Grading Holly Holm and More Including Kenia Enriquez, Adelaida Ruiz and Madison Square Garden Fights

 

(Photo by Al Applerose)

By David A. Avila

When Holly Holm last laced up the boxing gloves women’s prizefighting was an after thought for most of the world.

A lot has changed in a dozen years.

Holm returned and the talent level has risen in women’s boxing tenfold. The New Mexico boxer was matched perfectly with Mexico’s Yolanda Vega who probably never faced that hit and run style south of the border. That style is foreign to Mexicans.

Still, though Holm won most every round when the fight was done, if you didn’t watch the action and judged on who looked like the winner it would clearly have been Vega. She had no trace of redness of swelling. Holm looked like she had been hit more than a few times with cuts and redness across her face.

That’s boxing.

Holm said during interviews leading up to the fight to expect slight changes in her fighting style. Realistically, her style remains the same.

Always a superb athlete with precision and agility, Holm looked almost the same as she did back in 2013. Her last win was against Mary McGee a talented fighter who became world champion.

Though Holm was always a great athlete, she was more suited for MMA because of her ability to generate power in her kicking. However, in boxing, she had no power and 12 years later she still has no trace of power. But she is accurate.

At 43, and fighting at lightweight, just who can she fight?

Recently signed by Most Valuable Promotions, they can pick and choose a big payday for the redhead from Albuquerque. But who?

The talent-level across the world has quickly grown in the last 10 years. Mexico’s Vega is proof of that. She had never faced a world class fighter before and after 10 rounds looked untouched.

Holm fights at 135 pounds or more and those with world title bouts are incredibly talented. You have Caroline Dubois, Delfine Persoon, Beatriz Ferreira, and Terri Harper. If you move up a division there is Chantelle Cameron, Jessica Camara and of course Amanda Serrano and Katie Taylor waiting. If you move down to super featherweight Alycia Baumgardner is waiting with that big right hand.

It doesn’t get easier for Holm.

You can get paid heftily for your work nowadays in women’s boxing. But you are going to take your lumps. Welcome back Holly Holm.

 

Kenia in MMA

Kenia Enriquez signed a contract with Combate Global an MMA organization it was announced on Monday July 1.

Enriquez has long remained one of the top female fighters pound for pound in the world in boxing, yet due to the WBC she was never given an opportunity to fight for the actual world title as a light flyweight or a flyweight.

It remains one of the saddest stories in boxing.

Now 31, Enriquez, who lives and trains out of her native Tijuana, Mexico, will dive into MMA which can be merciless. Boxers have no advantage in the sport especially when taken to the ground. That’s truly foreign territory.

Enriquez has not lost a fight in boxing since 2015. She has wins over current light flyweight world champion Yesica Nery Plata and former multi-division world champion Ibeth Zamora.

Her next scheduled MMA event takes place on Thursday July 17.

 

Adelaida “Cobra” Ruiz in Tijuana

Adelaida “Cobra” Ruiz (16-1-1, 8 Kos) meets Luz Elena Aguilar (8-9-2, 2 Kos) in Tijuana, Mexico on Saturday July 5. Ruiz last fought in August 2024 when she lost by decision to Ginny Fuchs. The Los Angeles-based fighter remains one of the top super flyweights in the world.

Aguilar defeated Sulem Urbina by technical knockout a few weeks ago in Juarez, Mexico. Based in Oaxaca, she has faced many top Mexican fighters including Lulu Juarez, Silvia Torres, Isabel Millan and Maria Salinas.

 

Madison Square Garden

In less than two weeks the third meeting between Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano headlines the women’s extravaganza at Madison Square Garden in New York City on Friday July 11. Netflix will stream the Most Valuable Promotions boxing card.

Among those trading blows are Alycia Baumgardner and Jennifer Miranda; along with Shurreta Metcalf and Cherneka Johnson; Ellie Scotney and Yamileth Mercado; Chantelle Cameron and Jessica Camara; Savannah Marshall and Shadasia Green in world title bouts. Others scheduled to perform include Ramla Ali, Tam, Thibeault, Mary Casamassa and Lila Furtado.

“What MVP is doing for women’s boxing is absolutely insane,” said Katie Taylor the reigning undisputed super light champion. “The world is going to see the better of women’s boxing and not just an all-female carriage, but the top quality.

It’s a massive card that could change the direction of women’s boxing.

 

More Fight News

Argentina

Lucrecia Manzur (13-4) defeated Lucrecia Belen (7-8) by knockout in the fifth round on Friday June 27. The South American featherweight title fight was held in Tucuman.

On Saturday July 5, super feathers Maria Dolores Gomez (5-0-1) and Romina Nunez (2-6) meet six rounds at Buenos Aires.

 

Australia

Chloe Grech (3-0-2) and Mishelle Macatangay (1-1-1) ended in a technical draw after four rounds on Saturday June 28. The light fly fight was held in Condell Park. Also, super bantam Shanell Dargan (7-2-2) defeated Jittamat Phomta (9-11) in eight.

Mai Soliman (8-1) knocked out Nattarat Prempida (11-7-1) in the first round on Saturday June 28. The super fly match took place on Condell Park. Also, flyweight Jemma Peart (6-1) beat Kanokwan Wirunpat (4-2) in eight.

 

Canada

Leila Beaudoin (13-1) won by technical knockout in the sixth round over Elhem Mekhaled (17-4) on Friday June 27. The regional super featherweight title match was held in Quebec City.

 

China

On Sunday July 6, lightweights Haini Mulataiali (4-0) and Zahra Feyzollah (0-0-1) meet six rounds at Tianjin.

 

Colombia

Olga Julio (41-19-3) knocked out Vanesa Estrada (1-3-1) in the second round on Friday June 27. The bantam fight was held in Santa Marta.

 

Costa Rica

On Saturday July 5, minimumweights Gipsy Diaz (6-0) and Priscila Zelaya (0-0) meet four rounds at Guanacaste; also super flies Angie Diaz (2-0) and Diana Hernandez (0-0) meet four.

 

Dominican Republic

Vivian Bianelis (8-1) defeated Martha Hernandez (5-3) by decision after eight rounds on Saturday June 28. The super bantam fight took place in Santo Domingo.

 

France

Mariam Sidibe (5-0-1) defeated Ingrid Brodu (1-3) by decision after eight rounds on Wednesday June 25. The lightweight title match was held in Garges les Gonesse; bantam Jeysa Marcel (15-0) won by decision after six rounds versus Estefania Matute (11-28); and light fly Tania D’Almeida (1-0) beat Gordana Marjanovic (0-15) in four.

 

Italy

On Saturday July 5, super bantams Veronica Tosi (7-2) and Cristina Garganese (3-2) meet six rounds in Milan.

 

Japan

Yuko Kuroki (25-8-2) defeated Nanako Suzuki (9-4) by unanimous decision after 10 rounds on Thursday June 26. The WBA minimumweight world title match took place in Tokyo. Also, feather Anera Osawa (3-0-1) beat Pei Yi Wu (4-1) in eight; bantams Makoto Kikuchi (5-2-1) and Yuki Fuke (4-1-1) drew after six; Nano Hata (0-0-1) and Ying Wang (1-1-1) drew after four; minimums Madoka Wada (4-0) knocked out Carlean Rivas (9-8-4) in seven; atomweight Honoka Kano (10-1-2) knocked out Ena Sakai (3-3) in three; Komi Sato (3-0) beat Wakashi Yoshida (1-2) in four; and flyweight Mika Yagio (6-4-1) beat Arisa Kishimoto (0-1) in six.

Anisa Tsubata (2-0) knocked out Suphannika Tanchoem (4-1-1) in the third round on Wednesday June 25. The super light match took place in Tokyo.

 

Mexico

On Saturday July 5, Adelaida “Cobra” Ruiz (16-1-1, 8 Kos) meets Luz Elena Aguilar (8-9-2, 2 Kos) in Tijuana, Mexico. Ruiz last fought in August 2024 and remains one of the top super flyweights in the world. Aguilar defeated Sulem Urbina by technical knockout

 

New Zealand

Sheilla Yama (4-0) beat Louise Creaven (3-1) by decision after six rounds on Sunday June 29. The super lightweight fight was held in Manukau City. Also, light fly Emma Nesbitt (8-1) beat Bec Moss (2-4) in six, and bantam Sara Linton (2-5) beat Nyrene Crowley (0-1) in four.

Kirstin Repia (1-0) beat Tania Barnett (0-5) by decision after four rounds on Saturday June 28. The super light match was held in Tauranga.

On Saturday July 5, lightweights Jadene Treadaway (1-0-1) and Tricia Mackenzie (1-3-1) meet eight rounds at Putaruru.

 

Nigeria

On Wednesday July 2, super bantams Fathia Olofintuyi (5-0) and Margaret Ibiam (0-8) meet six rounds at Lagos. Also, Latifat Morohundiya (5-0) and Oluwole Kikelomo (0-4) meet four.

 

Serbia

Nadja Milijancevic (4-0) knocked out Nana Dokadze (4-25) in the first round on Saturday June 28. The super lightweight match was held in Belgrade.

 

South Africa

Thobela Nyanda (5-0) defeated Yonelisa Poni (2-4) by unanimous decision after 10 rounds on Sunday June 29. The minimumweight South African title match was held in East London.

Olwethu Makhathala (2-0) knocked out Anitha Poni (0-1) in the first round on Sunday June 29. The minimumweight fight was held in Capetown.

Nosiacswe Dube (5-6-4) defeated Loveness Kokha (2-8-1) by decision after 10 rounds on Friday June 27. The super fly match was held in Thohoyandou. Also, lightweight Chiedza Homakoma (7-8-3) beat Raider Muleba (6-16-1) in six.

 

South Korea

On Saturday July 5, light flies Ye Kyeng Seo (7-1-3) and Bang Un Kim (0-8) meet six rounds at Incheon. Also, flies Eun Joo Cha (0-0-2) and Ye Rin Lee (0-0) meet four.

 

Spain

Tatiana Perez (5-0-1) won by unanimous decision after six rounds versus Jasmina Nad (11-36-5) on Saturday June 28. The flyweight match was held in Colmenar Viejo.

 

Thailand

Connie Chan  (6-8) knocked out Pasika Chaersaeng (1-1) in the first round on Saturday June 28. The super welter match was held in Bangkok. Also, lightweight Tara Enoka (3-2) knocked out Piyatida Aimthuam (1-7) in three; and super fly Magdalena Szwed (3-0) beat Wanasanan Onuch (7-4-2) in six.

 

Ukraine

Sofia Novikova (1-0) knocked out Anastasia Shvydchenko (0-1) in the third round on Saturday June 28. The welterweight fight was held in Lviv.

 

United Kingdom

Gemma Paige (2-0) knocked out Tereza Dvorakova (4-12) in the fifth round on Saturday June 28. The lightweight match was held in Hull; also feather Chelsey Arnell (5-2-1) beat Nicholine Achieng (4-14-1) in six.

On Friday July 4, feathers Sian O’Toole (6-0) and Doina Costin (2-0) meet 10 rounds for British title at Wolverhampton.

On Saturday July 5, super bantams Skye Nicolson (12-1) and Carla Campos (9-3) meet eight rounds at Manchester.

On Saturday July 5, lightweights Kacie Doocey (0-0) and Beccy Ferguson (6-13) meet six rounds at Rotherham; also super feathers Bianca Johnson (2-0) and Nicholine Achieng (4-14-1) meet six.

 

USA

Holly Holm (34-2-3) won by unanimous decision after 10 rounds versus Yolanda Vega (10-1) on Saturday June 28. The lightweight fight was held in Anaheim, Calif.

Brittany Parker (1-0) knocked out Anari Mathews (0-4) in the third round on Saturday June 28. The heavyweight match was held in Lincoln, Nebraska.

Kayla Williams (2-1) won by decision after four rounds versus Helen Lucero (0-5) on Friday June 27. The lightweight match was held in Wichita, Kansas.