Flyweights on Display With Yokasta Valle, Seniesa Estrada and More News
By David A. Avila
It’s official.
Seniesa Estrada and Yokasta Valle will fight to claim the undisputed minimumweight world championship on Friday March 29, at the Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona. ESPN will televise the Top Rank and Golden Boy Promotions card.
The battle of words is over. Now it’s time for action.
Valle has chased Estrada for years, but, actually, they could have clashed five years ago.
Few people know but East L.A.’s Estrada and Costa Rica’s Valle agreed to fight each other back in June 2019. But with less than two weeks remaining Valle did not want to travel to Hollywood, California without her trainer who couldn’t obtain a visa.
Ironically, Valle is no longer working with that same coach and now has Los Angeles-based Gloria Alvarado in her corner. That resulted in Valle making Los Angeles her home base for training and she has grown stylistically while adding more weaponry to her arsenal.
Even before coming to Los Angeles the speedy Valle had picked up the IBF minimumweight world title with an impressive win over Joana Pastrana in Spain in August 2019. Since then, she also picked up the WBO title from Vietnam’s Thi Thu Nguyen.
Sometimes things work out.
Valle signed with Golden Boy Promotions two years ago.
WBC and WBA minimumweight titlist Seniesa Estrada previously fought under the Golden Boy banner and her last bout with them was a knockout win over Maria Santizo in San Antonio, Texas in December 2021. She formally departed in July 2022 and moved to Top Rank after mutually agreeing to terms with Golden Boy.
The native Californian built a boxing reputation in the Los Angeles area while in puberty. She fought opponents that out-weighed her by 14 pounds. Estrada made a big splash with a record-making seven-second knockout over Miriam Adkins at Fantasy Springs Casino during the pandemic. It was an instant viral video.
Estrada grabbed two world titles in two successive fights with wins over Anabel Ortiz, and Tsunami Tenkai for WBA minimumweight and WBO light flyweight world titles. Then last March she defeated Tina Rupprecht for the WBC minimumweight belt.
Trained by Dean Campos, the petite fighter with big power suffered a hand injury and instead of testing it with a lukewarm fight, Estrada wants to unify now.
“I’m leaving Arizona with all the belts and will continue to prove why I’m a pound-for-pound champion,” said Estrada.
Valle applauds the decision to fight now.
“I am over the moon that Seniesa finally said yes to this big fight,” Valle said.
It’s a big money fight that almost happened five years ago. But five years ago, they would have signed for much less money.
The timing is right.
Kenia Enriquez
Mexico’s best female fighter Kenia Enriquez (27-1) will be defending the interim flyweight title against Maria Salinas (26-9-6) on Saturday Feb. 3, in Nuevo Leon, Mexico. It’s a rematch.
“I expect the best version of Maria Salinas,” said Enriquez. “Since our first fight she’s become an athlete, so I expect a war.”
Enriquez was also excited on Tuesday upon hearing that Seniesa Estrada and Yokasta Valle would be facing each other for the undisputed minimumweight world championship.
“I think it was a great step for female boxing,” said Enriquez who fights out of Tijuana, Mexico. “Two of the best facing each other to make history. Doesn’t get any better than that.”
And, of course, a match with either is desired.
“I would love to face either of them, obviously going after the winner,” Enriquez said. “I think this is what female boxing needs, competition.”
Enriquez is the number one ranked flyweight in the world.
How good is Enriquez? In a country that prides itself on fearlessness, no reigning champion from Mexico dared meet Enriquez in the boxing ring. No champion from any country offered her a fight. She is the fighter whose name is whispered.
Gabriela Fundora
IBF flyweight titlist Gabriela Fundora won by a somewhat controversial knockout over Christina Cruz last Saturday when she turned her back on Fundora during the fight.
Never turn your back inside the prize ring. Never.
It was a fatal error that forced the referee to halt the fight. Until that moment Cruz was doing quite well against the taller and heavier-hitting Fundora. It also gave the champion experience with a mobile boxing style.
What’s next for Fundora?
Mexico’s Enriquez is the number one flyweight and a meeting between these two flyweights would be one of the best fights of the year.
Maricela Cornejo
It’s been almost eight months since Maricela Cornejo fought the great Claressa Shields in Detroit. She was a late replacement for Shields who lost her scheduled foe and found Cornejo ready and willing.
Cornejo’s last fight was a first round knockout win over Cynthia Lozano in November.
Now Cornejo (17-6) has plenty of time to prepare for Kandi Wyatt (11-5) in a battle between welterweight contenders on Friday Feb. 2, at Orlando, Florida. DAZN will stream the card that includes super flyweights Jasmine Artiga (11-0-1) and Nancy Franco (19-18-2) in another eight-round fight.
DiBella Signs Nina Hughes
Great Britain’s Nina Hughes the WBA bantamweight titlist was signed by American promotion company DiBella Entertainment it was announced on Monday Jan. 29.
Hughes, 40, won the title from American fighter Jamie Mitchell in November 2021, then defended it last June against fellow British fighter Katie Healy.
“People dismissed me because of my age,” said Hughes who is the mother of two sons. “They laughed at me.”
The bantamweight division is stacked with talent such as Denmark’s Dina Thorslund who holds the WBC and WBO titles. And Japan’s Miyo Yoshida who has the IBF version and is promoted by DiBella Entertainment.
Yoshida recently defeated Australia’s Ebanie Bridges who remains another big star and powerful contender in the exciting bantamweight division.
“I’m thrilled to have Nina join our stable,” said Lou DiBella, president of DiBella Entertainment. “She’s a great lady, and I’m proud to promote another resilient single mom who never quit on her dream.”
More Fight News
Argentina
On Friday Feb. 2, super bantamweights Juliana Basualdo (11-4) and Eliana Orecchia (4-12-2) meet four rounds at Panama COS.
On Saturday Feb. 3, light flyweights Veronica Ruiz (4-0) and Karen Dominguez (0-2-1) meet six rounds at Galvez.
Austria
Lightweights Patricia Lager (1-0-1) and Dunja Bocan (1-7-1) fought to a draw after four rounds on Saturday Jan. 27. The match took place in Vienna.
Azerbaijan
On Wednesday Jan. 31, bantamweights Angelika Lukas (5-1) and Roma Yousaf (5-0-1) meet eight rounds for a regional title at Baku.
Canada
Mary Spencer (8-2) knocked out Sonya Dreiling (6-4) in the first round on Thursday Jan. 25. The super welterweight match was held in Montreal.
Chile
Nicole Araya (2-0) defeated Daiana Belen (0-1) by decision after four rounds on Saturday Jan. 27. The bantamweight fight was held in Huechuraba.
Colombia
Stevie Morgan (13-1) knocked out Paola Herrera (14-9-2) in the first round on Friday Jan. 26. The lightweight fight was held in Boyaca. Also, super lightweight Francia Bravo (28-6-2) beat Estheliz Hernandez (7-2) by split decision after six rounds.
France
Mailys Gangloff (9-4) beat Gemma Ruegg (7-10-1) by decision after eight rounds on Sunday Jan. 28. The super flyweight match was held in Deauville.
On Friday Feb. 2, super lightweights Anissa Benyoub (5-3) and Katherine Quintana at Tarbes.
On Saturday Feb. 3, bantamweights Lauryne Brankaer (3-0) and Megan Ouvrad (5-3-2) meet six rounds at Vierzon.
India
Sushila Virat (4-0) knocked out Swati Krishan (0-1) in the third round on Monday Jan. 22. The bantamweight bout took place at Gurgaon. Also, minimumweight Ram Bhateri (2-0) beat Mehakpreet Mehakpreet (0-2) in four rounds.
Japan
On Sunday Feb. 4, atomweights Reika Kawaguchi (4-2-2) and Wisuta Sririttidet (6-1) meet eight rounds at Kyoto. Also, flyweights Nanae Yamaka (5-1) and Hoju Maeda (4-0-2) meet six rounds; and featherweights Rii Kawai (0-0) and Kei Sugimoto (2-4-1) meet four rounds.
Mexico
On Saturday Feb. 3, flyweights Kenia Enriquez (27-1) and Maria Salinas (26-9-6) meet 10 rounds for the interim title at Nuevo Leon.
Nigeria
On Saturday Feb. 3, middleweights Kudirat Fatai (0-1-1) and Toyin Adejumola (3-0-1) meet eight rounds in Lagos.
Panama
Sayda Mosquera (10-5-1) knocked out Basilia Mancilla (6-9-2) in the second round on Saturday Jan. 27. The super bantamweight match was held in Panama City. Also, super featherweight Janicy Dos Santos (1-0) beat Yacksury Gordon (3-7-2) by decision after four.
Spain
Sheila Martinez (7-3) defeated Anaelle Angerville (6-3-1) by unanimous decision after 10 rounds on Saturday Jan. 27. The EBU featherweight title match was held in San Vicente Del Raspeig.
Thailand
Thanchanok Phanan (18-9) knocked out Ganjana Chathenan (0-3) in the third round on Saturday Jan. 27. The super flyweight fight was held at Pathum Thani. Also, Sawanya Srisawat (5-1) knocked out Siriwan WongPrasert (0-1) in the third round. Plus, light flyweight Panumad Bubpamalo (2-3) knocked out Chalinee Silalak (0-1) in the second round.
Jittimat Phomta (3-2) defeated Hee Jung Yuh (27-4) by unanimous decision after 10 rounds on Saturday Jan. 27. The super flyweight match took place in Pattaya.
Linn Sandstrom (8-2-2) won by majority decision after 10 rounds versus Arisara Wisetwongsa (6-6) on Thursday Jan. 25. The bantamweight fight was held in Bangkok. Also, Wichuda Chaotrakan (1-0) knocked out Sirintip Wuychaiphoom (0-8) in the third round; Prakayrat Wongsuta (4-0) beat Wilasinee Jaksarn (1-1) and featherweight Sumanthar Baenkham (7-7) defeated Thidarat Mueangwong (2-2-1) in four.
United Kingdom
Laura Pain (5-0) defeated Klaudia Ferenczi (20-108-10) by decision after six rounds on Saturday Jan. 27. The flyweight bout was held in London, England.
On Saturday Feb. 3, lightweights Carolina Dubois (8-0) and Miranda Reyes (7-1-1) meet 10 rounds for the IBO world title at Wembley, England. Also, bantamweights Francesca Hennessy (2-0) and Laura Belen (5-5-1) meet six rounds.
On Saturday Feb. 3, lightweights Shauna O’Keefe (1-0) and Nikola Izova (3-2-3) meet eight rounds at London, England.
On Saturday Feb. 3, flyweights Nicola Hopewell (3-1) and Kata Pap (1-2) meet six rounds at Bradford.
On Saturday Feb. 3, bantamweights Sophie Rodgers (0-0) and Kira Carter (0-3-1) meet four rounds at Middlesbrough.
USA
Gabriela Fundora (13-0) won by knockout over Christina Cruz (6-1) in the 10th and final round on Saturday Jan. 27. The IBF flyweight world title fight took place in Phoenix, Arizona.
Brook Sibrian (2-0) knocked out Nikkia Williams (0-2) in the third round on Saturday Jan. 27. The light flyweight fight was held in Commerce, California. Also, Lupe Medina (5-0) defeated Lilian Almaraz (0-4) by majority decision after four rounds.
On Friday Feb. 2, welterweights Maricela Cornejo (17-6) and Kandi Wyatt (11-5) meet eight rounds at Orlando, Florida. Also, super flyweights Jasmine Artiga (11-0-1) and Nancy Franco (19-18-2) meet eight rounds. DAZN will stream the card.
Vietnam
Pei Yi Wu (3-0) won by decision after six rounds versus Napaporn Ruengsuwan (8-4) on Saturday Jan. 27. The regional featherweight title fight was held in Vung Tau.