Arely Mucino vs Gabriela Fundora in Flyweight Battle and More News
(Photo by Al Applerose)
By David A. Avila
Future hall of fame candidate Arely Mucino defends the flyweight world title against the much younger and taller Gabriela Fundora this weekend.
Can she parry time and injury again?
After nearly a year of inactivity Mexico’s Mucino (32-3-2, 11 Kos) defends the IBF flyweight title against Fundora (11-0, 4 Kos) on Saturday Oct. 21, at the Kia Forum in Inglewood, Calif. DAZN will stream the Golden Boy Promotions card.
The last time Mucino stepped in the prize ring she battled Argentina’s Leonela Yudica for 10 bloody and ferocious rounds in San Diego, California. She took the title away by split-decision but suffered cuts from accidental head butts.
Known as “la Ametralladora or the Machine Gun,” her aggressive style has enabled the native of Monterrey to first win the IBF flyweight title in 2011, the WBC title in 2014, and the WBO title in 2018. She hasn’t lost a match in eight years, but injuries and the loss of her father kept Mucino fighting mostly once a year.
It’s not a good recipe for prizefighters.
Fundora, 21, has only been fighting professionally for two years. Because of her 5’9” height and southpaw stance she’s enjoyed rapid success. Now trained by boxing wizard Ben Lira, who has trained many of the best female fighters in the world like Mariana “Barbie” Juarez, the tall flyweight seems ready to challenge for a world title.
While sparring legendary Japanese world champion Naoko Fujioka, a five-division champion now retired, the veteran trainer Lira assessed that Fundora is ready for any world champion.
“Oh, she’s ready,” said Lira. “She’s been ready.”
Fundora has a six-inch height advantage over the champion Mucino. Will she be able to handle the constant pressure of the Mexican veteran who hasn’t lost a fight since 2015?
The winner will probably have a shot at meeting WBA, WBO, WBC titlist Marlen Esparza for undisputed flyweight champion status. There’s a lot at stake for both Mucino and Fundora.
One fighter not mentioned before is Mexico’s Kenia Enriquez who recently was established the interim WBC title after defeating multi-division champion Ibeth “La Roca” Zamora. She may be the most dangerous fighter of all.
Hailing from Tijuana, the dangerous Enriquez has been avoided by all world champions since 2015, though she was ranked as the number one contender in the light flyweight division for five years. Now she is ranked number one in the flyweight division. Will she get the call, or be women’s boxing most avoided fighter.
Amanda Serrano card
Next week Amanda Serrano returns and she’s bringing her friends along with 12 three-minute rounds.
Seven-division world champion Serrano (45-2-1, 30 Kos) defends the featherweight world championship against Danila Ramos (12-2, 1 KO) next week on Saturday Oct. 27, at the Caribe Royale Orlando in Orlando, Florida. DAZN will stream the Serrano and Most Valuable Promotions card,
Serrano invited several dozen fellow and former champions to support her cause against the boxing powers that try to restrict women to 10 two-minute rounds.
Remember the date Saturday Oct. 27.
More Fight News
Argentina’
Maria Baumstarh (9-6-1) knocked out Yoselin Fernandez (12-5) in the first round on Friday Oct. 13. The regional light flyweight title match was held in Buenos Aires.
Australia
Shanelle Dargan (3-1-2) defeated Amber Amelia (3-2) by decision after eight rounds on Sunday Oct. 15. The Australian super bantamweight title fight took place at Broadbeach, Queensland.
Che Kenneally (3-0) won by split decision over Sequita Hemingway (2-4) after six rounds on Saturday Oct. 14. The Australian heavyweight title match took place at Palm Beach.
On Saturday Oct. 21, featherweights Jessica Clancy (0-1) and Natasha Kurene (1-1) meet four rounds at Wandal.
On Saturday Oct. 21, featherweights Erini Ramirez (1-2-1) and Danni Mace (0-3) meet four rounds at Sunshine.
Canada
Femke Hermans (17-4) won by majority decision after 10 rounds versus Mary Spencer (7-2) on Wednesday Oct. 11. The IBO, IBF super welterweight world title match took place in Montreal. Also, super featherweight Leila Beaudoin (10-1) beat Estrella Valverde (19-12-2) by decision after eight rounds.
On Saturday Oct. 21, super flyweights Sara Haghighat (2-0) and Esmeralda Gaona (8-4-2) meet eight rounds at Pickering.
Colombia
Katerin Tobon (4-2-1) beat Eucaris Pirela (0-2) by decision after four rounds on Tuesday Oct. 10. The lightweight fight was held at Santa Marta.
Dominican Republic
Laura Wollenmann (8-1) won by unanimous decision after 10 rounds against Debora Rengifo (19-12-1) on Wednesday Oct. 11. The regional flyweight title match was held in Punta Cana.
Fiji
Malakay Moukyaber (4-0-1) beat Katerina Faleao (3-4-2) by decision after six rounds on Friday Oct. 13. The super welterweight fight took place at Nadi. Also, super lightweight Maureen Chand (3-3) beat Laisani Vulavou (0-1).
France
Lorye Ruyer (2-0) was victorious by decision after six rounds versus Ksenija Medic (3-28-2) on Saturday Oct. 14. The super lightweight match took place at Yutz.
Germany
On Saturday Oct. 21, super bantamweights Melina Maibaum (4-0) and Bec Connolly (3-19) meet six rounds at Kaiserslautern.
Italy
Giorgia Scolastri (4-2) beat Jessica Brunet (0-3) by decision after six rounds on Sunday Oct. 15. The light flyweight bout took place at Lazio.
Sonia Fracassi (2-0) won by unanimous decision after six rounds against Immacolata Mancusi (0-5-1) on Saturday Oct. 14. The super lightweight fight took place in Rome.
Gloria Peritore (2-0-1) beat Antonina Cuti (0-5) by decision after eight rounds on Friday Oct. 13. The bantamweight bout took place at Rome.
Japan
Nao Ugawa (4-0) won by decision after four rounds against Reika Kawaguchi (4-2-2) on Sunday Oct. 15. The atomweight match was held in Kyoto.
On Sunday Oct. 22, bantamweights Chihiro Takagi (1-0-1) and Yuki Fuke (2-0) meet four rounds at Shizuoka. Also, atomweights Natsumi Agu (0-3) and Sakura Kannari (0-2) meet four rounds.
Mexico
On Friday Oct. 20, flyweights Lourdes Juarez (34-4) and Mayela Perez (19-25-4) meet eight rounds at Fresnillo.
On Saturday Oct. 21, minimumweights Esmeralda Torres (6-16-4) and Norma Vazquez (4-12) meet six rounds in Vera Cruz. Also, atomweights Esneidy Rodriguez (5-0-1) and Abril Sanchez (4-4) meet four rounds.
New Zealand
On Thursday Oct. 19, super flyweights Michelle Preston (11-10-1) and Sawanya Srisawat (4-0) meet 10 rounds in Auckland.
Netherlands
On Monday Oct. 16, welterweights Sara Koops (4-0-1) and Tessa Van Stenus (0-0) meet six rounds in Amsterdam.
Spain
Isabel Rivero (5-2-1) knocked out Silviya Vasileva (0-3) in the second round on Saturday Oct. 14. The minimumweight match was held in Leon.
On Saturday Oct. 21, super bantamweights Mary Romero (8-4) and Jasmina Nad (11-29-5) meet eight rounds at Puerto Lumbreras.
Tanzania
On Sunday Oct. 22, bantamweights Zawadi Kutaka (3-2-1) and Flora Machela (7-11-1) meet six rounds at Kigamboni.
United Kingdom
Samantha Bullimore (3-0) defeated Amy Statham (0-1) by decision after three rounds on Saturday Oct. 14. The flyweight match was held at Manchester, England.
Jasmina Zapotoczna (5-0) beat Kira Carter (0-3-1) by decision after six rounds on Saturday Oct. 14. The super flyweight bout took place at Oldham.
Inna Statkevych (5-5-2) won by decision after four rounds versus Lorna Redfern (0-1) on Saturday Oct. 14. The bantamweight fight was held in Inverness, Scotland.
Ashleigh Johnson (1-0) won by decision over Kerry Orton (0-4) after six rounds on Saturday Oct. 14. The lightweight match took place at Swansea, Wales.
On Saturday Oct. 21, featherweights Karriss Artingstall (4-0) and Vanessa Bradford (7-4-2) meet eight rounds at London, England.
Uruguay
On Saturday Oct. 21, flyweights Adriana Pineiro (4-0) and Laura Gomez (4-0) meet 10 rounds for a regional title in Montivideo.
USA
Calista Silgado (22-17-4) won by majority decision after 10 rounds versus Stevie Morgan (8-1) on Saturday Oct. 14. The UBO lightweight title fight took place at Gadsden, Alabama.
Christina Cruz (6-0) defeated Josefina Vega (9-8) by unanimous decision after eight rounds on Tuesday Oct. 10. The flyweight bout took place in New York City.
On Saturday Oct. 21, flyweights Arely Mucino (32-3-2) and Gabriela Fundora (11-0) meet 10 rounds for the IBF flyweight world title at Inglewood, California. Also, super featherweights Iyana Verduzco (0-0) and Clarice Morales (0-2-1) meet four rounds.