Another Look at MVP Female World Title Bouts Including Cherneka Johnson, Baumgardner, Dubois and Valle 

 

By David A. Avila

Only one female bout was shown by Most Valuable Promotions on its main card and it was the important contest that showcased Alycia Baumgardner defending her three world titles against Leila Beaudoin in 12 three-minute rounds last Friday.

It was very easy to score.

Though some critics suggest that two-minutes are more well suited for action everyone forgets that scoring two-minute fights are much more difficult because of the smaller sample size. Three minutes is better suited for scoring.

After 12 three-minute rounds there was no doubt Baumgardner was the winner especially after scoring a knockdown with a left hook in the seventh round in Miami.

Baumgardner is one of the few women that use a left hook with power. Others fire left hooks with no power and think that is enough. Baumgardner proved that a good left hook can drop a foe with ease.

The left hook is a staple of Mexican fighters, but the men, not the women. The only Mexican women I have seen with a good left hook are Kenia Enriquez and Seniesa Estrada. Both have scored knockouts with their left hooks. You don’t see the hook as clearly as you can a right cross from an orthodox fighter.

It also goes for southpaws with a right hook. Caroline Dubois displayed her right hook in dropping Camilla Panatta in their battle between southpaws. Hooks are the punch that are difficult to see because it comes from a shorter distance. If used correctly it can be virtually hidden.

A good hook must have power. It can’t be just a slap or tap as I saw in several female fights the past two weeks. It has to put fear in a foe and have them looking for that blow.

Baumgardner has a pretty decent left hook and a very good right. Her power allows her to sit back and wait to unload either punch at the best opportunity.

 

Yoka Wins Bloody Battle

Costa Rica’s Yokasta Valle managed to pull out a majority decision win after 10 bloody rounds with Yadira Bustillos in their battle for the WBC minimumweight title.

Speaking of left hooks, Valle does not have a good left hook. There is little power when she uses that punch. She depends on speed and overwhelming blows to win. Her punch output is difficult to match.

Bustillos showed very good defense at times and tenacity. She fought straight up and had good moments in the second half of the match.

Valle suffered a bad cut near the hairline that was self-inflicted because she kept clinching and bringing in Bustillos head to her own head. That caused the accidental butt and blood dripped down her face through most of the fight.

The perky Costa Rican fighter had stopped clinching tactics for a while during fights, but has resumed using that tactic and suffered for it.

Speed and stamina are her assets, but it nearly was not enough.

 

Dubois looks dangerous

England’s Caroline Dubois is one of those rare Olympians that can punch with either hand. That is very rare.

Dubois, a southpaw, looked poised and polished in defeating the very rugged Camilla Panatta in their 10-round battle. She has speed, power and skill honed during her successful amateur career and is carrying it to the pros.

Unlike most top amateurs, Dubois has a pro style of fighting and that has made the transition to the pros as easy as crossing the street.

There had been talk of a potential clash between Dubois and Brazil’s Beatriz Ferreira but that fighter was recently torched by Turkey’s Elf Nur Turhan in five rounds. Could we see Turhan and Dubois in the near future?

Stephanie Han holds the WBA lightweight title and is set to defend against Holly Holm in less than two weeks on January 3, in Puerto Rico. Most Valuable Promotions will be staging that match.

 

Cherneka Wins

Undisputed bantamweight champ Cherneka Johnson won by unanimous decision over Amanda Galle but it was more difficult than it looked. The Canadian fighter uses her head like a Billy Goat and comes in swinging.

Johnson had to worry about Galle’s head as much as her punches and did well to fend off the attacks. She used her strength and experience to neutralize Galle throughout the fight. It was a solid performance that could have resulted in cuts by head butts.

I don’t remember seeing the referee warn Galle of the butts or of her charging in with her head.

Galle reminds me of Mexico’s Erika Cruz who was supposed to fight Amanda Serrano in a rematch. Cruz is another fighter who dives in with her head and causes damage with her head more than her punches.

For a fan, fighters who use this tactic are not fun to watch.

Johnson won the fight handily and has a long line of challengers waiting for her including Shurretta Metcalf the former titleholder, Miyo Yoshida another former titleholder, and Ebanie Bridges yet another titleholder. And then of course there is Dina Thorslund who formerly held all the titles and took time off to have a baby.

The bantamweight division is super hot.

 

Netflix Viewer Numbers

According to Netflix, the Jake Paul versus Anthony Joshua fight on Friday Dec. 19, drew 33 million viewers worldwide. The Alycia Baumgardner vs Leila Beaudoin female fight drew 15 million it was announced on Tuesday.

 

More Fight News

Argentina

Jennifer Meza (10-4-1) was the winner by unanimous decision after 10 rounds versus Agustina Solange (3-6-2) on Saturday Dec. 20. The atomweight fight was held in Buenos Aires.

 

Belgium

Ines Es Salehy (1-0) defeated Jelena Bokan (0-6) after four rounds on Saturday Dec. 20. The bantamweight match took place in Brussels.

 

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Dajana Buvka (1-16) knocked out Erna Okrugic (0-1) in two rounds on Sunday Dec. 14. The super welter match took place in Prijedor.

On Saturday Dec. 27, bantams Sara Cirkovic (1-0) and Sayda Mosquera (10-6-1) meet six rounds at Zvornik. Also, welters Anastasija Boskovic (0-0) and Dajana Rakovic (2-6) meet four.

 

China

Hongran Li (2-0) beat Kexin Ren (0-1) after four rounds on Sunday Dec. 21. The super bantam fight was held in Suzhou.

 

Czech Republic

Natalie Polednikova (4-0) won by unanimous decision after 10 rounds versus Johana Rajmont (6-6-1) on Saturday Dec. 20. The super lightweight fight was held in Ostrava.

 

Democratic Republic of Congo

On Saturday Dec. 27, super lights Merveille Mbalayi (2-0) and Cornelie Molita (0-1) meet six rounds.

On Saturday Dec. 27, lightweights Niati Misama (3-2) and Merville Bisambu (0-1) meet four rounds.

 

France

Ingrid Brodu (2-3) won by decision after six rounds against Anna Micard (0-5-1) on Saturday dec. 20. The super bantam match was held in Lucon.

 

Germany

On Saturday Dec. 27, heavies Beate Heissenreder (0-2) and Annabell Honert (4-0) meet four rounds at Landau.

 

Italy

Mahjouba Oubtil (6-5-2) defeated Rosa Carrion (0-8-1) by decision after six rounds on Sunday Dec. 21. The welter fight was held in Rome.

 

Japan

On Sunday Dec. 28, super bantams Mao Nishi (3-0) and Tomomi Takano (15-6-1) meet six rounds at Osaka.

 

Kazakhstan

Albina Moldazhanova (3-0) knocked out Rehema Mafundo (12-1-1) in the first round on Saturday Dec. 20. The welterweight fight took place in Almaty.

 

Nigeria

On Wednesday Dec. 24, light heavies Aminat Yekini (1-3) and Toyin Adejumola (7-0-1) meet six rounds at Lagos.

 

South Africa

Zukhanye Mazaka (1-0) knocked out Asiphile Mbuti (0-2) in the first round on Sunday Dec. 21. The flyweight fight took place in Qonce.

 

South Korea

On Saturday Dec. 27, light flies Hye Su Jang (5-0) and Renz Dacquel (3-1-1) meet six rounds at Seoul. Also, minimumweights Si Yeon Ryu (4-1) and Eun Joo Cha (2-0-2) meet six.

 

Switzerland

On Friday Dec. 26, atomweights Gabriela Timar (15-2) and Marina Loreto (8-0-2) meet 10 rounds for WBO title at Berne.

 

Tanzania

On Friday Dec. 26, feathers Debora Mwenda (2-2-1) and Mariam Dick (3-1-1) meet eight rounds at Dar es Salaam. Also, light heavies Leila Yusuph (4-1) and Hidaya Zahoro (1-0) meet six.

 

Thailand

Aisha Kamaledin ( 6-0) defeated Nattarat Prempida (12-8-1) by decision after eight rounds on Sunday Dec. 21. The super fly match was held in Bangkok. Also, fly Sarsha McGurk ( 3-0) beat Kullathida Kueausanor (9-6) in eight; super feather Mia Pal (1-0) beat Chanidapa Chapsee (0-1) in four; and fly Thidarat Kanyaburi (1-0) knocked out Chalisa Kuasanor (1-2) in two.

Wanasanan Onuch (9-6-2) defeated Sukanya Wiriya (4-8-1) by decision after eight rounds on Sunday Dec. 21. The super fly match was held in Pathum Thani; also Ieisha Auyeung (4-0) knocked out Phunnakran Kamjanawong (4-11-1) in two; and bantam Kanokwan Wirunpat (6-5) knocked out Phatkamon Duangkaew (0-2) in two; super feather Pattarawee Nareeruk (4-1) knocked out Vadee Dasa (0-1) in three; minimumweight Wisuta Sririttidet (10-8) knocked out Saowarak Phaesithong (0-1) in two.

 

Ukraine

Veronika Timoshyna (2-2) won by decision over Polina Dovhinka (0-1) after four rounds on Saturday Dec. 20. The lightweight fight was held in Kyiv.

 

United Kingdom

Sasha Booker (3-1) defeated Sydney Chambers (0-3) by decision after six rounds on Saturday Dec. 20. The bantam fight was held in Derby.

Gabriela Strikaityte (3-0) won by decision after 10 rounds versus Doina Costin (3-2) on Saturday Dec. 20. The super bantam match was held in Birmingham.

Tiah Mai Ayton (4-0) knocked out Ana Vaz de Moraes (7-2) in three rounds on Wednesday Dec. 17. The bantam fight was held in London. Also, fly Maisey Courtney (9-1) beat Sara Orszagi (2-12) in six.

 

USA

Kaye Scott (5-1-1) was the winner by majority decision after 10 rounds over Olivia Curry (7-3-2) on Saturday Dec. 20. The WBC middleweight title match was held in Detroit, Michigan.

Alysha Baumgardner (17-1) won by unanimous decision after 12 three-minute rounds versus Leila Beaudoin (13-2) on Friday Dec. 19. The WBA, WBO, IBF super feather title match was held in Miami, Florida. Also, WBC minimumweight titlist Yokasta Valle (34-3) won by majority decision after 10 rounds versus Yadira Bustillos (11-2); WBA, WBC, WBO, IBF bantam champ Cherneka Johnson (19-2) beat Amanda Galle (12-1-1) after 10; and WBC lightweight titlist Caroline Dubois (12-0-1) beat Camilla Panatta (8-3-1) after 10.

Shannon Courtenay (10-3) won by unanimous decision after six rounds against Jessica Radtke (2-3-2) on Tuesday Dec. 16. The bantamweight fight was held in Miami, Florida. Also, Natalie Dove (7-0-1) beat Perla Lomeli (7-7) in six.