Heather Hardy vs Taynna Cardoso in Manhattan and More

Heather Hardy, Bantamweight Title Fight and More Female Fight News

 

By David A. Avila

(Photo by MMA Sucka)

Heather Hardy returns to a Manhattan prize ring and this time without longtime trainer Hector Roca who passed away in early January.

Together they had climbed the boxing ladder to a world title. Hardy cannot forget the journeys they took together in the gym toward accomplishing that goal.

“Very grateful to DiBella Entertainment and Boxing Insider for going out of their way to ensure me a slot on this show that will be honoring my late trainer, mentor, and papa, Hector Roca,” said Hardy. “The day before he died, we sat in his hospital room, me on the corner of the bed. He put his hand over mine and said ‘baby, they all think you past your prime, but you didn’t hit it yet. This is going to be your year’.”

On Thursday, Feb. 23, Hardy (23-2, 4 Kos) walks into the boxing ring and faces Brazil’s Taynna Cardoso (5-1) at Sony Hall in New York City. The DiBella Entertainment and Boxing Insider are promoting the fight card at Times Square.

Hardy, 41, has only two losses and one of those against boxing’s most feared world champion Amanda Serrano. The other loss, and more recent, was to very talented Jessica Camara in a division two weight classes higher.

No longer a featherweight, Hardy meets Brazil’s Cardoso who primarily fights at the super featherweight division. She’s also a counterpuncher who prefers catching foes with a straight lead right.

Hardy has always been an aggressive type of boxer-puncher and seeks to honor her late great coach Roca, who during his career had mentored Arturo Gatti, Buddy McGirt and others to prominence in the boxing world.

“I’m training hard as always and I’ll be ready and I’m excited to start 2023 off right, here in front of all my NYC fans for papa,” Hardy said.

 

Golden Boy in Indio

Two female bouts were added to the Golden Boy Promotions show headed at Fantasy Springs Casino in Indio, on Thursday Feb. 23.

Minimumweight contender Lorraine Villalobos (5-4) and Katherine Lindenmuth (2-1) meet six rounds in a match set at light flyweight.

In another female fight set at bantamweight, Stefie Cohen (2-1-1) meets Leanne Calderon (1-2-1) in a four-round bout.

 

Bantamweights Clash in Denmark

WBO bantamweight titlist Dina Thorslund defends against Argentina’s Anahi Lopez who is moving up in weight to challenge for the belt.

Thorslund (18-0, 7 Kos) makes a third defense on Saturday Feb. 25, when she clashes with former WBO flyweight titlist Lopez (20-1-1) who is jumping up two weight divisions to compete at Graakjaer Arena in Holstebro, Denmark.

Lopez has a boxing style while Thorslund is more boxer-puncher. A win could lead to a potential showdown with one of the other talented bantamweight world titlists Mexico’s Yulihan Luna; England’s Nina Huges, or Australia’s Ebanie Bridges. Any or all would be sparkling events.

 

Mossely Wins

France’s Estrelle Mossely (11-0, 1 Kos) defeated Anisha Basheel (11-9) to retain the IBO lightweight title on Friday Feb. 17. It was Mossely’s fourth defense of the title. She is a former Olympic gold medalist and the last boxer to defeat Ireland’s Katie Taylor back in 2016 at the Rio Olympics.

 

 

More Fight News

Argentina

Joana Barrios (1-0) won by decision after four rounds versus Tatiana Daglio (3-2) on Saturday Feb. 18. The flyweight bout took place in Merlo. Also, bantamweight Noelia Mendez (1-2) beat Genesis Gambina (1-1) by decision after four rounds.

Maria De Los Angeles (2-0) defeated Priscila Ponce (0-1) by decision after four rounds on Saturday Feb. 18. The lightweight bout was held at Pilar. Also, lightweight Yamila Palacios (0-1-1) fought to a draw with Nicole Ferreyra (0-0-1) after four rounds.

 

Australia

Hayley Adrian (3-0) knocked out Suwanun Antanai (4-8) in the third round on Saturday Feb. 18. The super lightweight bout took place at Carrara.

On Saturday Feb. 25, welterweights Enja Ryan (3-2) and Zoe Putorak (0-1-1) meet eight rounds at Gunnedah for the Australian title.

 

Bangladesh

On Friday Feb. 24, light flyweights Sadia Islam (1-1) and Rumi Aktar (0-1) meet four rounds at Dhaka.

 

Canada

On Saturday Feb. 25, super flyweights Sara Haghighat (1-0) and Mayela Perez (19-24-4) meet 10 rounds at Brampton.

 

Colombia

Eglismar Hernandez (1-0) won by knockout in the third round versus Maria Manrique (0-1) on Saturday Feb. 18. The super welterweight fight took place at Tolima.

Mariela Ortiz (0-0-1) and Carmen Soto (0-0-1) fought to a draw after four rounds on Saturday Feb. 18. The flyweight match was held at Santa Marta.

Destiny Day Owens (6-0) knocked out Vanesa Medrano (1-9-1) in the first round on Wednesday Feb. 15. The super lightweight match was held at Santa Marta.

 

Denmark

On Saturday Feb. 25, bantamweights Dina Thorslund (18-0) and Debora Anahi Lopez (20-1-1) meet 10 rounds for the WBO world title at Holstebro.

 

Finland

Hanna Rousu (2-0) knocked out Monica Stancheva (0-2) in the second round on Saturday Feb. 18. The super middleweight fight was held at Kajaani.

 

France

Estelle Mossely (11-0) defeated Anisha Basheel (11-9) by unanimous decision after 10 rounds on Friday Feb. 17. The IBO lightweight title fight was held at Paris.

On Saturday Feb. 25, flyweights Justine Lallemand (8-2-1) and Snezana Siljkovic (4-13-3) meet six rounds at Charleville.

On Saturday Feb. 25, featherweights Licia Boudersa (18-1-2) and Claudia Ferenczi (20-98-9) meet six rounds at Roubaix.

 

Germany

Ikram Kerwat (12-3) defeated Nana Dokadze (3-16) by unanimous decision after six rounds on Saturday Feb. 18. The super lightweight match was held at Stuttgart.

 

Guatemala

On Saturday Feb. 25, super lightweights Hannah Rose (1-0) and Karla Lara (0-1) meet four rounds at Guatemala City.

 

Hungary

On Friday Feb. 24, welterweights Kinga Magyar (12-4) and Beatriz Aguilar (7-7-1) meet eight rounds in Algyo.

 

Italy

Pamaela Noutcho (4-0) won by first round knockout over Dunja Bocan (0-2) on Friday Feb 17. The lightweight contest took place at Massa.

On Friday Feb. 24, featherweights Anna Brozzi (4-2) and Sheila Martinez (4-3) meet 10 rounds for the EBU title at Rome.

 

Japan

On Sunday Feb. 26, light flyweights Mika Iwakawa (11-6-1) and Ploypailin Palatsrighcuai (2-2) meet six rounds at Kochi.

On Sunday Feb. 26, minimumweights Reika Kawaguchi (2-1-2) and Mikiko Muto (3-6) meet six rounds at Kyoto.

 

Mexico

On Saturday Feb. 25, minimumweights Cecilia Guzman (2-1) and Maria Cortes (3-2-1) meet four rounds at Puebla. Also, lightweights Stephanie Han (2-0) and Estefania Reyes (1-3-1) meet four rounds.

 

Russia

On Tuesday Feb. 21, lightweights Alexandra Ordina (1-0) and Yulia Kutsenko (9-4-1) meet eight rounds for the vacant Russian title at Moscow. Also, super welterweights Yaroslava Yakushina (0-0) and Luiza Davydova (6-4) meet six rounds.

 

Spain

On Friday Feb. 24, super bantamweights Natalia Francesca (3-1) and Eliana Medina (0-0) meet four rounds at Badia del Valles.

 

Tanzania

On Friday Feb. 24, super bantamweights Halima Bandola (1-3-1) and Flora Machela (7-10) meet six rounds at Dar es Salaam.

On Saturday Feb. 25, flyweights Jivunieni Kisarawe (0-0-1) and Jesca Mfinanga (2-1-1) meet six rounds at Dar es Salaam.

On Saturday Feb. 25, super bantamweights Sara Alex (1-1) and Samira Kassim (1-2-1) meet four rounds at Moshi. Also, super flyweights Magreth Nikson (0-1) and Veronica Thomas (2-2) meet four rounds.

 

Thailand

Phunnakran Karnjanawong (2-0) beat Chonthicha Chooma (0-1) by knockout in the second round on Sunday Feb. 19. The atomweight fight was held in Pathum Thani. Also, atomweight Muthita Iamsaard (2-0) knocked out Duangkamon Khunwang (0-1) in the second round; minimumweight Pimchanok Thepjanda (4-1) knocked out Rungnapha Charoensuk (0-2) in the second round; flyweight Arisara Wisetwongsa (3-3) knocked out Kirada Saksitsakul (0-3) in the second round; light flyweight Phanit Yongyut (2-1) knocked out Ratchanee Boonmee (0-2) in the second round.

Nanthika Panyakhid (1-0) beat Irada Supersakon (2-3) on Wednesday Feb. 15. The light flyweight bout was held at Lam Luk Ka. Also, flyweight Wisuta Sririttidet (1-1) knocked out Manatsawee Srithongkham (1-7) in the third round.

On Wednesday Feb. 22, flyweights Sheau Ru Yang (2-0) and Ketsara Jatpukdee (2-0) meet eight rounds at Bangkok for the vacant Thai title.

 

United Kingdom

Hannah Baggeley (2-1) won by decision after four rounds versus Marija Zivkovic (1-12-1) on Saturday Feb. 18. The welterweight bout took place at Manchester, England.

On Friday Feb. 24, super flyweights Gemma Ruegg (5-6) and Eva Cantos (4-12-1) meet six rounds at Bournemouth, England.

 

USA

On Thursday Feb. 23, super featherweights Heather Hardy (23-2) and Taynna Cardoso (5-1) meet eight rounds at New York City.

On Thursday Feb. 23, minimumweights Lorraine Villalobos (5-4) and Katherine Lindenmuth (2-1) meet six rounds at Indio, California. Also, bantamweights Stefanie Cohen (2-1-1) and Leanne Calderon (1-2-1) meet four rounds.

On Saturday Feb. 25, lightweights Iyana Verduzco (0-0) and Jessica Emerick (1-0-1) meet four rounds at College Park, Maryland.