Denmark’s Dina Thorslund and Argentina’s Clara Lescurat in Title Fights and More News
By David A. Avila
Two world title fights of significance take place in different continents as Denmark’s Dina Thorslund defends two bantamweight titles and Clara Lescurat guards a super flyweight title this week in Argentina.
Both fights should be telling.
Thorslund has terrorized the bantamweights for three years now and that was after beating up super bantamweights for five years.
On Saturday Feb. 24, Thorslund (20-0, 8 Kos) seeks to continue her reign of terror against Turkey’s undefeated Seren Cetin (11-0, 7 Kos) at the Royal Arena in Copenhagen, Denmark. Both the WBO and WBC titles will be the reward.
In her last fight Thorslund dominated Mexico’s Yulihan Luna Avila in a battle between world titlists. It gained her the WBC title to add to her WBO belt. It also eliminated one champion in her quest to become undisputed bantamweight world champion.
Others holding bantamweight titles are Japan’s Miyo Yoshida with the IBF and England’s Nina Hughes. Both are mothers and protective of what they possess. It won’t be easy for Thorslund who seldom fights outside of Denmark.
Opposing Thorslund this Saturday will be Cetin a hard-hitting bantamweight who has not faced the same level of competition, but you never know until you get in the boxing ring. Boxing has a way of finding the truth as Paul Malignaggi says. All the words in the world cannot help.
South America
Also, on Saturday, super flyweight titlist Clara Lescurat (9-0, 4 Kos) defends the WBA world title against Mexico’s Regina Chavez (7-3-3) at the Casino Buenos Aires in Buenos Aires. Chavez usually fights at light flyweight.
Lescurat is 35 years old and will be facing a teen in Chavez who is 19. In the Argentinean fighter’s last defense she traveled to France and stopped Daniela De Jesus in eight rounds last May. This is her fourth defense of the title.
The super flyweight division has talented champions in the division such as Mexico’s Irma Garcia with the IBF title and Asley Gonzalez with the WBC. Then in Japan there is the powerful and talented Mizuki Hiruta with the WBO version.
If Lescurat continues her reign an interesting showdown could take place with any of the other champions.
Marlen in Las Vegas in March
Golden Boy Promotions announced last week that Marlen Esparza (14-1) will defend the WBA, WBC, and WBO flyweight titles against Argentina’s Gabriela Alaniz (14-1) on Saturday March 16, at the Cosmopolitan Casino in Las Vegas. DAZN will stream the Golden Boy card.
It’s a rematch of their fight that took place last July in San Antonio, Texas and Esparza won by majority decision. Judging in Texas has always had a very Texas bent. One judge based in Texas gave Esparza nine out of 10 rounds in what appeared a very close and competitive match.
It was the second time that Esparza benefitted from Texas judging. Previously she defeated Japan’s Naoko Fujioka. In that fight two Texas judges gave Esparza every single round. Only the Nevada judge scored it correctly. DAZN analysts were very critical of the judging that day.
Esparza is a very good fighter, but she has benefited from skewed judging. Not this time. Nevada, California and New Jersey have the best judges in the country in my opinion and Las Vegas has strong judging.
More Fight News
Argentina
On Saturday Feb. 24, super flyweights Clara Lescurat (9-0) and Regina Chavez (7-3-3) meet 10 rounds for the WBA world title at Buenos Aires.
Australia
Sarah Watt (4-5-2) defeated Ali Jensen (0-7) by unanimous decision after six rounds on Saturday Feb. 17. The bantamweight fight took place in Woden.
Colombia
Tiara Brown (16-0) knocked out Angi Romero (7-6) in the first round on Saturday Feb. 17. The super featherweight match was held in Carmen de Apicala.
Denmark
On Saturday Feb. 24, bantamweights Dina Thorslund (20-0) and Seren Cetin (11-0) meet 10 rounds for the WBO and WBC world titles at Copenhagen. Also, super welterweights Mikaela Lauren (32-6) and Ioana Fecioru (5-2) meet eight rounds; and heavyweights Mathias Hansen (3-0) and Tamaz Zadishvili (7-23-1) meet six rounds.
France
On Saturday Feb. 24, super lightweights Lorye Ruyer (3-0) and Elsa Hemat (5-9-2) meet eight rounds for the French title at Yutz.
India
On Wednesday Feb. 21, super flyweights Muskan Verma (0-1-1) and Poonam Poonam (1-1) meet four rounds at New Delhi.
Italy
Simona Salvatori (10-1) beat Svitlana Vasylevska (4-6) by decision after 10 rounds on Saturday Feb. 17. The regional bantamweight title match was held in Valle Martella.
Japan
Minimumweights Megumi Watanabe (2-0-5) and Sazanami Valu (3-0-1) fought to a split draw after six rounds on Friday Feb. 16 in Tokyo.
Mexico
On Saturday Feb. 24, super bantamweights Karla Aldama (0-1) and Jennifer Prats (1-0) meet four rounds at Naucalpan.
New Zealand
On Friday Feb. 23, super featherweights Erin Walsh (1-0) and Sera Bolatini (0-0) meet four rounds at Auckland. Also, flyweights Emma Nesbitt (1-1) and Laite Nanovu (0-0) meet four rounds.
Poland
On Friday Feb. 23, super lightweights Adrianna Jedrzejczyk (1-0) and Johana Rochi (1-0) meet four rounds at Berlinga.
Spain
On Friday Feb. 23, super lightweights Jenifer Jokova (0-0) and Jana Kovarova (0-0) meet four rounds at Playa de las Americas.
Ukraine
Anastasia Petrenko (1-0) knocked out Valeria Korotchuk (0-1) in the second round on Sunday Feb. 18. The featherweight bout was held in Kyev.
United Kingdom
Doina Costin (1-0) beat Sherriee Barnes (0-4) by decision after four rounds on Saturday Feb. 17. The lightweight bout took place in Northampton.
Ashleigh Johnson (2-0) beat Jamillette Janitza (2-12-2) by decision after six rounds on Saturday Feb. 17. The featherweight fight was held in Swansea, Wales. Also, super featherweight Linzi Buczynsskyj (5-3) beat Victoria Perkins (1-1) in six.
Kirsti Bavington (8-5-2) won by unanimous decision after six rounds versus Tereza Dvorakova (4-10) on Friday Feb. 16. The super welterweight match was held in Birmingham.
USA
Alexis Balduc (1-0) won by decision after four rounds against Chelsea La Grasse (0-1) on Friday Feb. 16. The bantamweight bout was held in Melrose, Mass.
On Friday Feb. 23, super lightweights Stevie Jane Coleman (5-1) and Michaele Nogue (2-4-1) meet six rounds at Springfield, Mass.