Rating Top Female Welterweights and Other News
By David A. Avila
We are entering the month of March madness.
Welterweights like Natasha Jonas and several others are scheduled to fill this coming month with marquee match ups in England and the USA.
No other weight division seems to be as loaded as the 147-pound welterweights division with talent spread throughout Europe and North America.
Many of the welterweights were formerly super featherweights or lightweights and found immediate success. Many are now in their 30s with one newcomer at 21 years old and fighting out of Turkey. Another is in her 40s and a surefire Hall of Fame fighter that no one dares fight.
Here is a breakdown of what to expect from the top welterweights:
Welterweights
Dilara Yucel, 21, Turkey (16-0, 11 Kos) – has a nice right hand. Strong jab and good body shots Average speed. Yucel shows good power and is a decent height. Weaknesses: Goes straight back when attacked. Fights with hands low and is open for counters. She also tends to smother herself inside and has not fought any elite competition. But power is a big equalizer.
Natasha Jonas, 40, UK, (16-2-1, 9 Kos) – possesses good boxing skills, power, and all the punches. She also has speed and defense. Weaknesses: she doesn’t throw enough punches. She was lucky to gain a victory over Mikaela Mayer when they fought in Liverpool, England.
Mikaela Mayer, 34 USA (20-2, 5 Kos) – has good boxing skills, speed, and her defense is solid. She has a very good right that hurt Natasha Jonas in the third. She also has a very good chin. Weaknesses: left hook is getting better but not there yet. Doesn’t use her length enough but has a lot of fight in her.
Sandy Ryan 31, UK (7-2-1, 3 Kos) – is a tall, strong, combination puncher. A pressure fighter with a good chin. Her stamina is very good. Weaknesses: is her defense. She fights with her hands slow and gets hit with counter rights. But she has improved in rapid fashion and can upset anyone not prepared to go 10 hard rounds.
Lauryne Price, 30, UK (8-0, 2 Kos) – an Olympic gold medalist, strong puncher, aggressive and throws a lot of punches. She also has very good skills and power. Weaknesses: she comes in with her head. She is also the shortest of the young welterweights. Her tendency to butt when inside fighting could be a liability.
Layla McCarter, 45, USA )47-13-5, 13 Kos) – the most experienced of all the welterweights. She has knowledge and skills built in the boxing ring against many current and future hall of famers. Though she hasn’t been able to lure any of the current contenders that’s not her fault. It remains to be seen how much speed and agility remains. She hasn’t lost a fight in 18 years. Think of that. It’s legendary stuff. She still packs power as her last win in Mexico proved a few weeks ago. Weaknesses: age. How much does she still have in the arsenal?
Ivana Habazin, 35, Croatia (23-6, 7 Kos) – a veteran who has fought many of the best such as Claressa Shields, Natasha Jonas and Cecilia Braekhus. The Croatian fighter has all the skills and toughness. She possesses a lot of experience. Weaknesses: just a tick below the others in terms of power, speed and skills. Just a tick.
Upcoming fights in March
IBF and WBC titlist Natasha Jonas (16-2-1, 9 Kos) is scheduled to meet IBO titlist Lauryne Price (8-0, 2 Kos) on Friday March 7, in London, England.
WBO titlist Mikaela Mayer (20-2, 5 Kos) and Sandy Ryan (7-2-1, 3 Kos) fight again on Saturday March 29. This time in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Both fights should be contenders for Fight of the Year.
Han Dynasty?
Stephanie Han, the younger sister of former champion Jennifer Han, knocked out Hannah Terlep (5-2) in the first round on Saturday Feb. 22. The WBA lightweight world title fight took place in El Paso, Texas.
Stephanie Han, 34, is seven years younger than Jennifer who will soon be inducted into the International Women’s Boxing Hall of Fame this coming April in Las Vegas. Jennifer was IBF featherweight champion for three years. Now Stephanie holds the WBA lightweight world title vacated by Katie Taylor.
The Han family based in El Paso, Texas is famous throughout the amateur boxing world. They also have a brother Abraham Han who fought former middleweight champion Sergio Mora in 2015.
More Fight News
Argentina
Micaela Dominguez (5-2) won by decision over Lorena Agoutborde (5-9-4) on Saturday Feb. 22. The lightweight fight took place in Buenos Aires.
Karen Carabajal (24-2) defeated Claudia Lopez (26-18) by decision after eight rounds on Friday Feb. 21. The super lightweight fight took place in Cutral Co.
Melisa Quintana (0-0-5) and Maira Sanchez (2-8-1) fought to a draw after four rounds on Friday Feb. 21. The super lightweight fight took place in Rafaela.
Australia
On Friday Feb. 28, super flyweights Erini Ramirez (3-3-1) and Khwunchit Khunya (6-17-1) meet four rounds at Flemington.
On Saturday Mar. 1, super flyweights Nicila Costello 5-4-1) and Brianna Harrison (2-1) meet six rounds at South Brisbane.
Bangladesh
On Thursday Feb. 27, flyweights Rahima Akter (1-0) and Tripura Lima (5-2) meet six rounds at Dhaka. Also, Antora Brishti (2-0) and Tanjila Tanjila (2-3) meet four; and lightweights Sanaya Sultana (2-1) and Shamima Akter (3-0) meet four.
Canada
On Thursday Feb. 27, minimumweights Kim Clavel (20-2) and Anabel Ortiz (34-7) meet 10 rounds for regional titles at Montreal.
On Friday Feb. 28, featherweights Jelena Mrdjenovich (42-12-2) and Jessica Bellusci (6-3)
On Saturday Mar. 1, flyweights Alexas Kubicki (11-1) and Fara El Bousairi (9-4) meet 10 rounds for a regional title at Edmonton.
Chile
Daniela Asenjo (17-4-3) won by majority decision after 10 rounds versus Tania Garcia (10-11-2) on Saturday Feb. 22. The bantamweight fight took place in Valdivia. Also, super feathers Genoveva Candia (1-1-1) and Rocio Bellido (1-0-1) drew after six; welter Catalino Castro (1-0) beat Carla Ciriaco (0-1) in four; and super bantam Belen Quiroz (1-0) beat Mariela Cama (0-2) in four.
China
On Saturday March 1, super bantams Yan Jiang (0-1) and Feixue Meng (0-1) meet four rounds at Chengdu. Also, featherweights Bowen Wang (2-0-1) and Yanyu Li (4-2-1) meet four.
Colombia
Maria Miranda (17-20 knocked out Natalia Borja (0-8) in the fourth round on Monday Feb. 17. The super bantam fight took place in Melgar.
On Friday Feb. 28, super feathers Paulina Angel (6-1-2) and Johen Gonzalez (7-1-2) meet 10 rounds at Monteria. Also, welterweights Bexcy Mateus (7-1) and Keren batiz (7-5-1) meet six rounds.
Czech Republic
On Sunday March 2, bantamweights Julia Lee (3-0) and Oleksandra Fedorova (0-2) meet six rounds at Usi nad Labem.
Denmark
On Saturday march 1, featherweights Melissa Mortensen (3-0) and Alba Sanchez (8-2) meet six rounds at Vejen.
Egypt
On Wednesday Feb. 26, bantamweights Mariam Gabry (4-1) and Israa Khaled (0-0) meet four rounds at Cairo. Also, super bantams Aye Ramadhan (3-0) and Jana Mahmoud (0-0) meet four.
France
Lauryne Brankaer (6-0-1) and Yohandri Rondon (10-0-1) fought to a majority draw after eight rounds on Saturday Feb. 22. The super fly regional title fight took place in Chateauroux.
Germany
Songuel Ayten (5-2) knocked out Betina Krumholz (1-8) in the first round on Saturday Feb. 22. The super lightweight fight took place in Stuttgart. Also, super bantam Phannarai Netisri (16-0) beat Milena Koleva (10-17-1) in six.
Guatemala
Genesis Rodas Arias (2-0) beat Jacqueline Lopez (0-1) by decision after four rounds on Sunday February 23. The super fly fight was held in a Mixco.
India
On Friday Feb. 28, featherweights Kamla Roka (1-2) and Arundhathi S Nair (2-0) meet six rounds at Goa. Also, super lightweights Raj Sahiba (3-0) and Lovely Kumari (0-2) meet six.
Mexico
Grisilayne Tellez (1-0) knocked out Maria Dominguez (0-2) in the first round on Saturday Feb. 22. The super feather match took place in Veracruz. Also, super bantams Itzel Ruiz (2-1-1) and Viridiana Rivera (0-0-1) drew in four.
On Saturday March 1, super bantams Carmen De Jong (1-0) and Arlette Hernandez (0-0) meet four rounds at Cancun.
On Saturday March 1, atomweights Brenda Balderas (6-8-1) and Jenny Gomez (2-3-1) meet six rounds at Veracruz.
Russia
On Thursday Feb. 27, super lightweights Elena Rodionova (0-0-1) and Olga Zabavina (0-11) meet six rounds at Moscow.
South Africa
On Friday Feb. 28, super bantams Seani Morite (0-2) and Caliegh Swart (3-0) meet six rounds at Johannesburg.
On Saturday March 1, minimumweights Tyla Promnick (1-0) and Emma Mohono (0-0) meet four rounds at Kempton Park.
South Korea
Myung Ji Lee (2-1) defeated Hee Ra Jang (0-2) by decision after four rounds on Sunday Feb. 23. The super fly fight was held in Siheung.
Spain
On Thursday Feb. 27, atomweights Isabel Rivero (9-2-1) and Estefania Matute (11-25) meet eight rounds at Sevilla.
Tanzania
Jesca MFinanga (7-4-1) defeated Sophia Hamisi (0-2-1) by decision after eight rounds on Friday Feb. 21. The super fly fight took place in Dar es Salaam.
Thailand
Skye Falzon (10-2) knocked out Jittamat Phomta (8-8) in the fourth round on Saturday Feb. 22. The featherweight fight took place in Pathum Thani. Also, super feather Stephanie Lee (8-0) knocked out Somwang Sawinchai (6-15-1) in three; and minimumweight Jessica Leask (1-0) knocked out Sirirat Phetsing (0-2) in two.
On Sunday March 2, super flyweights Aigel Khodova (2-0) and Ranee Klinratree (3-6) meet six rounds at Phuket.
Turkey
Angelina Lukas (14-1) knocked out Yesenia Montano (1-1) in the second round on Friday Feb. 21. The super flyweight fight took place in Istanbul.
United Kingdom
On Saturday March 1, flyweights Nicola Hopewell and Kate Radomska (4-5) meet ten rounds at Sheffield, England. Also, Tiana Schroeder (1-0) and Ivanka Ivanova (6-29-4) meet six.
USA
Stephanie Han (10-0) knocked out Hannah Terlep (5-2) in the first round on Saturday Feb. 22. The WBA lightweight world title fight took place in El Paso, Texas.
Yadira Bustillos (11-1) knocked out Tamara Demarco (12-8) in the seventh round on Saturday Feb. 22. The minimumweight fight took place in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Shannel Butler (2-0) won by split decision after four rounds against Melanie Costa (3-1) on Saturday Feb. 22. The featherweight fight was held at Mashantucket, Conn.
Lupe Medina (9-0) defeated Agustina Vazquez (4-3-2) by decision after eight rounds on Friday Feb. 21. The minimumweight fight took place in Santa Ynez, Calif.
Jennah Creason (2-0-1) and Samantha Ginithan (1-0-1) fought to a draw after four rounds on Friday Feb. 21. The super lightweight fight took place in Jamestown, Calif.
On Friday Feb. 28, featherweights Celene Roman (5-3-1) and Amanda DeRosa (0-0) meet four rounds at San Bernardino, Calif.