Shurretta Metcalf, Miyo Yoshida and Dina Thorslund in Bantamweight Title Fights and More

 

By David A. Avila

A couple of world champions defend their titles and a highly-rated prospect gets her first tough test this week.

IBF bantamweight titlist Miyo Yoshida meets Shurretta Metcalf in New York City for a rematch, and WBO, WBC titlist Dina Thorslund goes to war against Terumi Nuki in Denmark. In California, undefeated prospect Lupe Medina meets rugged Katherine Lindenmuth.

On Wednesday Oct. 23, Miyo Yoshida (17-4) and Shurretta Metcalf (13-4-1) meet 10 rounds at the Theater in Madison Square Garden in New York City for the IBF world title. ProBoxTV will stream the DiBella Entertainment fight card.

They know each other well.

Japan’s Yoshida, a single mother, moved to New York a few years ago and settled in New York City seeking to gain another world title. In her second fight in the U.S. she agreed to meet Shurretta Metcalf, a tall, long-armed fighter from Texas and was unable to find the solution.

Luckily, one month later, when then IBF bantamweight titlist Ebanie “Blonde Bomber” Bridges lost her original opponent Avril Mathie due to injury, Yoshida gladly accepted the fight with less than two weeks to prepare.

Yoshida upset Bridges and won her second division world title.

Now, she fights Metcalf and once again she has to discover a way to figure out how to defeat the length, height and reach of the Texas fighter. It’s not an easy task. She hopes having future Hall of Fame fighter Jorge Linares in her corner can help.

Linares speaks Japanese. The Venezuelan trained in Japan for years and agreed to work Yoshida’s corner. Will it be enough against Metcalf?

“I think Metcalf maintains her boxing style with that blessed height (5’ 7 ½”) because she works so hard,” said Yoshida. “I basically respect her. I will defend and firmly avenge my loss to her to advance my story.”

Metcalf, a native of Dallas and also a single mother, has plenty of experience and knows how to keep distance with an accurate jab and good foot movement. She has solid wins over Melissa Oddessa Parker and Carla Torres.

“I’m so ready for this girl,” said Metcalf on social media.

Their first encounter was a clash of styles that proved beneficial for Metcalf. Can Yoshida adapt in the rematch?

“I want to take revenge and increase my value. I can learn from my losses,” said Yoshida.

Denmark

WBC and WBO bantamweight titlist Dina Thorslund (22-0, 9 Kos) makes another defense this time against Japan’s Terumi Nuki (15-5, 10 Kos) on Friday Oct. 25 in Hostelbro, Denmark. This is Thorlund’s seventh defense of the WBO title and third defense of the WBC title.

Thorslund is also a former super bantamweight world titlist but with no competition in that weight class she decided to drop down a weight division. So far, this has been easy pickings for the blonde fighter.

This fight is part of a bantamweight tournament organized by Lou DiBella along with Yoshida’s IBF title defense against Metcalf in New York. Other bantamweights participating are New Zealand’s Cherneka Johnson and Nina Hughes. Hopefully Ebanie Bridges can be included.

It’s a loaded weight division.

 

Rigid Test in SoCal

Undefeated minimumweight prospect Lupe Medina (7-0) faces a tough test in Katherine Lindenmuth (6-3) on Saturday Oct. 26. UFC Fight Pass will stream the 360 Promotions card from the Commerce Casino in Commerce, Calif.

Medina works with famed trainer Manny Robles who also teaches Ramla Ali and Serhii Bohachuk among others. Soon, Japan’s talented Mizuki Hiruta who holds the WBO super flyweight title will be joining the team.

New Mexico’s Lindenmuth is a scrappy fighter who recently battled former world champion Kim Clavel. She also battled highly touted Yadira Bustillos twice. It’s not an easy test for Medina.

Also, on the same 360 Promotions card will be Chantel Navarro a bantamweight prospect.

 

Costa Rican Splendor

Former world champion Yokasta Valle (31-3, 10 Kos) meets Yoseline Fernandez (15-5, 8 Kos) next week on Nov. 1 in Guanacaste, Costa Rica.

This will be Valle’s third fight of the year. Previously she defeated Ramandeep Kaur by second round knockout this past July. Earlier, she lost a clash to Seniesa Estrada for the undisputed minimumweight championship last March in Arizona. It was one of the top fights of the year.

Valle’s sister Naomy Valle is also slated to perform.

 

Texas Slam

In less than three weeks the long-awaited rematch between Amanda Serrano and Katie Taylor takes place on Nov. 15, at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. It’s part of the same card that pits Mike Tyson versus Jake Paul. Netflix will stream the fight Most Valuable Promotions card.

Taylor and Serrano’s first match was an iconic fight that electrified the world 30 months ago at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

Since that fight on April 30, 2022, both have moved in different directions with Taylor becoming the undisputed super lightweight world champion. Serrano became the undisputed featherweight world champion. Now the two undisputed champions meet again.

Can they match their first epic fight?

I believe so. Both have explosive styles.

 

More Fights News

Argentina

Camila Heredia (1-0) beat Erica Gonzalez (0-1) by decision after four rounds on Saturday Oct. 19. The light flyweight match was held in Lomas de Zamora.

Tamara Fernandez (2-0-2) beat Mariquena Salome (1-7-2) by decision after six rounds on Saturday Oct. 19. The bantam fight was held in Rafael Calzada.

Brisa Rosario (3-1-1) defeated Daiana Molina (3-2-1) in six rounds on Saturday Oct. 19. The super feather match took place in Ciudad Mendoza. Also, super fly Lucia Garcia (2-0) beat Dalma Alaniz (1-5-1) in four.

Ludmila Corbalan (2-0) beat Victoria Romero (0-2) by decision after four rounds on Friday Oct. 18. The bantamweight fight was held in Venado Tuerto.

On Saturday Oct. 26, minimumweights Sol Cudos (8-0-2) and Johana Zuniga (18-7-1) meet 10 rounds for South American title at Buenos Aires. Also, super lights Anahi Sanchez (24-6) and Erica Alvarez (6-8) meet 10 rounds for South American title.

On Saturday Oct. 26, super flyweights Carla Merino (14-2) and Daiana Ortiz (4-1-2) meet 10 rounds for South American title at Junin.

 

Australia

Louise Creaven (2-0) won by decision over Connie Chan (5-8) after eight rounds on Saturday Oct. 19. The welterweight fight was held in Carrara.

 

Belgium

Djemilla Gontaruk (17-11-2) beat Diana Kulinova (4-13) by technical knockout in the third round on Saturday Oct. 19. The lightweight fight was held in Farciennes.

 

Canada

On Saturday Oct. 26, lightweights Maxime Novosedlik (1-1) and Gisela Luna (2-6-1) meet six rounds at London.

 

China

Li Yang (1-0) won by majority decision after four rounds versus Junmei Wang (0-1) on Sunday Oct. 13. The super bantamweight fight was held in Foshan.

 

Colombia

Ingrid Caicedo (8-0) won by decision after six rounds against Dari Hernandez (2-4) on Friday Oct. 18. The light flyweight match took place in Bayunca. Also, middleweight Nery Murillo (2-0) knocked out Marlenis Talaigua (0-2) in one.

Katerin Tobon (7-3-1) won by decision after six rounds against Erika Escobar (2-2) on Thursday Oct. 17. The lightweight match was held in Santa Marta.

 

Democratic Republic of Congo

On Saturday Oct. 26, middleweights Daniela Muleketsi (0-1) and Charity Mukami (6-4-1) meet six rounds at Goma.

 

Denmark

On Friday Oct. 25, bantamweights Dina Thorslund (22-0) and Terumi Nuki (15-5) meet 10 rounds for the WBO and WBC world titles at Holstebro. Also, featherweights Melissa Mortensen (1-0) and Gabriella Mezei (11-35-5) meet six rounds.

 

Fiji

On Saturday Oct. 26, lightweights Maureen Chand (3-6) and Mereamo Wati (0-1) meet four rounds at Nadi.

 

France

Kirstie Bavington (9-5-2) defeated Marine Beauchamp (6-2-1) by decision after 10 rounds on Saturday Oct. 19. The EBU welterweight title match took place in Laval.

Justine Lallemand (12-3-1) defeated Ivanka Ivanova (6-28-4) in six rounds on Saturday Oct. 19. The bantamweight fight took place in Charleville.

Segolene Lefebvre (19-1) defeated Juliana Basualdo (12-6) by technical decision in the fifth round on Saturday Oct. 19. The super bantam match took place in Douai.

On Saturday Oct. 26, super lightweights Flora Pili (9-0) and Diana Rodriguez (18-3-1) meet 10 rounds for the regional title at Moselle.

 

Germany

On Friday Oct. 25, super lightweights Maryna Malovana (6-0) and Johana Rochi (3-3) meet 10 rounds for a regional title at Essen.

On Saturday Oct. 26, featherweights Lara Ochmann (13-2) and Svitlana Vasylevska (4-6) meet 10 rounds for a regional title at Gifhorn.

 

Guatemala

Genesis Rodas (1-0) knocked out Elena Bracamonte (0-1) in the first round on Saturday Oct. 19. The bantamweight match was held in Guatemala City. Also, super welter Sara Anti Gabriel (6-4) knocked out Katherine Tobar (0-1) in the first round.

 

Italy

On Friday Oct. 25, lightweights Pamela Sawa (7-0) and Nina Pavlovic (9-5-1) meet 10 rounds for the EBU title at Bologna.

On Saturday Oct. 26, welterweights Amal Wahby (2-0) and Immacolata Mancusi (0-11-1) meet six rounds at Toscana.

 

Japan

Marina Loreto (7-0-2) beat Mont Blanc Miki (6-8-1) by decision after eight rounds on Sunday Oct. 20. The Japanese minimumweight title fight was held in Toyonaka.

 

Mexico

Maria Atilano (4-10-4) and Fatima Martinez (4-5-1) fought to a split draw after eight rounds on Saturday Oct. 19. The bantamweight fight was held in Guanajuato.

 

Poland

On Saturday Oct. 26, super bantams Laura Grzyb (10-0) and Sarai Umpierrez (3-1) meet eight rounds for a regional title at Zakopane.

 

Puerto Rico

Karla Davila-Jaime (3-0) defeated Myrka Aguayo (3-3-1) in six rounds on Friday Oct. 18. The featherweight match took place in San Juan. Also, super feather Kiria Tapia (5-0) defeated Beata Dudek (4-5) in six.

 

Slovakia

Barbora Mayerova (3-3) defeated Andrea Hamko (0-1) by decision after four rounds on Saturday Oct. 19. The lightweight fight took place in Poprad.

 

South Korea

On Saturday Oct. 26, featherweights Hye Jung Lee (1-1) and Kyung Joo Bae (0-1) meet four rounds at Incheon.

 

Spain

Laia Pujol (1-0) knocked out Diana Csiki (0-5) in the first round on Sunday Oct. 20. The bantamweight match was held in Castellbisbal.

Jennifer Miranda (12-0) defeated Teresa Almengor (9-2-3) by decision after 10 rounds on Sunday Oct. 20. The featherweight fight was held in Madrid.

 

Tanzania

On Friday Oct. 25, middleweights Lucy Macho (2-0-1) and Hidaya Zahoro (0-0) meet four rounds at Morogoro. Also, super flyweights Debora Mwenda (1-1-1) and Jackline A Daudi (0-2) meet four.

 

United Kingdom

Francesca Hennessy (5-0) defeated Ana Vaz de Moraes (5-1) by decision after eight rounds on Saturday Oct. 19. The super bantam match was held in Hackney Wick. Also, featherweight Catherine Tacone (6-3-1) defeated Shannon Courtenay (8-3) after six rounds.

Roni Dean (5-0) knocked out Kira Carter (0-11) on Saturday Oct. 19. The featherweight match was held in Ipswich. Also, super featherweight Eilish Tierney (3-0) beat Amy Greatorex (1-10) in six.

Nicola Hopewell (6-1) won by unanimous decision after 10 rounds versus Mary Aina Abbey (12-2) on Saturday Oct. 19. The regional flyweight title fight was held in Sheffield.

 

USA

On Wednesday Oct. 23, bantamweights Miyo Yoshida (17-4) and Shurretta Metcalf (13-4-1) meet 10 rounds at New York City for the IBF world title.

On Saturday Oct. 26, minimumweights Lupe Medina (7-0) and Katherine Lindenmuth (6-3) meet six rounds at Commerce, Calif. Also, bantamweights Chantel Navarro (2-0) and Mollie Backowski (0-2) meet four rounds.