Dream Fights and More Female Boxing News
By David A. Avila
Since the early 1990s I’ve watched women’s boxing evolve into its current state. Over the years I’ve witnessed some incredible boxing by women from all over the world.
One of the first female fighters I actually saw ringside was a tiny minimumweight Wendy Rodriguez who displayed skills that surprised me. She had movement, accuracy and defense that exceeded most men’s abilities.
From that moment on I was hooked.
I began searching for more women’s boxing. At the time the amateur programs were still debating whether women or girls should be allowed. In the 1990s doors opened up for women and gyms became the haven for many curious girls in search of exercise and fitness.
Over the years. many women entered and departed pro boxing. There were a few that could have accomplished great things had they stayed. But the world wasn’t ready for women’s boxing until it was allowed in the Olympics in 2012.
Ever hear of Elizabeth Quevedo?
Today, Liz Quevedo Parr owns and runs a boxing gym in Long Beach with her husband and churns out new aspiring boxers. In her day she was one of the most dangerous punchers and had the speed and skill to compete with any fighter today.
At nearly 6-feet in height she competed at 140 pounds as an amateur and won the US Nationals four times. In one instance, she was not training and with only two days before the tournament was to begin, someone convinced her to compete. A friend paid for her flight and she stayed at another friend’s room and competed without a trainer and won the nationals.
Her dream was to compete in the Olympics. She had left her gym and searched for another and while working out at the Wild Card Gym she caught the eye of Freddie Roach. When I showed up at the gym one day Roach approached me and asked if I knew anything about her. I told him she won the Nationals four times. He immediately walked to her and introduced himself.
Quevedo dreamed of participating in the Olympics. At the time in 2006 there was hope that women would be included. When it was revealed that women’s boxing had been voted down, Quevedo was devastated.
She was convinced to try professional boxing. At the time Manny Pacquiao was the eye of the storm at the Wild Card and Roach his trainer. Quevedo agreed to pursue pro boxing career and was given a fight by Roach.
On May 24, 2007, Quevedo was signed to meet Danielle Christiansen at the Irvine Marriott Hotel on promoter Roy Englebrecht’s show. Both fighters were tall for the weight class. Quevedo walked into the showroom with Roach and venerable cutman Joe Chavez who at the time also worked Oscar De La Hoya’s corner.
Chavez wrapped Quevedo’s hands and she was too shy to ask for her hands to be re-wrapped. They were wrapped too tight and when the fight began Quevedo later said that she could feel something crack when she punched her foe that night. Though Quevedo won by knockout in the third, she knew her right hand was broken.
It took months for Quevedo’s hand to heal and then even longer to obtain another fight. She was slated to fight in San Diego but another woman training at Wild Card was seeking a fight too. Pacquiao was her friend and he asked Roach to replace Quevedo and insert his friend. Quevedo was devastated and decided to quit boxing. She never returned.
I often wondered how much Quevedo and others from that era would have accomplished. And could the women prizefighters of today defeat some of them. Here is a list of dream fights I would have loved to see:
Dream Fights
Claressa Shields vs Liz Quevedo – Both are about the same size. Claressa would have the speed advantage and Quevedo the power. Ever since Shields entered the pros I have not seen anyone close to matching her skills. Except for Quevedo who was knocking out foes in the amateurs. I once witnessed Quevedo participate in the Blue and Gold Tournament when it was still a big thing. She competed in super lightweight and was asked if she wanted to fill in for the middleweight final. She quickly agreed and blasted out the middleweight foe in eight or nine seconds. Until Shields came along, I felt Quevedo was the best female fighter I had ever seen.
Katie Taylor vs Mikaela Mayer – I’m sure Mikaela would drop down in weight for this fight. Taylor has fought most girls her own height, but Mayer presents another problem with her height and punch output. It would be interesting to see how Taylor would adapt to fighting someone taller and with Mayer’s punch output..
Amanda Serrano vs Tiara Brown – Both fighters are boxers-punchers with Serrano packing the bigger power and much more experience. Brown has never faced anyone like Serrano, but she can pop and has speed. It would be an exciting matchup. It is definitely a fight that can be made if Serrano wants it.
Chantelle Cameron vs Alycia Baumgardner – instead of waiting for Katie Taylor why not face Alycia Baumgardner who is always willing to compete. Cameron would try to overwhelm the defensive counter-puncher Baumgardner who always has that right hand cocked and ready to explode. Cameron is aggressive and Baumgardner patient. Who would win?
Dina Thorslund vs Ellie Scotney -though Thorslund wont be able to fight for awhile due to pregnancy, when she returns she can move up or stay down. Scotney is a high energy fighter like Thorslund. It would be like fighting a mirror. Both are aggressive and like to attack. Whether they fight at bantam or super bantam it would be fierce and fast.
Franchon Crews-Dezurn vs Ann Wolfe – strength versus power in this dream match. Wolfe was a technical fighter with tremendous power. Crews is a very strong fighter who can take a punch and has the ability to nullify fighters who rely on power. It would be a slugfest and the fighter with the best stamina would win.
More Fight News
Argentina
Claudia Ruiz (7-2-1) defeated Mercedes Reyna (4-1-3) by decision after 10 rounds on Saturday Aug. 30. The South American minimumweight title fight was held in Villa Chacabuco.
Brisa Rosario (7-1-1) won by disqualification in the 10th round versus Laura Carabajal (4-4-1) on Friday Aug. 29. The Argentine super feather title fight was held in Las Heras.
On Friday Sept. 5, bantams Maria Mazzarello (7-2) and Romina Nunez (2-7-1) meet six rounds at Garin.
On Friday Sept. 5, flyweights Aixa Adema (10-10-5) and Diana Delbono (2-1-1) meet 10 rounds for vacant South American title at Santa Rosa.
Australia
Tywarna Campbell (6-2-2) knocked out Maureen Chand (4-8) in the second round on Saturday Aug. 30. The Australian lightweight title fight was held in Wollongong.
Bangladesh
Tanjila Tanjila (3-5) won by decision after four rounds versus Sumi Akter (0-1) on Friday Aug. 29. The flyweight fight took place in Dhaka.
China
Dilinaer Maimaiti (2-0) beat Ziwei Zhang (0-1) in six rounds on Saturday Aug. 30. The super feather fight was held in Xi An.
Democratic Republic of Congo
On Friday Sept. 5, welters Sarah Enduwa (4-0) and Sernelie Yabo (0-0) meet six rounds at Kinshasha.
Dominican Republic
On Friday Sept. 5, super welters Nisa Rodriguez (3-1) and Evelina Diaz (1-28-1) meet six rounds at Santo Domingo. Also, welters Mitzi Olivero (0-4) and Precious Harris-McCray (4-2) meet six.
France
Elif Nur Turhan (11-0) knocked out Rima Ayad (11-1) in the sixth round on Thursday Aug. 28. The regional super feather title match was held in Enghien.
India
On Sunday Sept. 7, super feathers Mehakpreet Sidhu (1-6) and Khushboo Talan (1-0) meet six rounds at Kurukshetra.
Indonesia
Felmy Sumaehe (12-1) knocked out Katsara Jatpukdee (10-11-1) in the second round on Saturday Aug. 30. The super fly match was held in Jakarta.
Japan
On Friday Sept. 5, atomweights Sana Hazuki (13-10-1) and Eri Matsuda (7-2-1) meet eight rounds at Tokyo.
On Sunday Sept. 7, light flyweights Yumemi Ikemoto (9-2) and Natthanan Sangiamchit (8-3-1) meet eight rounds at Shizuoka.
Kazakhstan
On Friday Sept. 5, super flyweights Balaussa Muzdiman (8-0) and Mamta Singh (7-2-1) meet 10 rounds for a regional title at Almaty.
Mexico
On Saturday Sept. 6, lightweights Gabriela Tellez (5-0) and Rocio Guerrero (7-3-1) meet six rounds at Los Mochis.
South Africa
Hanna Von Wirth (2-1) knocked out Zanele Masilela (0-2) in the second round on Saturday Aug. 30. The minimumweight fight was held in Johannesburg.
South Korea
Eun Joo Cha (2-0-2) defeated Ye Rin Lee (0-2) by decision after four rounds on Saturday Aug. 30. The flyweight fight took place in Incheon.
Thailand
Akram Abbazzadehshahnnabadi (2-0) knocked out Kanyakorn Suksodkiao (0-2) in the third round on Sunday Aug. 31. The lightweight fight took place in Nakhon Pathon.
Kanyaphat Baonok (4-0) beat Hin Ting Chang (10-2) in eight rounds on Saturday Aug. 30. The flyweight fight took place in Bangkok. Also, super flies Magdalena Szwed (4-0) won by split decision in six over Patteera Tanapornchinpong (1-4-1); bantam Tomomi Takano (14-5-1) knocked out Sukanya Wiriya (3-6-1) in three; and Kristina Tsyngaeva (1-0-1) beat Kamonthip Aemsakun (1-3) in four.
Amonrat Mitsiriwat (4-0) defeated Inthira Pengrajom (3-5) in six on Thursday Aug. 28. The bantam fight was held in Bangkok. Also, flyweight Yui Yamashita (1-0-1) knocked out Phatcharaphon Kransakun (0-10-1) in the first.
Kanyarat Nunoi (10-9-3) beat Phunnakran Kamjanawong (4-7-1) in six on Thursdau Aug. 28. The flyweight fight took place in Pathum Thani.
On Saturday Sept. 6, minimumweights Aliya Soomro (3-0) and Tannu Devi (3-0) meet eight rounds at Bangkok.
United Kingdom
On Saturday Sept. 6, featherweights Jade Burden (2-0) and Sydney Chambers (0-0) meet six rounds at Blackpool.
On Saturday Sept. 6, welterweights Sandy Ryan (7-3-1) and Jade Grierson (5-0-1) meet 10 rounds at Houghton le Spring.
USA
On Friday Sept. 5, super bantams Lisandra Contreras (1-0) and Mona Ward (0-2) meet four rounds at Carteret, New Jersey.
On Friday Sept. 5, bantamweights Brittany Sims (8-3) and Natalia Franscesca (7-5) meet 10 rounds at Bethlehem, Pa.
On Saturday Sept. 6, bantamweights Iris Contreras (4-0) and Lilian Almaraz (1-4) meet six rounds at Lincoln, Calif. Also, flyweights Fayeda An (0-0) and Qianyue Zhao (0-2) meet four rounds.
On Saturday Sept. 6, super bantamweights Aliyah Pequeno (3-0) and Karla Valenzuela (3-38-3) meet four rounds at Houston, Texas. Also, feathers Nathalia Dinis (0-0) and Chantal Sumrall (0-0) meet four roujnds.
(Photo: Claressa Shields, myself, and Elizabeth Quevedo in L.A. 2018)