Amanda Serrano and Stacked Show One Week Away in NYC
New York Kind of Show at Madison Square Garden and More Boxing News
By David A. Avila
Just over a week remains until a firestorm erupts in Manhattan as multiple world champions such as Amanda Serrano and Alycia Baumgardner arrive to showcase their fighting skills at Madison Square Garden.
It’s the best-looking card in years. Literally.
The women participating on this talented boxing card could easily change to modeling with ease. But their talent with the boxing gloves cannot be denied. All of the featured female prizefighters are superior prizefighters. It all happens on Feb. 4, at New York City, the Matchroom Boxing event will be streamed on DAZN.
New York-based Serrano, for those not aware of her Puerto Rican heritage and vast talent, meets Mexico’s Erika Cruz who surprised many when she toppled long-time champion Jelena Mrdjenovich twice. They will meet to decide the undisputed featherweight championship.
Puerto Rico and Mexico’s champions when matched together equal gasoline to fire. Historically some of the most explosive wars in boxing history took place between these two fighting nations. Though rarely women, the men over the past 60 years have contributed memorable wars such as Felix “Tito” Trinidad and Yory Boy Campos; Salvador Sanchez and Wilfredo Gomez; and Miguel Cotto and Antonio Margarito.
Those are just a few.
In the battle for undisputed super lightweight championship, America’s Alycia Baumgardner meets France’s Elhem Mekhaled. Though it was expected to be Korea’s Hyun Mi Choi, that fighter was eventually stripped by the WBA. Now we have Baumgardner and Mekhaled fighting for the vacant WBA title.
Baumgardner holds all the super featherweight titles except the WBA. If she wins she becomes undisputed super featherweight world champion.
Mekhaled suffered her only loss as a pro last year in May against former champion Delfine Persoon. It was the only time facing a top tier fighter and she suffered a defeat. Is she ready for Baumgardner who defeated Mikaela Mayer in a seesaw battle last October. That win added the WBO and IBF titles to her collection of title belts.
Two other female fights are scheduled and both are expected to be competitive.
Great Britain’s Ramla Ali has blossomed into a more pressure style fighter and meets Australia’s undefeated Avril Mathie in a super bantamweight title match. Both fighters have been training in America the past several years. Both are tall 122-pound fighters in their mid-30s. It’s seemingly a toss-up fight.
A fourth female match pits Australia’s Skye Nicolson against Spain’s Tania Alvarez in a featherweight clash between two distinct fighting styles. Nicolson has the speed and fleet footwork but has been working on her power. Alvarez has a pressure style but not the footwork and speed. But her asset seems to be timing.
Get your tickets if you live near Manhattan. It looks to be a sensational show. There’s nothing like watching prize fights in person. Even television does not come close to capturing the excitement and energy of a good boxing card. This is a good one.
More Fight News
Argentina
Gisela Luna (2-6) defeated Nicole Morales (0-2-2) by unanimous decision after six rounds on Saturday Jan. 21. The super featherweight bout took place at Villa Dominico.
Laura Belen (5-3-1) won by unanimous decision after six rounds versus Maria Echenique (1-4) on Friday Jan. 20. The super flyweight bout was held at Neuquen.
On Saturday Jan. 28, minimumweights Jennifer Meza (6-3) and Johana Zuniga (16-4) meet 10 rounds for a regional title at Galvez.
Canada
On Saturday Jan. 28, middleweights Melinda Watpool (1-0) and Sofia Cervantes (0-1) meet four rounds at Pickering.
Colombia
Jenny Tulcan (3-0) knocked out Laura Patarroyo (0-2-1) in the second round on Sunday Jan. 22. The lightweight match was held in Tolima. Also, super middleweight Yelianyi Fernandez knocked out Beatriz Castrillon (0-1) in the third round.
France
On Friday Jan. 27, super flyweights Mailys Gangloff (7-3) and Bethy Franco (6-2-1) meet eight rounds at Aix les Bains.
Japan
On Friday Jan. 27, super flyweights Moeko Okada (1-1) and Moeko Amo (1-1) meet four rounds in Tokyo. Also, atomweights Hamburg Hiroko (1-2) and Emily Abe (1-2) meet four rounds.
On Sunday Jan. 29, light flyweights Ayaka Yoshida (0-0) and Akane Kuroda (0-0) meet four rounds at Kyoto. Also, bantamweights Miwa Tanaka (0-0) and Kaho Munetoshi (0-0) meet four rounds.
Nigeria
On Saturday Jan. 28, bantamweights Taiye Kodjo (1-4) and Abosede Obisanya (7-0-1) meet six rounds at Lagos.
Panama
Yaremis Reluz (1-3) won by majority decision after four rounds versus Maribela Smith (3-4-1) on Saturday Jan. 21. The super lightweight bout took place at Panama City.
Spain
On Saturday Jan. 28, super bantamweights Karla Merida (4-1-1) and Marian Herreria (3-1) meet eight rounds at Barcelona.
Thailand
Thanchanok Phanan (14-5) knocked out Arisa Camna (0-3) in the second round on Sunday Jan. 22. The featherweight bout took place at Pathum Thani. Also, minimumweight Phunnakran Karnjanawong (1-0) knocked out Rawiwan Saikrajang (1-5) in the third round.
Turkey
On Sunday Jan. 29, super lightweights Asude Hilal Bas (0-1) and Adel Khuri (0-2) meet four rounds at Turkiye.
USA
Stevie Jane Coleman (4-1) won by majority decision after four rounds against Micheale Nogue (2-3) on Saturday Jan. 21. The lightweight fight was held at Uncasville, Conn.
Super lightweights Arika Skoog (1-0-1) and Dupe Akinola (0-0-1) fought to a split draw after four rounds on Saturday Jan. 21. The match was held at Dorchester, Mass.
Christina Cruz (4-0) beat Amy Salinas (4-3) by unanimous decision after eight rounds on Friday Jan. 20. The flyweight match was held in Kissimmee, Florida. Also, Jasmine Artiga (10-0-1) defeated Ashley Sciscente (6-3) in a eight round super flyweight match. Lightweight Kirin Tapia (1-0) won by decision over Clarice Morales (0-1-1) after four rounds.
On Friday Jan. 27, bantamweights Stefanie Cohen (2-1-1) and Kedra Bradley (1-5-1) meet four rounds at Montebello, Calif.
On Friday Jan. 27, super lightweights Shayna Foppiano (5-0-1) and Sarah Click (0-1-1) meet six rounds at Windham, Maine.
On Saturday Jan. 28, super bantamweights Alicia Pike (1-0) and River Tucker (0-1) meet four rounds at Lowell, Mass.
Zanizibar
On Friday Jan. 27, lightweights Fatuma Yazidu (19-9-1) and Halima Bandola (1-3-1) meet six rounds at Zanzibar. Also, flyweights Zulfa Iddy (0-0-1) and Sara Alex (1-1) meet six rounds.