Gabriela Fundora and Gabriela Alaniz Battle for Undisputed Flyweight Championship in Las Vegas and More News
(Photo by Al Applerose)
By David A. Avila
A battle of the Gabriela’s takes place in the casino capitol of the world.
WBA, WBC and WBO flyweight titlist Gabriela “ La Chucky” Alaniz (15-1, 6 KOs meets IBF titlist Gabriela Fundora (14-0, 6 Kos) on Saturday Nov. 2, at the Virgin Hotels Las Vegas in Las Vegas, Nevada. DAZN will stream the clash for the undisputed flyweight championship.
Which Gabriela will emerge the true champ?
Argentina’s Alaniz clashed twice against former WBA, WBC champ Marlen Esparza with their first encounter ending in a dubious win for the Texas fighter. In fact, three of Esparza’s last title fights were scored controversially.
But against Alaniz, though they fought on equal terms, Esparza was given a 99-91 score by one of the judges though the world saw a much closer contest. So, they fought again, but the rematch took place in California. Two judges deemed Alaniz the winner and one Esparza for a split-decision win.
In the case of Fundora, the extremely tall American fighter at 5’9” in height defeated decent competition including Maria Santizo. Fundora was awarded a match with IBF flyweight titlist Arely Mucino who opted for the tall youngster over the dangerous Kenia Enriquez of Mexico.
Bad choice for Mucino.
Fundora pummeled the champion incessantly for five rounds at the Inglewood Forum a year ago. Twice she battered her down and the fight was mercifully stopped. Fundora’s arm was raised as the new champion.
Since that win Fundora has defeated Christina Cruz and Chile’s Daniela Asenjo in defense of the IBF title. In an interesting side bit: Asenjo was ranked as a flyweight contender though she had not fought in that weight class for seven years.
Still, Fundora used her reach and power to easily handle the rugged fighter from Chile.
Immediately after the fight, Fundora clamored for a chance to become undisputed.
Alaniz also has designs on becoming undisputed flyweight champion.
Sitting and waiting in the background are two highly ranked skilled flyweights Marlen Esparza and Kenia Enriquez awaiting the outcome. This could be the beginning of a new era for flyweights.
Seniesa Retires
The undisputed minimumweight world champion Seniesa Estrada announced her retirement last week due to injury.
She was recently married to DAZN boxing analyst Chris Mannix this past summer, but according to Estrada, the reason for retiring was a re-occurring injury to her arm.
Seniesa Estrada’s father Joe Estrada, said the injury first occurred during a title match against Argentina’s Leonela Yudica in the second round last year. After surgery she fought Yokasta Valle and again the same arm caused pain when used. “Every time she threw a punch with that arm she needed to wait awhile before using it again.”
While preparing for a December or January fight she hurt the arm while training last week. More on Estrada later.
Yoka fights
Former minimumweight champion Yokasta Valle (31-3, 10 Kos) returns to the boxing ring this Friday Nov. 1, against Mexico City’s Elizabeth Cruz Lopez (12-3, 2 Kos) for the now vacant WBC title in Guanacaste, Costa Rica. This is her third fight in 2024.
Incidentally, also on the card is Valle’s younger sister Naomy Valle who has been competing on a national television dancing contest – Costa Rica’s version of Dancing With The Stars. The Valle sisters will both be fighting on Friday.
Yokasta Valle had been yearning for a rematch with Seniesa Estrada who defeated her last March in Arizona. It was one of the top fights of the year. The announcement of Estrada’s retirement was a disappointment to Valle’s team.
“I’m surprised with Seniesa Estrada’s decision to retire. I wish her the best in this new chapter of her life,” said Valle on social media, whose team sought a rematch. “When she’s ready to come back, I’ll gladly give her the opportunity for the rematch.”
Bantam Action
Shurretta Metcalf defeated Miyo Yoshida by decision to win the IBF bantamweight world title last Wednesday in New York. The height and long arms of Metcalf proved too much for Yoshida who was making her first defense of the title she won against Ebanie Bridges a year ago.
Metcalf hails from Dallas, Texas and rumor has it that she could be facing another bantamweight world titlist in a unification match.
Denmark’s Dina Thorslund beat Terumi Nuki by unanimous decision to retain the WBC and WBO bantamweight titles last Friday in her homeland. The undefeated champion has defended both titles successfully a total of 11 times.
Rumors have spread that Thorslund could be facing Shurretta Metcalf the new IBF titlist in a unification match early next year.
Super lights and Chantelle Cameron
In a little more than two weeks the rematch between undisputed super lightweight champion Katie Taylor and undisputed featherweight champion Amanda Serrano takes place at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Netflix will stream the Most Valuable Promotions fight card that includes Mike Tyson versus Jake Paul.
Taylor will be defending the super lightweight titles against Serrano who will be moving up three weight classes.
Weight won’t matter in this rematch. Their first fiery encounter two years ago established so many firsts including a sold-out venue at Madison Square Garden and pay-per-view numbers of more than 1 million. That match was held in the 135-pound lightweight limit. This match will be at 140-pound limit.
The winner could possibly face former champion Chantelle Cameron who fights this Saturday in Birmingham, England against Patricia Berghult for the WBC interim title.
More Fight News
Argentina
Anahi Sanchez (25-6) defeated Erica Alvarez (6-9) by decision after 10 rounds on Saturday Oct. 26. The South American super lightweight title fight was held in Buenos Aires. Also, minimumweight Sol Cudos (9-0-1) knocked out Johana Zuniga (18-8-1) in the fifth for the South American title.
Australia
On Sat. Nov. 2, super feathers Pam McLelland (3-3-1) and Sacha Ryan (1-0) meet eight rounds for the Australian title at Newcastle West. Also, welterweights Jessica Messina 5-1) and Rajwant Kaur (4-3) meet six.
Cayman Islands
On Saturday Nov. 2, super bantams Katie Healy (8-1) and Ashleigh Johnson (2-1) meet 10 rounds for a regional title at Georgetown.
Denmark
Dina Thorslund (23-0) won by unanimous decision after 10 rounds versus Terumi Nuki (15-6) on Friday Oct. 25. The WBC and WBO bantamweight title match was held in Holstebro.
Dominican Republic
Katiana Petite-Homme (6-0) knocked out Marjorie Guzman (0-2) in the second round on Saturday Oct. 26. The bantamweight match was held in San Cristobal.
Fiji
Maureen Chand (4-6) defeated Mereamo Wati (0-2) in four on Saturday Oct. 26. The lightweight fight was held in Nadi.
Germany
On Saturday Nov. 2, welters Michaela Kotaskova (7-0-2) and Dajana Rakovic (1-0) meet eight rounds at Baden-Wurttemberg.
India
On Wednesday Oct. 30, lightweights Mandeep Kaur (2-0) and Teena Panchal (1-4-1) meet four rounds at Tam Taran Sahib.
Italy
Gloria Peritore (5-0-1) knocked out Cristina Garrobo (6-2-1) in the 10th round on Saturday Oct. 26. The regional title match took place in Palermo.
Pamela Noutcho (8-0) defeated Nina Pavlovic (9-6-1) after 10 rounds on Friday Oct. 25. The EBU lightweight title match was held in Casalecchio. Also, super feather Biancamaria Tessari (2-0) beat Dragana Golic (0-19) in six.
Japan
Anera Osawa (1-0-1) knocked out Jittamat Phomta (7-6) in the sixth round on Saturday Oct. 26. The featherweight match was held in Tokyo.
On Sunday Nov. 3, atomweights Sara Ishiguro (2-1-1) and Mao Kamada (1-0-2) meet four rounds at Toyama.
Netherlands
Kris-Anne Mulder (1-0) won by majority decision after four rounds versus Tessa Van Stenus (1-3) on Monday Oct. 21. The welterweight match took place in Amsterdam.
New Zealand
On Saturday Nov. 2, bantams Christine Gillespie (0-1-1) and Sarah Linton (0-4) meet 10 rounds for the New Zealand title at Christchurch.
Poland
Laura Grzyb (11-0) defeated Sarai Umpierrez (3-2) by unanimous decision after 10 rounds on Saturday Oct. 26. The IBO super bantamweight title match was held in Zakopane.
Puerto Rico
On Wednesday Oct. 30, light flys Genesis Lopez (1-0) and Magnanamay Delgado (0-2) meet four rounds at Humacao.
South Korea
Kyung Joo Bae (1-1) beat Hye Jung Lee (1-2) after four rounds on Saturday Oct. 26. The featherweight fight took place in Incheon.
Thailand
Ching Hsun Wang (4-0-2) knocked out Worapapha Sihamat (0-1) in the first round on Saturday Oct. 26. The flyweight match was held in Pathum Thani. Also, bantam Kamonthip Aemsakun (1-0) knocked out Pornthip Kamthongphanow (0-3) in the second round; and super lightweight Roshanak Saberan (1-0) beat Julaluck Srianan (0-2) in four.
Helena Yazdanparasti (1-0) knocked out Narintorn Meetone (0-3) in the second round on Tuesday Oct. 22. The lightweight fight was held in Bangkok.
On Thursday Oct. 31, super flys Loetizia Campana (6-9) and Sukanya Wiriya (3-1) meet six rounds at Bangkok.
Turkey
On Wednesday Oct. 30, bantamweights Seren Cetin (12-1) and Hulya Ege (0-1) meet eight rounds at Istanbul.
United Kingdom
Emily Whitworth (1-0) defeated Sara Orszagi (1-3) in four on Saturday Oct. 26. The bantamweight fight was held in Manchester.
Oriance Lungu (1-0) won by decision after six over Bojana Libiszewska (7-67) on Saturday Oct. 26. The super lightweight match was held in Bethnal Green.
On Saturday Nov. 2, super lightweights Chantelle Cameron (19-1) and Patricia Berghult (17-1) meet 10 rounds for an interim title at Birmingham.
USA
Lupe Medina (8-0) won by majority decision after six rounds versus Katherine Lindenmuth (6-4) on Saturday Oct. 26. The minimumweight fight was held in Commerce, Calif. Also, super bantamweight Chantel Navarro (3-0) knocked out Mollie Backowski (0-3) in the third.
Shurretta Metcalf (14-4-1) defeated Miyo Yoshida (17-5) by unanimous decision after 10 rounds on Wednesday Oct. 23. The IBF bantamweight world title match was held in New York City.
On Saturday Nov. 2, super lightweights Stevie Jane Coleman (5-1) and Suzana Rodriguez (3-0) meet four rounds at Uncasville, Connecticut.
On Saturday Nov. 2, lightweights Kacey Wheeler (0-0) and Caterina Robledo (0-0) meet four rounds at Washington D.C.
On Saturday Nov. 2, flyweights Gabriela Alaniz (15-1) and Gabriela Fundora (14-0) meet 10 rounds for the undisputed flyweight championship in Las Vegas, Nevada. The WBO, WBA, WBC and IBF titles will be at stake.