was very strong,” Enriquez said of Sanchez.
In the 10th and final round Enriquez unloaded quickly with a four-punch volley and connected with a left hook that staggered Sanchez. Then Enriquez opened up and the referee stepped in to stop the fight though Sanchez was still standing. It was a good stoppage.
With her newly adapted hunter style, Enriquez feels confident she can achieve her goal of becoming an undisputed flyweight world champion.
“My goal is to impressively beat Marlen Esparza so I can win two of the flyweight world titles, said Enriquez. “I want to become undisputed world champion.”
Lulu
WBC super flyweight world titlist Lourdes “La Pequena Lulu” Juarez (33-2) returns and defends against Debora Vanesa Gomez (7-7-2) on Saturday June 4, at Fresnillo, Zacatecas, Mexico.
This is Juarez third defense of the title she won back in 2020 when she took the world title from Guadalupe Martinez. She has not lost since her fifth fight back in 2014 when she was still learning the pro game. That was 31 fights ago.
The younger sister of Mariana “Barby” Juarez has proven to have a different boxing style than her sister. Lulu is more of a counter-puncher who uses movement to dart in and out and shows expert timing.
More Fight News
Argentina
Maira Moneo (10-1) defeated Sofia Rodriguez (5-6) by unanimous decision after 10 rounds on Friday May 27. The lightweight title fight was held at Buenos Aires. Light flyweight Sol Cudos (3-0-1) beat Sofia Mendez (1-2) by decision.
On Friday June 3, lightweights Yanina Del Carmen (10-2) and Yenifer Rodriguez (12-4-2) meet 10 rounds at Concordia. Also, super bantamweights Antonella Molina (1-13-1) and Romina Belen (0-10-2) meet four rounds.
Australia
On Sunday June 5, flyweights Taylah Robertson (4-1) and Sarah Higginson (3-0-1) meet five rounds at Melbourne.
Canada
Mary Spencer (5-0) defeated Yamila Reynoso (12-11-3) by decision after eight rounds on Saturday May 28. The welterweight match was held in Ontario.
On Thursday June 2, bantamweights Sara Couillard (0-0) and Flor Carrera (1-0-1) meet four rounds at Montreal.
Colombia
Irais Hernandez (3-4-2) knocked out Luisa Meza (0-5) in the fifth round on Tuesday May 24. The middleweight bout took place at Santa Marta.
Dominican Republic
Katiana Petit-Homme (1-0) knocked out Daniela Ramos (0-3) in the first round on Saturday May 28. The super featherweight bout took place at Santo Domingo.
France
Narymane Benloucif (1-0) won by decision after four rounds versus Marijana Dasovic (0-14-1) on Saturday May 28. The lightweight match was held in Auterive.
On Saturday June 4, welterweights Sandy Meunier (2-0) and Donya Darouiche (2-2) meet six rounds at Nantes.
Germany
Phannarai Netisri (11-0) won by knockout in the fifth round over Crystal Garcia (10-2) on Sunday May 29. The super bantamweight title fight took place in Hamburg.
Beke Bas (16-0) won by unanimous decision after six rounds against Tereza Dvorakova (4-8) on Saturday May 28. The lightweight bout took place at Kaiserslautern.
Hanna Hansen (5-0) won by decision after eight rounds versus Borislava Goranova (11-68-4) on Saturday May 28. The super welterweight match took place at Pulheim. Also, super bantamweight Sarah Liegmann (4-0) defeated Panagiota Zervoudaki (0-3) by decision.
On Saturday June 4, super welterweights Ema Kozin (21-1-1) and Szilvia Szabados (18-18) meet 10 rounds for a regional title at Aalen.
Guatemala
On Saturday June 4, bantamweights Romeri Salvatierra (0-0) and Juliana Rodriguez (3-0) meet four rounds at Mixco. Also, lightweights Sara Anti (0-0) and Karla Lara (0-0) meet four rounds.
Italy
Alessia Vitanza (2-0) defeated Aleksandra Vujovic (4-19-2) on Saturday May 28. The lightweight match was held in Rome.
Japan
Tamao Ozawa (17-5) won by split-decision after 10 rounds versus Miyo Yoshida (15-3) on Monday May 30. The WBO super flyweight world title fight took place at Tokyo.
Mexico
Kenia Enrirquez (24-1) won by technical knockout in the 10th round over Gabriela Sanchez (8-5) on Saturday May 28. The flyweight clash was held in Nuevo Vallarta.
Eloisa Martinez (3-14-3) defeated Czarina McCoy (8-1) by unanimous decision after 10 rounds on Saturday May 28. The super flyweight title fight took place at Guanajuato.
On Saturday June 4, flyweights Maria Salinas (26-7-5) and Jackie Calvo (15-7-2) meet 10 rounds for a minor title at Mexico City.
On Saturday June 4, super flyweights Lourdes Juarez (33-2) and Debora Vanesa Gomez (7-7-2) meet 10 rounds for the WBC world title at Fresnillo, Zacatecas.
South Africa
Ellen Simwaka (10-5-2) defeated Sharadene Fortuin (13-2-1) by split decision after 10 rounds on Thursday May 26. The African bantamweight title fight was held at Johannesburg.
On Sunday June 5, super flyweights Thema Zuma (5-6) and Bathabile Ziqubu (3-1) meet 10 rounds for the South African title at Durban.
South Korea
Hye Soo Park (6-8-3) won by split decision over Ming Jung Kim (1-1-2) after six rounds on Saturday May 28. The flyweight bout took place at Busan.
On Saturday June 4, super flyweights Hee Jung Yuh (24-3) and Phannaluk Kongsang (8-8-1) meet 10 rounds at Daegu for a regional title.
Spain
On Saturday June 4, featherweights Eva Cantos (3-5-1) and Yaiza Souto (0-1) meet five rounds at Madrid.
Tanzania
On Friday June 3, featherweights Flora Machela (7-9) and Zawadi Kutaka (2-0-1) meet six rounds at Dar es Salaam.
Thailand
Yuko Kuroki (19-7-2) knocked out Sothita Sitthichai (3-1) in the second round on Saturday May 28. The minimumweight fight was held at Pathum Thani. Also, super flyweight Chisakan Ariphipat (14-1-1) defeated Pornpimon Pongpaew (1-2) by decision after eight; minimumweight Sumire Yamanaka (5-0) knocked out Pichada Bunmee (1-1) in the third round; bantamweight Hinami Yanai (2-0) won by technical knockout in the third round against Daoprakary Trathong (0-2); and minimumweight Cecile Cortez (4-0) won by decision over Manatsawee Srithongkham (1-5) after six rounds.
United Kingdom
On Friday June 3, super bantamweights Gemma Ruegg (2-3) and Claudia Ferenczi (20-92-8) meet eight rounds at Hampshire.
On Saturday June 4, super bantamweights Nina Hughes (2-0) and Eftychia Kathopouli (5-3-1) meet 10 rounds for a regional title at Brentwood, England.
On Saturday June 4, featherweights Skye Nicolson (3-0) and Gabriela Bouvier (15-10-1) meet eight rounds at Cardiff, Wales.
USA
Jaica Pavilus (3-5-1) won by unanimous decision after six rounds versus Mia Ellis (4-1) on Saturday May 28. The super featherweight bout was held in Brooklyn.
On Friday June 3, flyweights Maryguenn Vellinga (3-2-2) and Katherine Lindenmuth (1-0) meet four rounds at Salt Lake City.
On Saturday June 4, flyweights Randee Lynn Morales (4-4) and Amanda Borg (0-1-1) meet six rounds at Denver.
On Saturday June 4, super flyweights Asley Sciscente (5-0) and Indeya Smith (2-5-2) meet six rounds at Rock Hill, South Carolina.