Mexico’s Yamileth Mercado Holds Off UK’s Ramla Ali and More Female Fight News
By David A. Avila
Mexico’s Yamileth Mercado out-hustled challenger Ramla Ali to retain the WBC super bantamweight title by decision. It was a spirited fight that could have gone the other way but didn’t.
The super bantamweight division has depth to it when you look at the other champions such as WBA titlist Erika Cruz, IBF and WBO titlist Elie Scotney and IBO belt holder Mea Motu of New Zealand.
Matchroom Boxing has most of them under contract and can arrange a tournament if it pleases.
Last Saturday, though the taller Ali had better technique and more impactful punching she allowed Mexico’s Mercado to simply out-hustle her in the prize ring. Ali lacked that hunger needed to be a champion. The model/fighter doesn’t have it.
Mercado may be the only Mexican champion I’ve ever seen that doesn’t throw a proper left hook. That’s the bread and butter punch of all Mexican fighters. But she knows how to win a fight and showed Ali that work rate beats technique.
The Mexican fighter from Chihuahua can now face fellow Mexican Erika Cruz a gritty no-nonsense Billy Goat style of fighter who never met an opponent whose head she couldn’t clash. There will be blood.
Mercado could also meet England’s Scotney who has two titles and fights as if in a prison yard and winner goes free. Scotney takes no prisoners and won’t allow Mercado to escape the British Isles with a title belt.
There are a few other routes Mercado could take such as meeting IBO titlist Mea Motu of New Zealand. Or she could meet Mexican killer Dina Thorslund of Denmark who has vanquished a number of Mexican bantamweights. She could easily return to super bantam and resume at a higher weight.
Though Mercado won the battle on Saturday, can she win the super bantamweight war?
It’s a task only a champion would take.
Claressa Shields Returns
After already vanquishing several weight divisions Claressa Shields is seeking to conquer the heavyweight division when she meets Vanessa Lepage-Joanisse for the WBC heavyweight on July 27 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit. The Salitas Promotion event will also be shown on DAZN.
Shields is gathering all the division titles above 147.
“As we can see, I’m not a true heavyweight and that’s ok. For the sport of women’s boxing, I would go miles and miles to prove we deserve equality, equal pay, equal opportunities and equal fight venues,” said Shields.
If you have never seen Shields fight, let me be the first to tell you there has never been anyone as fast and technical as the fighter from Flint, Michigan. I’ve seen them all since 1987.
Furthermore, watch Shields in person if you want to see the best.
Watching Shields on television or a cell phone is not the same as watching her perform live with your own eyes. In fact, any boxing match is better watching it live at an arena or auditorium. You will be amazed at their speed.
One thing that sets Shields apart from all other female fighters is the incredible hand speed she possesses for her size. Usually, the smaller fighters have that kind of quickness. Seniesa Estrada and Yokasta Valle displayed that blinding speed when they fought. But when a middleweight displays that kind if quickness it makes one realize that Shields is incredibly gifted.
Tickets for the July 27 event are on sale now and can be purchased at Ticketmaster.com and the XFINITY Box Office at Little Caesars Arena.
More Fight News
Argentina
Lucrecia Manzur (11-4) won by knockout in the sixth over Paola Benavidez (9-9-3) on Friday June 28. The Argentine featherweight title fight was held in San Miguel de Tucuman.
Australia
Taylah Gentzen (5-0) defeated Deanha Hobbs (12-3-1) by decision after 10 rounds on Saturday June 29. The lightweight match took place in Albert Park. Also, light flyweight April Napthine (1-0) beat Bec Moss (2-3) in four.
On Saturday July 6, welterweights Enja Ryan (5-2-1) and Archana Sharma (3-0) meet eight rounds at Tamworth.
Colombia
Lira Huyke (6-5-1) knocked out Paola Garcia (0-1-1) in the second round on Monday June 24. The lightweight fight took place in Santa Marta.
France
Lea Couvercelle (1-0) beat Marijana Dasovic (0-21-1) by decision after four rounds on Friday June 28. The featherweight bout took place in Fosses.
On Saturday July 6, flyweights Justine Lallemand (10-3-1) and Inna Statkevych (6-5-3) meet 10 rounds for a regional title at Charleville.
Germany
Super lightweights Tasheena Bugar (4-0-1) and Rosa Acosta (0-1-1) fought to a majority draw after four rounds on Saturday June 29. The match was held in Karlsruhe.
Guatemala
Sara Anti Gabriel (4-3) beat Flor Avendano (0-1) in four rounds on Friday June 28. The middleweight fight was held in Mixco.
Japan
Hoju Maeda (5-1-2) knocked out Wipada Srihong (2-1) in the fourth round on Saturday June 29. The flyweight match took place in Kakogawa. Also, light flyweight Yumi Narita (7-5-3) knocked out Nitinart Plabplerng (7-3) in the sixth.
Masako Numakara (1-4) won by majority decision after four rounds against Ozora Hikara (0-8) on Wednesday June 26. The super flyweight match was held in Tokyo.
Mexico
On Saturday July 6, super flyweights Gloria Gallardo (14-2-3) and Maria Cruz (5-2) meet eight rounds at Rosarito.
Netherlands
Joice Alves (2-1) knocked out Ilona Zuendorf (0-2) in the fifth round on Saturday June 29. The super bantamweight fight was held in Oud-Beijerland.
Serbia
Kristina Nad (1-0) defeated Tijana Draskovic (2-11) by technical knockout in the fourth round on Friday June 28. The flyweight match was held in Belgrade.
Spain
Bantamweights Tatiana Perez (3-0-1) and Florencia Villarreal (1-4-3) fought to a split draw after eight rounds on Saturday June 29. The match was held in Colmenar Viejo.
Ester Konecna (6-29-2) won by unanimous decision after eight rounds versus Mikaela Lauren (33-7) on Saturday June 29. The welterweight match was held in Benidorm.
Patricia Martin (2-2) defeated Jenifer Joklova (1-1) by decision after eight rounds on Saturday June 29. The super welterweight bout took place in Santa Cruz de Tenerife.
Tanzania
On Saturday July 6, flyweights Stumai Muki (9-4) and Dorothea Muhoza (0-2-1) meet six rounds at Dar es Salaam.
Thailand
Denise Castle (4-4) knocked out Dunphet Akatong (0-1) in the second round on Saturday June 29. The minimumweight match was held in Hua Hin.
Wisuta Sririttidet (7-3) knocked out Boonsita Charoensuk (0-5) in the third round on Saturday June 29. The atomweight fight was held in Oathum Thani. Also, minimumweight Kanyarat Nunoi (7-6) knocked out Chawala Wangarsa (0-6) in four; featherweight Thanchanok Phanan (20-10) knocked out Arisa Camna (0-8) in two; and light flyweight Panumad Bubpamalo (5-5) knocked out Prawpan Pudklay (0-4) in four.
Chuyu Liu (4-0) defeated Kadesara Jadpakdee (8-6) by decision after six rounds on Friday June 28. The flyweight fight was held in Bangkok.
Peeyalux Sanpokang (8-3) beat Hin Ting Chan (6-1) by majority decision after 10 rounds on Thursday June 27. The light flyweight fight was held in Bangkok. Also, flyweight Jessebelle Pagaduan (14-2-1) beat Pimchanok Thepjanda (9-6) in eight; super welterweight Connie Chan (5-7) beat Anchalee Mankong (2-11) in three; and bantamweights Linn Sandstrom (8-3-3) and Prakayrat Wongsuta (4-0-1) fought to a majority draw after six.
United Kingdom
Ebonie Jones (5-0-1) defeated Jamillette Vallejos (3-15-2) by decision after eight rounds on Saturday June 29. The featherweight bout took place in Rotherham.
Lillie Winch (1-0) won by decision after six rounds against Angelika Oles (2-13) on Saturday June 29. The super lightweight match was held in Brentwood. Also, super featherweight Elizabeth Oshoba (8-0) knocked out Augustina Belen (8-8-1) in the third round.
Vaida Masiokaite (9-24-5) defeated Olivia Hussey (2-1) by decision after six rounds on Saturday June 29. The super lightweight bout took place in Liverpool.
Tori-Ellis Willetts (5-0) defeated Kerry Orton (0-10) by decision after four rounds on Saturday June 29. The super featherweight fight was held in Coventry.
Nikola Barke (5-0) won by decision after six rounds versus Kerry Haley (2-2) on Friday June 28. The super lightweight fight was held in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
Cassidy Todd (3-0) beat Yaiza Souto (1-9) by decision after four on Friday June 28. The super bantamweight fight took place in Renfrew, Scotland.
On Saturday July 6, flyweights Maisey Rose Courtney (6-0) and Jasmina Zapotoczna (7-1) meet 10 rounds for a regional title at Hackney Wick.
USA
Yamileth Mercado (24-3) won by unanimous decision after 10 rounds versus Ramla Ali (9-2) on Saturday June 29. The WBC super bantamweight world title match took place in Phoenix, Arizona.
Elia Carranza (8-1) beat Kaitlin LaVigne (3-3-1) by decision after six rounds on Saturday June 29. The middleweight match took place in Miami, Florida.
Rianna Rios (8-0) won by unanimous decision after eight rounds versus Mary Romero (10-6) on Friday June 28. The bantamweight fight was held in Washington D.C.
Tiara Brown (17-0) defeated Gabriela Bouvier (19-13-1) by decision after 10 rounds on Friday June 28. The featherweight fight was held in Atlanta, Georgia.
Briana Carrera (2-0) beat Kim Colbert (3-27) by decision after four rounds on Friday June 28. The super lightweight match was held in Arlington, Texas.