Mikaela Mayer, Sandy Ryan, Alycia Baumgardner, Delfine Persoon and Other Women’s Boxing News

 

By David A. Avila

A slight lull in women’s prizefighting evaporates next week.

Three outstanding bouts featuring welterweights, lightweights and super featherweights take place in the USA and the United Kingdom. Mark these fights down on your calendar.

Down south Alycia Baumgardner returns to boxing after a suspension and finds herself matched against Belgium’s Delfine Persoon on Friday Sept. 27, in Fayetteville, Georgia.

Baumgardner (15-1, 7 Kos) will be fighting Persoon (49-3, 19 Kos) for the WBC super featherweight world title at Trilith Studios Town Stage.

That’s a heck of a match.

The last time the world saw Persoon was in her second battle against Ireland’s Katie Taylor four years ago during the height of the pandemic. Covid is still around and so is Persoon doing damage again and again to those who oppose her. Since that loss in August 2020 the Belgium tornado has won five out of five fights.

Baumgardner last fought against Christina Linardatou and won the rematch, but tested positive for PEDs. She was suspended and now ready to jump back into the battle with yet another tough test. Surprisingly, she’s back at super featherweight.

Odds favor Baumgardner, she’s the younger fighter by nine years and a bigger puncher than Persoon. But how much motor does the Belgian fighter still possess?

In New York City, Mayer (19-2, 5 KOs) contends for the WBO welterweight title against the champion Sandy Ryan (7-1-1, 3 KOs) on Friday Sept. 27, at Madison Square Garden. ESPN+ will televise the Top Rank and Matchroom Boxing card.

For the past two years Mayer has been the so-called “Have Gun, Will Travel” of women’s boxing with her willingness to fight abroad. It might have cost her one or two losses but now she’s back in front of an American audience. More importantly, she has American judges.

Ryan, 31, has height, reach and power at the welterweight level but faces an equally tall, fast and relentless fighter in Mayer. It’s truly a match that could be a Fight of the Year candidate. It has all the ingredients needed.

The British fighter has less fights than Mayer but has improved dramatically in a very short time with impressive wins over Terri Harper and Anahi Sanchez.

Speaking of Terri Harper, she meets new WBO lightweight titlist Rhiannon Dixon in a battle of southpaw British fighters on Saturday Sept. 28, at Park Community Arena in Sheffield, England. DAZN will stream the Matchroom Boxing card.

Dixon (10-0, 1 KO) is the older fighter but has not had the grueling opposition that Harper (14-2-2, 6 KOs) has faced in her pro career.

Just how much remains of Harper’s weaponry. She is a former super welterweight titlist dropping down to lightweight for this fight. Both are southpaws and that usually means whoever has the better right hook will win the fight.

It’s an interesting match.

 

Ireland

Lightweight prospect Shauna O’Keeffe (2-0) meets veteran Valgerder Gudsteinsdottir (7-5) on Friday Sept. 20, at 3Arena in Dublin, Ireland. UFC Fight Pass will stream the 360 Promotions fight card.

Ireland’s O’Keeffe has two fights and two wins so far, one against solid veteran Vaida Masiokaite who recently upset with a draw against undefeated Jade Grierson in England last weekend. Now O’Keeffe meets another veteran in Gudsteinsdottir.

The lightweight bout is set for six rounds on the undercard of Callum Walsh versus Przemyslaw Runowski.

 

Elle Brooke

She’s a product of the social media crowd but England’s Elle Brooke has enough fighting skills to compete in the real women’s boxing circuit.

Brooke (3-0-1) defeated another professional this past weekend with another strong performance against an actual pro fighter (Bare Knuckle) in Jennifer Clausius in England. Clausius goes by the name Jennifer Savage and the pair put on a solid performance on Misfits Boxing, a social media promotion.

In their fight, Brooke surprised Clausius with a newly developed left hook. In her previous two pro fights it was Brooke’s right cross that knocked out fellow social media fighters Andrea Jane Bunker and Faith Ordway. Against veteran UFC fighter Paige VanZant she dropped her with the same right hand but the pro fighter rallied for a draw.

The London-based Brooke must have a very solid training crew. Though she drops her guard at times, her instincts are spot on. Plus, she has a pretty good chin and good timing. She continues to improve dramatically.

 

More Fight News

Argentina

Nailyn Gonzalez (3-1) won by decision after four rounds versus Lucia Benegas (4-3-1) on Saturday Sept. 14. The minimumweight fight was held in San Pedro. Also, middleweight Cintia Burgos (2-2) defeated Camila Espindola (0-1) in four.

Maria Ferreyra (10-0-1) knocked out Johen Gonzalez (7-1-2) in the first round on Saturday Sept. 14. The South American lightweight title fight was held in Villa Maria. Also, super bantams Fatima Maidana (3-0-1) and Dalma Alaniz (1-4-1) fought to a majority draw after four.

 

Australia

On Saturday Sept. 21, featherweights Krystina Jacobs (7-5) and Ayisha Bied (2-6-1) meet six rounds for the Australian title at Hobart. Also, welterweights Kayla McKeown (0-0-1) and Sera Bolatini (0-1) meet four.

 

Bangladesh

Jui Lima (4-1) defeated Sarmin Akter (0-2) by split decision after four rounds on Saturday Sept. 14. The flyweight match was held in Dhaka. Also, Brishti Khatun (3-1-2) and Papri Sutradhar (0-1-1) fought to a majority draw after four.

 

Canada

Jessica Camara (14-4) won by unanimous decision after 10 rounds versus Bonnie Hunter (4-4) on Saturday Sept. 14. The WBC gold lightweight title fight took place in Montreal. Also, Natali Fagan (1-0) beat Maxime Novosedlik (1-1) in four.

On Friday Sept. 20, middleweights Melinda Watpool (6-0) and Natasha Spence (8-5-2) meet 10 rounds for a title at Pickering.

 

Chile

Nadia Pastrana (1-0) defeated Fernanda Soto (1-1) by majority decision after four rounds on Saturday Sept. 14. The light flyweight match took place in Valdivia.

 

Dominican Republic

Lorena Luna (1-0) beat Grecia Novas (18-31-4) by decision after four rounds on Saturday Sept. 14. The featherweight fight took place in Jarabacoa.

 

Germany

On Saturday Sept. 21, lightweights Dilar Kisikyol (10-0) and Djemilla Gontaruk (16-10-2) meet 10 rounds for a regional title at Hamburg. Also, Mei Li Folk (2-0) and Klara Kankova (0-1) meet six.

 

Italy

Roberta Bonatti (3-0) won by decision after six rounds versus Egine Kayange (10-8) on Saturday Sept. 14. The light fly fight took place in Rome.

 

Mexico

On Saturday Sept. 21, lightweights Litzy Vazquez (4-0) and Alejandra Rojas (4-3-2) meet six rounds in Veracruz.

 

New Zealand

Genah Fabian (0-0-1) and Trish Vaka (1-8-2) fought to a draw after four rounds on Saturday Sept. 14. The heavyweight match was held in Auckland.

On Friday Sept. 20, light flyweights Emma Nesbitt (4-0) and Khwunchit Khunya (6-16-1) meet eight rounds at Auckland.

 

Nigeria

On Saturday Sept. 21, super bantams Nene Joy Ojo (1-0) and Bello Omolola (2-1) meet four rounds at Lagos.

 

Spain

On Friday Sept. 20, featherweights Sheila Martinez (7-3) and Enerolisa De Leon (8-6-2) meet eight rounds at Pobla de Vallbona.

On Saturday Sept. 21, super lightweights Ioana Fecioru (6-2) and Immacolata Mancusi (0-10-1) meet six rounds at Alfafar.

 

Thailand

Yuko Henzan (9-12-4) knocked out Wassana Kamdee (10-11) in the third round on Sunday Sept. 15. The super fly fight took place in Bangkok.

Sothita Sittichai (12-4) defeated Phunnakran Karjanawong (4-4-1) by decision after eight rounds on Sunday Sept. 15. The light fly fight took place in Pathum Thani. Also, super feather Noppaket Srisawas (9-2) beat Tiyaphon Daenpan (0-2) in six; and bantamweight Jittamat Phomta (7-5) knocked out Kirada Saksitsakul (0-7) in three; super bantam Pannaporn Kaewpawong (5-3) knocked out Arisa Camna (0-9) in two; and super lightweight Pornkamon Thongpuk (2-0) won by majority decision after four rounds versus Julaluck Srianan (0-1).

Ghazal Rezaei (3-0) beat Syrine Lajili (1-1) in six rounds on Saturday Sept. 14. The lightweight fight was held in Pattaya. Also, bantam Prakayrat Wongsuta (5-0-1) knocked out Sumantra Bankam (7-12) in the third; light flyweights Pilasluk Nootsawut (0-0-1) and Pinmai Photjanasuk (0-0-1) drew in four; and minimumweight Siritorn Ponpai (5-2-1) beat Chayanun Prichanda (0-1) in four.

Thitinan Chaiwongkham (1-2) beat Chonnicha Kasawang (0-1) in four rounds on Friday Sept. 13. The super bantam fight was held in Muang. Also, bantam Jittima Promsaen (1-0) beat Autcharaphan Thanjai (0-1) in four.

 

United Kingdom

Jade Grierson (4-0-1) and Vaida Masiokaite (10-25-6) fought to a draw after six rounds on Saturday Sept. 14. The welterweight match took place in Grantham.

Elle Brooke (3-0) defeated Jennifer Clausius (0-1) by decision after five rounds on Saturday Sept. 14. The featherweight fight was held in Newcastle. Also, welterweight Jully De Oliveria (3-0) beat Crystal Pittman (0-1); and flyweight Carla Jade (2-0) beat Nikki Hru (1-1).

Georgia Klein (1-0) knocked out Shelley MacDonald (0-2) in the fourth round on Saturday Sept. 14. The lightweight match was held in Sheffield.

 

Uruguay

Adriana Pineiro (7-0) knocked out Soledad Macedo (17-20-2) in the fifth round on Saturday Sept. 14. The bantamweight fight was held in Montevideo. Also, featherweight Lucia Marrero (3-0) beat Eliana Orecchia (5-14-2); bantam Julieta Nunez (2-0) beat Maria Cuello (0-5-1) in four; and super fly Maria Baquero (2-0) beat Elizabeth Sellanes (0-2) in four.

 

USA

Shera Patricio (1-0) knocked out Ayeshia Green (0-1) in the third round on Saturday Sept. 14. The bantamweight fight was held in Philadelphia.

Brianna Carrera (3-0) won by unanimous decision after four rounds against Kim Colbert (3-28) on Saturday Sept. 14. The super lightweight fight took place in Dallas, Texas.

Savanna Tini (3-0) defeated Deirdre Begley (0-1) by decision after four rounds on Friday Sept. 13. The welterweight match was held in Detroit.

On Friday Sept. 20, bantamweights Brittany Sims (6-3) and Nancy Franco (19-20-2) meet eight rounds in Bethlehem, Pa.