Another Look at Cameron and McCaskill’s Battle, Seniesa Estrada, Natasha Jonas and More
By David A. Avila
As Chantelle Cameron was hailed the winner over Jessica McCaskill to become undisputed super lightweight champion in an entertaining battle of wits and determination, it signaled another step forward for women’s boxing.
It also signaled that the two-minute round should be eradicated for good.
Cameron and McCaskill’s battle between two elite prizefighters was yet another example of how far women have advanced in the finer points of professional boxing. It was not just brawling and firing wild blows in 120 seconds, it was strategy, precision and changes throughout the 10 rounds by both Cameron and McCaskill at Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates last Saturday. A rematch between Cameron and McCaskill is a possibility.
One more minute a round would have been even more exciting.
Very few in the boxing world adore the two-minute round. Judges especially prefer longer rounds to make it easier to differentiate which fighter won the round. A mere 120 seconds is simply not enough time. It becomes very hazy to determine the winner.
Several top-notch judges I spoke with, who requested to be anonymous, made it clear they do not like judging women fights solely because of the two-minute round. But any changes will have to come from promoters who seem to prefer two-minutes. They want the female fights over quickly, not understanding that fans have become more enamored with women’s pro boxing.
Promoters are stodgy people. They are cemented in their old ways and refuse anything new unless proven wrong.
If you analyzed the battle between McCaskill and Cameron it was a fight that saw changes in tactics and approaches. Another minute could have added even more to the battle between pound for pound fighters.
Just last month two other elite fighters Claressa Shields and Savannah Marshall put on a high velocity performance that saw the heavy-handed power slugger Marshall adapt to Shields off-the-charts hand-speed and precision by corralling her against the ropes. Then, we saw Shields show how to fend off attacks against the ropes with slipping and counters. It was all high-level stuff that was foreign to women’s boxing save a few fighters a decade ago.
The women’s fight game has advanced to another level. Two-minute rounds do an injustice to fans and fighters. It’s time to make all fights three-minute rounds.
Big Hitters on Saturday
Perhaps the best fighter under 126 pounds, Seniesa “Super Bad” Estrada returns on Saturday Nov.12, and faces Argentina’s Jazmin Gala Villarino at Las Vegas, Nevada. ESPN will televise the WBA minimumweight world title fight.
This will be Estrada’s first match fighting for Top Rank after almost a year has passed since her last fight when she knocked out then undefeated Maria Santizo. At that time, she was fighting under Golden Boy Promotions. Since then, she moved over to Top Rank and becomes the second female fighter signed with the Las Vegas-based organization along with Mikaela Mayer.
Estrada utilizes an unorthodox style mixed with superior hand-speed and reflexes and is one of the few women that can score a knockout with a single blow. She established the record of knocking out an opponent in seven seconds a few years ago. Millions have watched that knockout on Youtube.com.
Is there anyone with a better left hook than Estrada?
On the same day, in the United Kingdom, two super welterweight world titlists clash as WBO, WBC titlist Natasha Jonas and IBF titlist Marie Eve Dicaire meet on Saturday in Manchester, England. Sky Sports will televise the meeting between southpaw champions.
Dicaire, 36, fights out of Canada and utilizes her agility and speed to maneuver in and out of danger. She prefers to fight at a distance while using a jab and occasional combinations. Her only loss came to Claressa Shields. Join the crowd. The Canadian fighter is not afraid to mix it up as she showed in her fight with Shields.
Jonas, 38, prefers to fight as a counter-puncher and holds her ground. She has power and quickness and an extensive amateur background. The British fighter already has battled Katie Taylor, Terri Harper at lightweight and moved up several weight divisions to defeat Chris Namus and Patricia Berghult.
It looks to be an outstanding match between contrasting styles.
More Fight News
Argentina
Carla Merino (10-2) defeated Roxana Bermudez (4-7-2) by unanimous decision after 10 rounds on Saturday Nov. 5. The South American super flyweight title fight took place at Junin. Also, Andreas Sanchez (9-4-1) beat Daniela Molina (2-10-3) in a light flyweight bout.
Maria Baumstarh (6-6-1) won by knockout in the fourth round over Camila Avaca (2-3-2) on Friday Nov. 4. The light flyweight bout took place at Buenos Aires.
On Friday Nov. 11, lightweights Yamila Belen (14-5-1) and Pamela Benavidez (10-11-3) meet 10 rounds for the Argentine title at Cutral Co.
On Saturday Nov. 12, bantamweights Laura Belen (3-3-1) and Carmen Bratschi (0-5-1) meet four rounds at San Patricio del Chanar.
Australia
Taylah Robertson (7-1) won by unanimous decision after 10 rounds versus Chaoz Minowa (7-4) on Saturday Nov. 5. The super flyweight title fight was held at Fortitude Valley.
On Saturday Nov. 12, welterweights Jamie Edenden (2-1) and Enja Prest (2-2) meet eight rounds for the Australian title at Revesby. Also, super flyweights Sarah Watt (2-2) and Brianna Harrison (1-0) meet six rounds.
Belgium
Amy Naert (7-1) won by split decision after 10 rounds against Ivanka Ivanova (5-20-3) on Tuesday Nov. 1. The Belgian flyweight title fight took place at West Vlaanderen.
Canada
Jennifer Williams (1-0) won by decision over Karla Soria (1-1) after four rounds on Friday Nov. 4. The welterweight fight took place at Brantford.
On Saturday Nov. 12, super bantamweights Erika Hernandez (5-7-1) and River Tucker (0-0) meet four rounds at Burnaby. Also, lightweights Bonnie Hunter (3-1) and Jordan Dobie (0-0) meet four rounds.
On Saturday Nov. 12, flyweights Nayeli Verde (4-5-2) and Sara Haghighat (0-0) meet eight rounds at Brampton.
Colombia
On Saturday Nov. 12, super bantamweights Stevie Morgan (3-0) and Carolina Mejia (1-3) meet six rounds at Medellin.
France
Lydie Bialic (2-1) won by split decision after six rounds against Sheila Garcia (0-2) on Saturday Nov. 5. The bantamweight match was held in Auch.
Germany
Nina Meinke (15-3) defeated Edith Matthysse (17-13-1) by unanimous decision after 10 rounds on Saturday Nov. 5. The GBU and WIBF featherweight title fight was held at Hamburg. Also, Dilar Kisikyol (8-0) won by decision after 10 rounds versus Eva Hubmayer (5-3) to win the GBU and WIBF lightweight titles.
On Friday Nov. 11, super welterweights Connie Chan (2-3) and Stephanie Mfongwot (1-2) meet six rounds at Surfer’s Paradise.
Italy
On Saturday Nov. 12, lightweights Martina Righi (2-1) and Alessia Vitanza (2-1) meet 10 rounds for the Italian title at Toscana.
India
Manisha Satbir (1-0) defeated Simran Kaur (0-3) by decision after four rounds on Monday Oct. 31. The bantamweight bout took place at Buana Lakhu. Also, Mamta Singh (1-0) beat Jyoti Shamsher (0-2) in a bantamweight bout; and super bantamweights Shalinee (1-0-1) and Teena Panchal (0-0-1) drew.
On Saturday Nov. 12, light flyweights Griselda Torollari (0-1) and Esma Keskinkilic (0-0) meet four rounds at Gjilan. Also, lightweights Xhoana Bylyshi (0-0) and Gulay Bozdogan (0-3) meet four rounds.
Japan
Mizuki Matsuoka (1-4-1) knocked out Sawako Fukuhara (0-4) in the first round on Wednesday Nov. 2. The atomweight bout took place at Tokyo. Also, Nodoka Furukawa (1-0) beat Federica Boni (1-1-2) by decision after four rounds in a featherweight match.
New Zealand
On Saturday Nov. 12, super lightweights Tricia Mackenzie (0-1) and Khazmin Gough (0-0) meet four rounds at Hawera.
United Arab Emirates
Chantelle Cameron (17-0) won by unanimous decision after 10 rounds versus Jessica McCaskill (12-3) on Saturday Nov. 5. The battle for undisputed super lightweight championship took place at Abu Dhabi, with Cameron winning the WBC, WBA, WBO, IBF, IBO super lightweight world titles
United Kingdom
Monique Bux (1-1) beat Ester Konecna (2-19-1) by decision after four rounds on Saturday Nov. 5. The super middleweight fight took place at Cardiff, Wales.
On Saturday Nov. 12, super welterweights Natasha Jonas (12-2-1) and Marie Eve Dicaire (18-1) meet 10 rounds for the IBF, WBC, WBO world titles at Manchester, England.
USA
Gloria Munguilla (1-0) won by majority decision after four rounds versus JoAnna Espinosa (0-1) on Thursday Nov. 3. The super flyweight bout took place in Montebello, California.
On Saturday Nov. 12, super bantamweights Shelly Barnett (5-7-2) and Moni Trejo (2-3-1) meet eight rounds in Chicago, Ill.
On Saturday Nov. 12, minimumweights Seniesa Estrada (22-0) and Jazmin Gala Villarino (6-1-2) meet 10 rounds for the WBA world title at Las Vegas, Nevada. ESPN will show the Top Rank card.
Uzbekistan
On Thursday Nov. 10, super featherweights Madinabonu Sunnatova (0-0) and Makhliyo Khabibullaeva (0-0) meet four rounds at Tashkent.