Argentina Roars Into Action with Marcela Acuna, Evelin Bermudez and More News
By David A. Avila
It’s not official, but Marcela “La Tigresa” Acuna could be retiring or has retired after defeating Natalia Alderete by decision last week.
Argentina’s Acuna has been the face of her country’s female boxing movement since making her debut by fighting Christy Martin back in December 1997. She lost. Then she returned to the prize ring and fought Lucia Rijker. She lost again.
No other fighter can say their first two prize fights came against two future Hall of Fame fighters in Martin and Rijker. Then she returned to her country and engaged in Argentina’s first sanctioned female professional contest on April 8, 2001. It opened the door to hundreds of other women in Argentina.
Acuna has faced many of the best fighters of her era including Alicia Ashley, Yazmin Rivas, Jackie Nava, Melissa Hernandez, Yesica Marcos, and Daniela Bermudez among others. She has gathered several world titles along the way in the super bantamweight division.
If Acuna is retiring, let it be known that she is among the best to ever lace up gloves.
More Argentina
A light flyweight clash of meteoric proportions took place as Argentina’s Evelin Bermudez won by unanimous decision against Mexico’s Tania Enriquez after 10 rounds to regain the WBO and IBF world titles.
It was closer than the scores given.
But that’s what happens when you go to Argentina for a world title fight. They tend to mail in their scores ahead of time. Mexico does the same.
Bermudez has a straight-ahead style that services her powerful right cross. She loves that punch and delivers it with conviction from a number of angles.
Enriquez, a southpaw, had a reach and height advantage and used it effectively. She also has punishing lefts to the body and a check right hook that was deadly accurate.
Both fighters are tall for the 108-pound weight class and that proved a problem for Bermudez. Most times she is the taller fighter and needed six rounds to figure out a better way to attack. The younger sister of Daniela Bermudez was able to make adjustments to her attack with more lefts. That stalled Enriquez a few rounds until she made adjustments by focusing back on the body.
Body shots from Enriquez seemed to paralyze Bermudez a few times. But the Argentina fighter was resilient and determined to slug it out. That proved to convince the judges she was the victor with scores of 97-93 twice and 96-94.
It was an entertaining fight and showed these two women to be the new Top Guns of the light flyweight division.
Bermudez showed intense determination to walk through body shots that would have stopped a normal human being. Now she has two world titles to prove worthy of being a world champion again.
Katy Taylor vs Chantelle Cameron and More on May 20
Finally.
After weeks of social media lighting up the waves with Katy Taylor versus Chantelle Cameron talk before it actually became official, last Saturday during a Matchroom Boxing card in Liverpool, England, the official announcement finally was made by promoter Eddie Hearn on DAZN.
Undisputed lightweight world champion Taylor fights undisputed super lightweight world champion Harper on May 20, at 3Arena in Dublin, Ireland. DAZN will stream the Matchroom Boxing card live.
And then it was announced this week Terri Harper will defend the WBA super welterweight title against former welterweight world champion Cecilia Braekhus on the Taylor-Cameron card.
“I’m delighted to announce the first undercard fight for what will be one of the greatest nights of boxing in Irish history on Saturday May 20 – and what a fight!” said Matchroom Sport Chairman Hearn. “Two-weight World Champion Terri Harper gets the biggest fight of her life as she makes the first defense of her WBA super-welterweight world title against former pound-for-pound No.1 and undisputed welterweight ruler Cecilia Braekhus.
Harper recently defeated Hannah Rankin to win the super welterweight title after jumping up several weight divisions from the super featherweight ranks. This will be her first title defense as a super welterweight.
“This fight has been a long time coming but it will be worth the wait to be on such an amazing card,” said Harper. “All eyes around the world will be watching that night and I want to show everyone who Terri Harper is.”
Braekhus recently returned to action after 21 months of ring inactivity and now is poised to challenge for a second division world title.
“I’m very excited to challenge Terri Harper for the WBA 154lb. world title on this tremendous card, my first time fighting in Ireland,” said Braekhus. “I’ve spent my entire career facing the toughest challenges and this fight is another chapter.”
More Fight News
Argentina
Ayelen Granadino (8-1-4) defeated Aixa Adema (5-10-5) by unanimous decision after 10 rounds on Saturday March 11. The South American flyweight title fight took place at Los Polvorines.
Lightweights Maria Ines Ferreyra (5-0-1) and Gisela Luna (2-6-1) fought to a draw after six rounds on Saturday March 11. The lightweight match was held in Merlo.
Light flyweights Macarena Godoy (0-1-1) and Ludmila Techena (0-0-1) fought to a draw after four rounds on Saturday March 11. The light flyweight bout took place at Valentin Alsina.
Evelin Bermudez (18-1-1) defeated Tania Enriquez (20-1) by decision after 10 rounds on Friday March 10. The WBO and IBF world light flyweight title match was held in Buenos Aires.
Marcela Acuna (52-9-2) defeated Natalia Alderete (4-11) by decision after eight rounds on Friday March 10. The featherweight fight took place at San Carlos de Bariloche and is allegedly Acuna’s last pro match.
On Saturday March 18, flyweights Yairineth Altuve (14-4) and Gisela Quintanilla (4-1-1) meet six rounds at Roldan.
Australia
Shanell Dargan (2-1-2) defeated Courtney Martin (1-1) by decision after four rounds on Sunday March 12. The featherweight match was held in Sydney.
On Wednesday March 15, super flyweights Mai Soliman (1-1) and Sarah Higginson (4-2-1) meet four rounds at Sydney.
On Friday March 17, bantamweights Mariah Turner (0-0) and Callie Ryan (0-1) meet four rounds at Brisbane.
On Friday March 17, featherweights Erini Ramirez (1-0-1) and Jaala Tomat 0-2-1) meet four rounds at Sunshine. Also, super featherweights Stephanie Lee (0-0) and Audrey Mosig (0-0) meet four rounds.
On Saturday March 18, light heavyweights Rhi Arnold (0-0) and Che Kenneally (0-0) meet four rounds at Geelong.
Belgium
Femke Hermans (15-4) knocked out Katarina Vistica (3-25) in the fifth round on Saturday March 11. The middleweight fight was held at Hainaut.
Canada
On Thursday March 16, super lightweights Jessica Camara (10-3) and Karla Zamora (9-9-1) meet 10 rounds at Laval. Also, bantamweights Amanda Galle (7-0-1) and Lorena Cruz (4-2) meet eight rounds; and super bantamweights Caroline Veyre (2-0) and Anaelle Angerville (5-1-1) meet six rounds.
On Saturday March 18, featherweights Vanessa Bradford (6-4-2) and Erika Hernandez (6-7-1) meet 10 rounds for a regional title at Enoch. Also, lightweights Jordan Dobie (1-0) and Milagros Hernandez (0-4) meet four rounds.
On Saturday March 18, super bantamweights Bree Howling (4-0) and Lilliana Borquez (3-3-2) meet six rounds at Nova Scotia.
Ecuador
On Saturday March 18, super flyweights Jhosep Vizcaino (10-10) and Estefania Alvarado (2-3-1) meet six rounds at Quito.
France
Lauren Price (3-0) defeated Naomi Mannes (6-2) by unanimous decision after eight rounds on Saturday March 11. The welterweight contest was held in Paris.
Germany
Sarah Liegmann (7-0) knocked out Diana Kulinova (4-6) in the second round on Saturday March 11. The featherweight fight took place at Cologne. Also, super welterweight Farina Roemling (2-0) defeated Sonia Klos (1-8) by majority decision after four rounds.
Japan
On Thursday March 16, minimumweights Mayumi Nakano (2-1) and Hamburg Hiroko (2-2) meet four rounds at Tokyo. Also, Megumi Watanabe (2-0-1) and Kanae Maehara (2-1) meet four rounds; Sazanami Valu (1-0) and Mana Kawaguchi (1-1) meet four rounds; Reiko Mori (1-2) and Mitsuki Ohashi (1-0) meet four rounds; Shoko Saito (0-0) and Aira Balboa (0-1) meet four rounds; flyweights Mika Yagio (2-2-1) and Hanako Adams (2-2-1) meet four rounds; and Masako Numakara (0-2) and Tomoka Ota (0-0) meet four rounds.
On Sunday March 19, super lightweights Ayumi Tanaka (0-3) and Ako Nakamura (0-1) meet four rounds at Munakata.
Mexico
On Saturday March 18, flyweights Gloria Gallardo (12-2-2) and Edith De Jesus (7-20) meet 10 rounds for a regional title at Rosarito Beach.
New Zealand
Lani Daniels (7-2-2) beat Sequita Hemingway (1-3) by decision after eight rounds on Friday March 10. The Australian heavyweight title fight took place at Auckland.
Panama
On Saturday March 18, super flyweights Nataly Delgado (10-7-1) and Paola Rincon (6-0) meet six rounds at Panama City. Also, super lightweights Sari Anti Gabriel (3-1) and Monica Henao (5-3-5) meet six rounds.
South Africa
Bonita van Jaarsveld (6-5-2) won by decision after six rounds against Pamela Matunga (0-1-1) on Sunday March 12. The super lightweight bout took place at Hammanskraal.
Spain
Jessica Cisneros (1-0) beat Eliana Medina (0-2) by decision after six rounds on Saturday March 11. The lightweight bout was held at Malaga.
United Kingdom
Johanna Wonyou (8-0) knocked out Egine Kayange (6-4) in the fourth round on Sunday March 12. The bantamweight title match was held at Maidstone, England.
Beccy Ferguson (3-9) defeated Lianne Bush (3-2) by decision after six rounds on Saturday March 11. The super featherweight bout was held at Leicester, England.
Rhiannon Dixon (8-0) knocked out Vicky Wilkinson (5-1-1) in the sixth round on Saturday March 11. The Commonwealth lightweight title match was held at Liverpool.
Elizabeth Oshoba (4-0) defeated Kirsty Hill (3-1) by decision after six rounds on Friday March 10. The featherweight bout took place at London.
Hannah Rankin (13-6) beat Logan Holler (9-3-1) by decision after 10 rounds on Friday March 10. Welterweight Kandi Wyatt (11-4) won by split decision after 10 rounds against Kirstie Bavington (7-3-2) on Friday March 10. The regional welterweight title match was held at Wolverhampton, England. Also, Katie Healy (6-0) beat Katherine Quintana (0-18-1).
On Friday March 17, super lightweights Nicola Barke (3-0) and Laura Reoyo (1-0) meet six rounds at Brentwood, England. Also, super lightweights Marija Malenica (2-0) and Bojana Libiszewska (7-52) meet six rounds.
On Saturday March 18, super flyweights Jasmina Zapotoczna (2-0) and Svitlana Vasylevska (2-2) meet six rounds at Oldham, England. Also, flyweights Sylwia Doligala (1-1) and Inna Statkevych (4-3) meet four rounds.
On Saturday March 18, light flyweights Maisey Courtney (1-0) and Buchra El Quaissi (3-4-3) meet four rounds at Newcastle, England.
USA
LeAnna Cruz (4-0) defeated Devany Cuevas Torres (2-3-1) by decision after six rounds on Saturday March 11. The flyweight match took place in Philadelphia. Also, welterweight Oshae Jones (2-0) beat Dahianna Santana (40-15) by decision after six rounds.
Sarah Click (1-2-1) beat Liz Humphries (0-2-1) by majority decision after four rounds on Saturday March 11. The super lightweight fight was held at Springfield, Mass.
Danielle Bennett (7-1) won by unanimous decision after six rounds versus Tonia Cravens (2-8-2) on Friday March 10. The featherweight bout took place at Kansas City, Missouri.
Mikenna Tansley (7-2) won by decision over Amy Salinas (4-4) in a eight round fight on Friday March 10. The bantamweight title fight took place at Bethlehem, Pa.