Seniesa Estrada Defends World Titles in Las Vegas and More News

 

(Photo by Al Applerose)

By David A. Avila

In a five-year span Seniesa “Super Bad” Estrada burned a path to stardom and a lofty ranking among the best female fighters in the world pound-for-pound.

It wasn’t easy.

East L.A.’s Estrada (24-0, 9 Kos) is set to prove against Argentina’s Leonela Yudica (19-1-3), that aside from holding the WBC and WBA minimumweight world titles, she’s among the best prizefighters period, when they meet Friday July 28, at Palm Resort Casino. ESPN+ will stream the Top Rank card.

Of all the current elite fighters on various pound for pound lists, Estrada and a few others were not by-products of the Olympics. Their journeys were constant battles with promoters to find a spot on any boxing cards.

Estrada has always had a unique fighting style developed by her trainer Dean Campos. It’s almost the same style conjured for her former stablemate and world champion Sergio “Latin Snake” Mora. There are subtle tweaks and differences, but it works.

Throughout her amateur career, judges outside of the USA did not appreciate unorthodoxy and punished her on score cards. So, she departed to the professional ranks.

As a professional Estrada ran into other problems like finding opponents, finding fight cards to perform and getting paid.

Today with various promoters buying into female boxing, it’s no longer a problem at the elite level for this generation of elite female prizefighting. And little by little more promoters see the benefits of opening up shows for female boxing.

Ever since 2018, Estrada has enjoyed media exposure; first through Golden Boy Promotions, and now through Top Rank. And with the exposure comes money, fame and an army of candidates yearning to meet her in the prize ring.

“I am willing to fight any woman in or around my weight class, and I respect Yudica for accepting the challenge,” Estrada said. “My goal is to become the undisputed champion at minimumweight, but I can’t achieve that goal without defeating Yudica first. She is standing in my way, and I am coming to Las Vegas to make an emphatic statement.”

Argentina’s Yudica is among the candidates anxious for the challenge and she has talent.

Only a few countries in the world have an abundance of talented female fighters willing to challenge European and American fighters. Japan, Mexico and Argentina are three powerhouses when it comes to fighters.

Yudica suffered her only loss a year ago when she lost the IBF flyweight title to Mexico’s Arely Mucino in San Diego. She started slowly but mounted a furious rally against Mucino and lost a close split decision.

“I’m taking this amazing opportunity to show the world what Argentinian fighters are made of. I’m bringing the belts back home to San Juan with me,” said Yudica.

The Argentine fighter has only one knockout win on her ledger but has strength and grit. She gave Mucino a very tough time in the last five rounds, but it was too late.

Seniesa Estrada presents a whole different array of problems for Yudica.

When it comes to prizefighting Estrada knows exactly why fans flock to her fights. She employs an attacking style bent on seeking a knockout. But if that doesn’t work, she can easily slip into different strategies. Rarely has she needed to fight defensively.

Power is her ally.

Despite being only 5’2” in height, she packs big power in both hands. The left hook is her weapon of choice, but I’ve seen her drop much bigger foes with the right. And she’s lightning quick.

“Seniesa Estrada is one of the very best fighters on the planet and is only getting better with every fight,” said Top Rank chairman Bob Arum, who has seen the best perform in the last 60 years.

If all the fighters in the female fight world were magically made the same size and weight, pound for pound Estrada rates with Claressa Shields. The fighter from East L.A. has always had a tremendous boxing IQ and speed to match anyone.

Estrada’s power is the biggest weapon in her arsenal.

Like Will Ferrell says in Anchorman: “If you want to throw down fisticuffs, fine. I’ve got Jack Johnson and Tom O’Leary waiting for you right here.”

That’s Estrada in a nutshell.

 

Amanda and Heather Next Week

Brooklyn rivals Amanda “Real Deal” Serrano and Heather “The Heat” Hardy meet in Texas for round two between the two featherweights.

Undisputed featherweight world champion Serrano (44-2-1, 30 Kos) and former champion Hardy (24-2, 4 Kos) meet next week on August 5, at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. DAZN will stream the pay-per-view card that features Jake Paul versus Nate Diaz.

The first encounter saw Serrano win by decision after 10 rounds in New York City. That was four years ago. Serrano promised Hardy a rematch and the time has come.

 

Female Fight News

Australia

Pam McClelland (3-2-1) defeated Maureen Chand (2-3) by decision after six rounds on Saturday July 22. The lightweight bout took place at Newcastle.

On Wednesday July 26, super welterweights Millicent Agboegbulen (2-1) and Tayla Harris (8-0-1) meet eight rounds for Australian title at Moore Park. Also, super lightweights Ella Boot (3-0) and Annie Thatcher (0-0) meet eight rounds; super featherweights Tywarna Campbell (3-2-1) and Natasha Kurene (1-0) meet six rounds; super featherweights Angel Rushton (3-1) and Jaala Tomat 2-2-1) meet five rounds; and welterweights Jessica Messina (3-0) and Zoe Putorak (0-1-2) meet five rounds.

 

Argentina’

Marcela Acuna (53-9-2) won by unanimous decision after 10 rounds versus Lucrecia Belen (6-5) on Friday July 21. The featherweight regional title match was held at Resistencia.

Maria Mazzarello (4-2) defeated Romina Nunez (1-4) by split decision after four rounds on Friday July 21. The super bantamweight bout took place at Villa Carlos Paz.

On Saturday July 29, super lightweights Yamila Belen (16-6-1) and Marisa Portillo (19-16-3) meet 10 rounds for the Argentine title at Buenos Aires. Also, bantamweights Milagros Rosario (0-0) and Dalma Alaniz (1-0) meet four rounds.

 

Colombia

Jennifer Morales (3-3) knocked out Sasthy Ramirez (1-3) in the first round on Saturday July 22. The light flyweight match was held at Ibague.

On Saturday July 29, bantamweights Veronica Zuluaga (4-1-1) and Carol Tobon (0-0-1) meet six rounds at Barranquilla.

 

Costa Rica

Juliann Rodriguez (8-0) beat Marcela Nieto (6-2-1) by decision after 10 rounds on Friday July 21. The regional bantamweight title fight took place at San Jose.

 

Germany

On Saturday July 29, super middleweights Sara Scheurich (1-0) and Nana Chakhvashili (7-22) meet six rounds at Monheim am Rhein.

 

Italy

On Thursday July 27, bantamweights Giacoma Cordio (2-0-1) and Louise Bart (0-0) meet four rounds at Sicily. Also, featherweights Evelin Camporeale (2-7-1) and Grace Pace (0-1) meet four rounds.

 

Japan

Chiaki Ysaui (2-1) defeated Mamiko Kageyama (0-1) by decision after four rounds on Wednesday July 19. The flyweight fight took place at Tokyo.

On Friday July 28, light flyweights Kagishippo Sachi (2-1) and Miyuki Katsuya (2-3-2) meet four rounds at Tokyo.

On Sunday July 30, light flyweights Xiuli Liang (2-4) and Riho Yoshida (2-0-1) meet four rounds at Kariya.

 

Macedonia

On Saturday July 29, super lightweights Elif Nur Turhan (4-0) and Edith Matthysse (17-14-1) meet 10 rounds for the WBF title at Tetovo.

 

Mexico

Yahaira Espinosa (2-1) beat Venus Verdugo (0-3) by decision after four rounds on Friday July 21. The minimumweight fight took place in Tijuana.

 

Russia

On Friday July 28, featherweights Irina Russkikh (0-0) and Olga Zabavina (0-10) meet four rounds at Petrozavodsk.

 

South Africa

Monica Mkandla (5-0) beat Pamela Matunga (0-2-2) by decision after six rounds on Friday July 21. The featherweight bout was held at Turffontein.

 

Uganda

On Saturday July 29, featherweights Racheal Musubika (0-4) and Patience Tumwebaze (0-1) meet six rounds at Kampala.

 

United Kingdom

On Saturday July 29, super welterweights Dee Allen (5-0) and Halanna Dos Santos (14-12) meet six rounds at London.

On Sunday July 30, featherweights Tori-Ellis Willetts (1-0) and Wendellin Cruz (6-9-1) meet six rounds at Birmingham.

 

USA

Sulem Urbina (14-3-1) defeated Haley Pasion (2-4) by decision after six rounds on Saturday July 22. The super flyweight bout took place at Long Beach, California.

Sharahya Taina (1-0) beat Janaisa Morandin (0-2) by decision after four rounds on Saturday July 22. The super lightweight fight took place at Atlantic City, New Jersey.

On Wednesday July 26, super featherweights Kiria Tapia (1-0) and Carisse Brown (9-5) meet six rounds at Kissimmee, Florida.

On Thursday July 27, super featherweights Colleen Davis (2-0-1) and Taynna Cardoso (5-3) meet six rounds for a regional title at Norcross, Georgia.

On Friday July 28, flyweights Randee Morales (5-4) and Tarrethia Dixon (1-0) meet four rounds at Colorado Springs.

On Friday July 28, minimumweights Seniesa Estrada (24-0) and Leonela Yudica (19-1-3) meet 10 rounds for the WBA and WBC world titles at Las Vegas, Nevada.

On Saturday July 29, bantamweight Shurreta Metcalf (11-4-1) and Melissa Odessa Parker (6-0) meet eight rounds at Frisco, Texas.

 

Venezuela

On Saturday July 29, light flyweights Liguelis Amaya (0-1) and Nathaly Castillo (1-0) meet four rounds at Porto Piritu.

 

Vietnam

On Saturday July 29, lightweights Thuy Linh Hoang (0-1) and Thanh Nha Ngo (0-0) meet four rounds at Ho Chi Minh City.