Tall Flyweight Gabriela Fundora vs Mexico’s Naomi Arellano at Dignity Health Sports Park
By David A. Avila
Southern California’s towering flyweight Gabriela Fundora shares the prize ring with her even taller older brother Sebastian Fundora this weekend in Los Angeles.
Undefeated Gabbi Fundora (8-0, 4 Kos) participates in her first 10-round fight and meets Mexico’s Naomi Arellano Reyes (9-1, 5 Kos) on Saturday Oct. 8, at Dignity Health Sports Park in Los Angeles, Calif. Showtime will televise.
This is Fundora’s third appearance at the outdoor arena that was previously known as the StubHub Center and before that the Home Depot Center. More importantly it’s famous for showcasing many of the greatest battles ever seen like Israel Vazquez versus Rafael Marquez and the war between Timothy Bradley and Ruslan Provodnikov.
It also provided Claressa Shields’ introduction to the California boxing public back in December 2018 as she dominated Femke Hermans for three middleweight titles.
Experts are predicting great things for Fundora too.
“She knows how to use her height and reach,” said Yuriko Miyata, famed Japanese journalist who covers women’s boxing extensively. “She fights strong on the outside as well as inside.”
Fundora stands 5’9” tall and weighs under 112 pounds. She almost always has a distinct height and reach advantage. Against Mexico’s Arellano, she will be eight inches taller when they stand next to each other.
For this fight Fundora trained primarily in South El Monte, a small suburban city located 15 miles outside downtown Los Angeles. Normally, she trains in the desert town Coachella, but temperatures soar well above 110 degrees this time of year.
Southern California’s Ben Lira trains both Sebastian Fundora and Gabriela Fundora. He’s known as one of the best technical trainers in the boxing business not just in California, but in the world. He’s also developed many top female fighters since the 1990s.
Lira sees greatness in her.
“She’s only going to get better,” said Lira who mentored Mariana “Barby” Juarez back in the early 2000s. “Gabby listens to instructions perfectly. But she has a hard time finding sparring partners. They just give up.”
Recently, Fundora found a willing partner in Japan’s legendary Naoko Fujioka, a five-division world champion who also trains with Ben Lira.
“They both got good work,” said Lira. “It’s really difficult to find people to spar Gabby and Naoko is one of the few able to give her work.”
Fundora has completed her preparation and now awaits her showdown on Saturday against Arellano. Its for a regional title and a solid step for the Southern California flyweight to make a statement in the famous Dignity Health Sports Park prize ring.
Many careers have been jumpstarted by riveting wins on the same stage.
Seniesa Returns
Considered one of the sport’s most exciting and talented fighters, Seniesa “Super Bad” Estrada finally returns to action on November 12, at the Palm Casino in Las Vegas. ESPN will televise the Top Rank fight card.
East L.A.’s Estrada (22-0, 9 Kos) holds the WBA minimumweight world title and will defend it against Argentina’s Jazmin Villarino (6-1-2). It’s Estrada’s first fight in nearly a year after inactivity due to contract negotiations.
Now that the business side is completed, the quick-fisted Estrada finally returns to the prize ring. Her last match was a four-round destruction of Maria Santizo that ended in a knockout.
Now 30 years old, Estrada is entering her prime years and also won the WBO light flyweight title that has since been vacated and given to Argentina’s Evelin Bermudez.
Scotney and Courtney
This Saturday in London, a super bantamweight showdown pits Ellie Scotney (5-0) against EBU titlist Mary Romero (8-2) of Spain on the Matchroom Boxing card. Interestingly, on the same card will be former world titlist Shannon Courtenay fighting Gemma Ruegg. DAZN will stream the card.
This is Courtenay’s first fight since losing the title a year ago to Jamie Mitchell first on the scale, then in the prize ring.
Perhaps the winners will face each other down the road.
Oct. 15
One more week until the all-women fight card in London takes place featuring Claressa Shields versus Savannah Marshall; and Mikaela Mayer versus Alycia Baumgardner. ESPN and SKY will televise the Top Rank and Boxxer card on Saturday Oct. 15.
Other notable participants are Ginny Fuchs, Sarah Liegmann, Ebonie Jones, and Shannon Ryan.
More Fight News
Argentina
Maira Moneo (11-1) won by unanimous decision after 10 rounds versus Yamila Reynoso (12-12-3) on Saturday Oct. 1. The South American lightweight title fight was held in Brandsen.
On Saturday Oct. 8, flyweights Romina Sosa (2-1-4) and Micaela Cuello (0-1-1) meet four rounds at Carmen de Areco.
Australia
On Saturday Oct. 8, super featherweights Tywarna Campbell (2-0-1) and Jessica Adams (1-1-1) meet eight rounds for the Australian title at Newcastle. Also, featherweights Shanell Dargan (1-0-1) and Ayisha Abied (1-5) meet five rounds; super bantamweights Ashleigh Sims (0-1-1) and Sarah Watt (1-2-1) meet five rounds; featherweights Amber Amelia (1-1) and Danni Mace (0-1) meet four rounds; and bantamweights Tylisha Turner (0-0) and Briana Harrison (0-0) meet four rounds.
Czech Republic
On Saturday Oct. 8. Flyweights Alexas Kubicki (3-0) and Xenia Jorneac (10-5) meet eight rounds at Brno.
Germany
On Saturday Oct. 8, lightweights Beke Bas (16-0) and Marisa Nunez (8-11-3) meet 10 rounds for a regional title at Detmold. Also, super featherweights Leonie Geibel (13-0-2) and Fatuma Yazidu (19-7-1) meet eight rounds.
On Saturday Oct. 8, super bantamweights Nina Meinke (13-3) and Karina Szmalenberg 14-53-4) meet six rounds at Falkensee.
Japan
Atomweights Megumi Watanabe (2-0-1) and Natsuki Yamada (0-1-2) fought to a draw after four rounds on Monday Oct. 3. The atomweight contest took place at Tokyo. Also, featherweights Yukiko Ijuin (0-0-1) and Mika Yagio (2-2-1) fought to a draw after four rounds.
Mexico
Asley Gonzalez (15-2) was declared the winner by decision after 10 rounds against Lourdes Juarez (34-3) on Saturday Oct. 1. The WBC super flyweight world title fight took place at Tepic, Nayarit.
Tania Enriquez (18-0) knocked out Mayelis Altamar (16-4-2) in the first round on Friday Sept. 30. The light flyweight bout took place in Tijuana. Enriquez is the younger sister of former world champion Kenia Enriquez.
Poland
Justyna Walas (3-0) knocked out Nana Chakhvashvili (7-19) in the second round on Saturday Oct. 1. The middleweight fight took place at Lublin.
South Africa
Monica Mkandla (3-0) defeated Mitchell Mubaya (0-2-2) by decision after four rounds on Sunday Oct. 2. The featherweight fight was held in Johannesburg.
On Sunday Oct. 9, super bantamweights Matshidiso Mokebisi (16-10-1) and Monalisa Takane (4-0) meet 10 rounds for a regional title at Gqeberha.
Thailand
Wassana Kamdee (6-7) knocked out Panidda Pachai (0-3) in the second round on Friday Sept. 30. The light flyweight bout took place at Bangkok. Also, Ploypailin Palatsrichuai (1-2) knocked out Parika Pachai (0-2) in the third round of a light flyweight bout. Plus, Nitinart Plabplerng (1-0) beat Panida Chatluang (4-4) by decision in a minimumweight fight.
Turkey
On Friday Oct. 7, super welterweights Dilara Yucel (10-0) and Grace Mwakamele (6-3) meet 10 rounds for the UBO title at Turkiye.
United Kingdom
Sylwia Doligala (1-1) won by decision after four rounds versus Jamileth Vallejos (1-8-2) on Saturday Oct. 1. The super flyweight bout took place at Oldham, England.
Kirsty Hill (2-0) defeated Beccy Ferguson (2-5) by decision after six rounds on Saturday Oct. 1. The lightweight contest was held at Stoke-On-Trent, England.
On Friday Oct. 7, super flyweights Lauren Parker (6-1-1) and Esmeralda Gaona (7-4-1) meet 10 rounds for a regional title at Rotherham, England.
On Saturday Oct. 8, super bantamweights Ellie Scotney (5-0) and Mary Romero (8-2) meet 10 rounds for a regional title at London, England. Also, flyweights Chloe Watson (3-0) and Nancy Franco (19-17-2) meet six rounds; and bantamweights Shannon Courtenay (7-2) and Gemma Ruegg (5-4) meet six rounds.
USA
Stevie Morgan (3-0) won by decision after four rounds versus Kim Colbert (3-24) on Saturday Oct. 1. The lightweight bout was held in Memphis, Tenn.
On Friday Oct. 7, super flyweights Devany Cuevas (2-1) and Indeya Smith (4-5-2) meet four rounds at San Antonio, Texas.
On Saturday Oct. 8, flyweights Gabriela Fundora (8-0) and Nancy Arellano (9-1) meet 10 rounds for a regional title at Carson, California. Showtime may televise.
On Saturday Oct. 8, lightweights Iranda Torres (13-7-1) and Destiny Jones (2-1) meet six rounds at San Antonio, Texas.
Venezuela
Yairineth Altuve (14-4) won by knockout over Kairuan Montenegro (3-13) in the second round on Friday Sept. 30. The light flyweight bout was held in Caracas.