Countdown to Big Bang Card in New York and Other Action

 

(Photo by Esther Lin)

By David A. Avila

Now it has begun.

An all-out assault by top tier female fighters this summer ignited with Franchon Crews-Dezurn eking out a majority decision against newcomer Citlalli Ortiz in New York last weekend.

Expect more of the same in the coming weeks.

Crews had not fought in almost two years and the rust showed. Or maybe Ortiz had a lot to do with that as she utilized her quickness and lack of height to duck under Crews favorite weapon the overhand right.

There was a lot of tangling going on as Crews fell into Ortiz after firing blows and both tried to continue throwing punches. The main problem in the fight is the problem with all female fights, there are only two-minute rounds. It’s really not enough time to dictate a true winner.

Two minutes is simply not enough time to determine who won a round.

Crews retains the WBC and WBA super middleweight titles and could ultimately face old nemesis and friend Claressa Shields who was sitting in the audience during the fight. The only question is would the fight be at super middleweight or heavyweight?

 

Lightweights

In Florida, the next day, Beatriz Ferreira defeated Maria Ines Ferreyra of Argentina by unanimous decision after 10 rounds. The Brazilian fighter retains the IBF lightweight title and is poised to meet WBA titlist Stephanie Han of El Paso, Texas. Her older sister Jennifer is a former featherweight champion.

The lightweight division also has Caroline Dubois, a very good fighter out of England who holds the WBC and IBO versions. England also has Terri Harper the current WBO titlist who formerly had two other division titles. It is a very loaded division.

In a few weeks, on June 28, another lightweight match of importance takes place in Anaheim, California when Holly Holm returns to the boxing scene after 12 years in MMA. The former boxing champion meets Mexico’s undefeated Yolanda Vega. This fight could determine if a new player has arrived in the crowded division.

 

Super lightweight Clash And More in NYC

The female fight world is anxiously awaiting the third clash between Amanda Serrano and undisputed super lightweight champion Katie Taylor on July 11 at Madison Square Garden.

Taylor has won two out of two times but by the slimmest of margins.

Their last match was a record-setter that was estimated by Netflix to have reached more than 60 million viewers.

Serrano and Taylor are doing it again and this time they are bringing a few of their friends along in an all-female boxing show. Netflix will provide coverage.

It was just recently announced that Dina Thorslund the WBO and WBC bantamweight titlist was forced to pull out of the fight due to pregnancy against IBF bantamweight titlist Shurretta Metcalf. It was one of the top fights on the July 11 Madison Square Garden card.

WBA bantamweight titlist Cherneka Johnson, fresh off a resounding win over Nina Hughes, will replace Thorslund and meet Metcalf in a unification match. The Aussie fighter Johnson, known as “Sugar Neekz” looked vastly improved. Will she be able to match skills against the much taller Metcalf?

Meanwhile Metcalf has been patiently waiting for her time to shine. She defeated Japan’s Miyo Yoshida twice and now looks to fight on the big stage. Both of her title fights were in Manhattan but in a small setting of less than 1,000 people. This time more than 19,000 fans will be watching her attempt to be a unified champion.

 

More Fight News

Argentina

Jennifer Meza (9-4-1) and Claudia Ruiz (6-2-1) fought to a split draw after 10 rounds on Saturday June 7. The atomweight fight took place in Buenos Aires.

Karen Carabajal (25-2) won by knockout over Micaela Dominguez (5-3) in the ninth round on Friday June 6. The regional lightweight title fight took place in Cutral Co.

Leila Robledo (2-0-1) beat Rocio Gatica (1-3-1) by split decision after six rounds on Friday June 6. The super light fight was held in La Punta.

On Friday June 13, flyweights Aldana Lopez (12-0) and Olga Julio (40-18-3) meet 10 rounds for the South American title at Buenos Aires.

On Saturday June 14, flyweights Micaela Lujan (15-2-1) and Ayelen Granadino (11-2-4) meet 10 rounds at Buenos Aires.

 

Australia

Mariah Turner (10-1) defeated Leah Reuben (1-2-1) by decision after eight rounds on Sunday June 8. The featherweight fight took place in Broadbeach.

On Saturday June 14, super flyweights Mili Saul (1-1) and Khwunchit Khunya (6-18-1) meet eight rounds at Surfers Paradise. Also, featherweights Stasia Waimaria (2-1) and Pattarawee Nareeruk (0-0) meet eight.

 

Belgium

Helene Connart (3-1) defeated Joice Alves (2-3) by knockout in the sixth on Friday June 6. The lightweight fight was held in Hainaut.

 

China

Dilinaer Maimaiti (1-0) beat Manli Lei (1-4-1) by decision after six rounds on Sunday June 8. The super feather fight took place in Xi An.

On Saturday June 14, super bantams Quiyan Lu (1-0) and Nian Lu (0-0-1) meet four rounds at Shanghai.

On Sunday June 15, lightweights Yuqing Deng (0-0) and Haini Mulataialli (4-0) meet four rounds at Baoding.

 

Colombia

Yeni Arias (2-0-1) knocked out Jesica Racedo (0-5) in the third round on Saturday June 7. The bantam fight was held in Barrqanquilla.

On Saturday June 14, super bantams Nathalia Arango (3-4) and Bethy Franco (11-12-2) meet eight rounds at Cali. Also, middleweights Carmen Gukiksen (3-0) and Yelianyi Fernandez (2-0) meet six.

 

Czech Republic

Johana Rochi (4-5-1) knocked out Natasa Demeterova (0-1) in the first round on Saturday June 7. The super light fight was held in Skvorec.

 

Denmark

On Saturday June 14, super bantams Melissa Mortensen (5-0) and Halima Vunjabei (16-13-1) meet eight rounds at Copenhagen.

 

France

Licia Boudersa (24-3-2) defeated Eva Cantos (9-21-1) by unanimous decision after six rounds on Saturday June 7. The super feather match was held in Lille.

On Saturday June 14, light flyweights Romane Moulai (5-0) and Silvia Torres (22-3-3) meet 10 rounds for the IBO world title at Annecy.

On Saturday June 14, super lightweights Fanny Galle (2-0) and Lilia Cherifi (4-0) meet eight rounds for the French title at Paris.

 

Italy

Martina Righi (7-3-1) won by points after six rounds against Marina Sakharov (6-21-2) on Sunday June 8. The super feather fight was held in Florence.

On Saturday June 14, flyweights Martina Bernile (7-4-1) and Hye Soo Park (8-10-3) meet 10 rounds at Piemonte.

 

Kazakhstan

On Friday June 13, lightweights Rimma Volossenko (0-0) and Manjot Rattu (6-2) meet four rounds at Almaty.

 

South Africa

Alima Nikosi (3-0)  beat Caroline Rabali (0-1-1) by majority decision after four rounds on Saturday June 7. The middleweight match took place in Middelburg.

 

South Korea

Hye Su Jang (5-0) defeated Si Yeon Ryu (3-1) by decision after eight rounds on Saturday June 7. The South Korean light fly title match took place in Seoul.

 

Spain

On Saturday June 14, minimumweights Cristina Navarro (6-3) and Maria Milano (13-3-2) meet 10 rounds at Zaragoza.

On Saturday June 14, super feathers Almudena Alvarez (6-2) and Gabriela Mezei (11-36-5) meet six rounds at Alcorcon.

 

Thailand

Pannaporn Kaewpawong (6-5) knocked out Farung Srithong (0-7) in the second round on Sunday June 8. The super bantam fight took place in Pathum Thani.

Ruqsana Begum (6-2-1) won by unanimous decision after 10 rounds versus Kadesara Jadpakdee (9-10-1) on Saturday June 7. The regional flyweight title match was held in Bangkok.

On Saturday June 14, super flies Tanwarat Saengiamjit (13-9-1) and Chisakan Ariphipat (19-1-1) meet six rounds at Pattaya.

 

United Kingdom

Naila Peloso (1-12-1) defeated Jessica Woolfenden (1-1) by decision after four rounds on Saturday June 7. The featherweight match took place in Bolton.

Lillie Winch (5-0) won by decision after six rounds against Katerina Dvorakova (3-7) on Saturday June 7. The featherweight fight was held in Ipswich.

Kerry Haley (4-2) beat Ester Konecna (7-32-2) by decision after six on Saturday June 7. The welter fight was held in Middlesbrough. Also, lightweight Jade Pearce (1-0) knocked out Valgerdur Gudsteinsdottir (7-8) in three; and welter Hannah Robinson (4-0) beat Georgia Klein (2-1) in six.

On Saturday June 14, bantams Megan Redstall (4-0-1) and Evelin Camporeale (5-15-1) meet eight rounds at Bristol. Also, super lights Charlie Sutton (4-1) and Lenka Volejnikova (3-3-1) meet six rounds.

On Saturday June 14, featherweights Mae Astbury (1-0) and Naila Peloso (1-12-1) meet four rounds at Liverpool. Also, welters Jenna Pilling (0-0) and Vaida Masiokaite (10-29-6) meet four.

 

USA

Beatriz Ferreira (7-0) defeated Maria Ines Ferreyra (11-1-1) by unanimous decision after 10 rounds on Saturday June 7. The IBF lightweight world title fight was held in Orlando, Florida. Also, bantam Naomy Cardenas (9-0) defeated Bree Howling (8-1) by decision after eight rounds; and super bantam Reina Tellez (12-0-1) defeated Maria Salinas (27-12-6) by decision after eight.

Alexis Bolduc (2-2) won by decision after six rounds against Sara Couillard (1-2) on Saturday June 7. The super bantam fight was held in Boston, Mass.

Franchon Crews-Dezurn (10-2) won by majority decision after 10 rounds versus Citlalli Ortiz (4-2) on Friday June 6. The WBA and WBC super middleweight world title fight was held in Verona, New York. Also, super bantam Ashleyann Lozada (2-0) knocked out Carmen Vargas (5-4-1) in one.

Savannah Tini (5-0) won by decision after six rounds against Simone Aparecida (17-36) on Tuesday June 3. The welterweight fight took place in Nashville, Tenn.

On Friday June 13, super flyweights LeAnna Cruz (10-0) and Regina Chavez (8-5-3) meet 10 rounds at Philadelphia, Pa.

On Saturday June 14, super feathers Brittany Ordonez (5-6-3) and Karla Valenzuela (3-37-3) meet six rounds at San Antonio, Texas.