Boxing Tonight: Night of Champions VII — Young Talent and Women’s Fights Take Center Stage
Long Beach, CA — Thunder Studios once again hosts a night of boxing today, Friday, January 30, with Night of Champions VII.
The spotlight of the evening falls on a series of promising young fighters, with light heavyweight standout Samuel Arnold (14-0, 9 KOs) facing Argentina’s Fernando Farias (13-3-3, 5 KOs) in one of the card’s most anticipated bouts.
But the card also highlights noteworthy women’s boxing action.
Women to Watch Tonight
Four women fighters will be featured on tonight’s card: Perla Bazaldua, Isis Sio, Brianda Tamara Cruz Sandoval, and Claudia Fernanda Herrera Lopez.
Perla Bazaldua: The Prodigy Finding Her Way
At just 20 years old, Perla Bazaldua is already one of the most buzzed-about prospects in women’s boxing. Born and raised in Los Angeles, California, Bazaldua has been immersed in boxing since she was a child, watching her older siblings train and dreaming of her own success. From the age of nine, she was in the gym chasing technique and discipline.
Her early amateur career was remarkable: she was a 15-time national amateur champion with international experience, and even represented Team USA at high-level tournaments, capturing gold at the 2023 Youth Brandenburg Cup in Germany among other accolades.
Bazaldua turned professional in late 2024 and made an unforgettable debut with a first-round knockout of Mollie Backowski. Since then, her trajectory has been steady, with a unanimous decision over Mona Ward and another over Kedra Bradley. Her professional record is currently 3-0-1 as she approaches her bout with Isis Sio.
Bazaldua’s signing with boxing powerhouse Top Rank is a major statement in its own right — she’s only the third female boxer ever signed by the promotional giant, joining the ranks of world champions and future stars.
In interviews, she speaks with grounded maturity about boxing’s demands, the community it built around her, and the discipline it instills; not only as an athlete but as a young woman in sport.
Perla Bazuldua, mentored by renowned trainer Manny Robles, represents a new wave of female fighters building momentum in the sport.
Isis Sio: The Young Underdog Looking Up
Standing across the ring will be Isis Judyanna “Afakasi” Sio, a 19-year-old professional boxer from Sheridan, Wyoming, fighting out of Dickinson, North Dakota. Sio’s record sits at 1-1-0, with a recent unanimous decision win following an earlier loss.
While her professional career is still in its infancy, what makes Sio compelling is her unvarnished youth and determination. In a sport often dominated by seasoned veterans, a fresh contender like Sio embraces the challenge of taking on someone with more experience and exposure.
Brianda Tamara Cruz: From Olympic Bronze to Pro Contender
Also on the card is Brianda Tamara Cruz Sandoval, a Mexican boxer with a story that reaches back to national pride and global achievement. Born on December 21, 1998, in Mazatlán, Sinaloa, Mexico, Cruz made her mark as an amateur fighter.
Her crowning amateur achievement came at the 2019 Pan American Games, where she won a bronze medal in the women’s welterweight division. She also qualified for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, joining a historic cohort of Mexican women boxers at the Games.
Turning professional in 2024, Cruz has built a 3-0-0 record. Her style reflects the classical blend of volume punching and ring IQ that defined her amateur years, and every fight has seen a refinement of that craft.
Her bout against Claudia Fernanda Herrera is poised to be her biggest challenge yet; an opportunity to solidify her transition from decorated amateur to authentic professional contender.
Claudia Fernanda Herrera Lopez: The Experienced Heart of the Fight
Opposite Cruz stands Mexican professional boxer, Claudia Fernanda Herrera Lopez, with a record of 5-4-1.
She has competed primarily in super lightweight to welterweight ranks and has experience across varied competition levels, including a challenge for the WBA Fedelatin super lightweight title.
Night of Champions VII
Tonight’s event, promoted by DMG Promotions, features a blend of undefeated prospects, regional contenders, and rising stars. It will be available live on TrillerTV+ at 7:00 p.m. PST.