Reflections on MVP Card in Texas Including Baumgardner, Garcia, Ali and More News
By David A. Avila
Deep in the heart of Texas a heavy dose of high-quality female boxing took place with Alycia Baumgardner and Elif Nur Turhan headlining the impressive fight card.
It wasn’t perfect, but it was revealing.
Once again Baumgardner (19-1, 7 Kos) danced her way to the boxing ring. But unlike the previous encounters she was coming in as the challenger, not the champion to meet the ferocious fighting IBF lightweight champion Nur Turhan (14-1, 8 Kos) last Saturday.
Don’t be misled by the wild swinging Turkish fighter’s attacks. She was able to obliterate Olympian Beatrice Ferreira and Ireland’s Shauna Browne. Maybe she caught both by surprise. Baumgardner, is more boxer-puncher and takes a more analytical approach.
“We became a two-time world champion against a tough, tough opponent. This was somebody that I was very humbled to fight,” said Baumgardner. “I needed this fight to keep me humble, to keep me hungry, and to be the best fighter that I can be.”
Once she figured out the angles and timing She let loose with terrific counter shots early in the fight that had Nur Turhan reeling. Baumgardner might have scored a knockout or knockdown if not for the ridiculous 10-minute warning bell that confused the fighters, fans and referees.
Whose idea was it to use a bell instead of wooden clackers?
During the final three or four rounds Baumgardner stayed right in front of Nur Turhan, blocking shots and looking for counters. Nur Turhan never gave up but tired from heaving bombs at Baumgardner that never broke through the American’s guard in the last three rounds.
One major development took place in the fifth round when Nur Turhan connected with a perfect right uppercut to Baumgardner’s chin. Though her head snapped back like a Pez dispenser, Baumgardner took the blow and kept fighting. She can take a punch.
From the sixth round on Baumgardner seemed to realize she could take more chances and went toward Nur Turhan instead of moving away. She took every round according to the three judges 100-90 to wrest the IBF title away and become a two-division champion.
Super flies
Another great fight saw IBF super flyweight Irma Garcia of Mexico clash with Panama’s Nataly Delgado for the WBA super fly title.
The southpaw Garcia proved that even at 45 years old she can handle any of the youngsters that come at her and proved it against 32-year-old Delgado who was making her first defense of the title she ripped from Jasmine Artiga this past summer.
Using her straight up southpaw stance and an accurate jab, Garcia kept Delgado from landing those big bombs that allowed her to defeat Artiga past June in Florida. Instead, those quick and powerful lefts by Garcia stopped her like an invisible barrier. When Delgado decided to go for it, she was dropped.
“This was a dream, something that I wanted to accomplish,” said Garcia of unifying the titles.
It was not unusual. Garcia’s style of stick and move while fending off attacks with jabs and a dangerous left cross allowed her to knockout Emma Dolan last April in England. She also floored Italy’s Stephanie Silva when they fought for the title two years ago in Long Beach, Calif. I was there to witness that fight. The Mexican police officer can truly fight. Age is not a problem.
Some Added Notes
Speaking of age, I always laugh when a TV announcer mentions someone as being “only 20 years old” or “only having eight pro fights,” when talking about a boxer, especially women’s boxing. Those are common numbers for women’s boxing, they are not unusual.
In the bantamweight title fight between Brittany Sims and Shera Mae Patricio, my question is how did they manage to deserve a title fight. Neither fighter had fought anyone before of consequence. Both only fought C and D level fighters. At best, the two bantamweights are maybe B- fighters. Patricio for one fights with her head down and fires blows without looking. Despite all the amateur experience no one taught her to not do that. She was lucky she was not deducted points and disqualified. She has talent, but she needs to get rid of that habit. It is easy to teach.
Sims should have been able to avoid those bum rushes but she doesn’t have the experience that a contender would have.
Basically, we are in an era of new amateur female fighters that have experience in the amateur game, but not the pro game. There is a massive difference. In my experience few of the amateurs today know how to throw a proper left hook. They simply touch with their lefts and don’t have power behind the punch. It took Claressa Shields and Mikaela Mayer a few years in the pros to develop a good left hook. Now it is part of their arsenal as Shields demonstrated when she knocked out Kaye Scott. It was a perfect left hook that knocked the sense out of Scott.
Many of the female fighters coming out of the amateurs are accustomed to fighting with speed and touches. That’s Ok in the amateurs. The pros are more about hurting the opposition and power. When Mikiah Kreps flurried with those punches round after round, those blows were not hurting Ramla Ali. But Ali’s rights were stunning Kreps. Thus, Ali won by decision. This is the pros not the amateurs. Who was hurting who? Learn the difference.
Last Note
Why pass the microphone to Caroline Dubois right after Alycia Baumgardner is declared the winner?
First, Baumgardner just defeated a difficult fighter in Elif Nur Turhan. So, she can’t enjoy a victory because the promoter or whoever decided to start promoting a possible showdown. It’s disrespectful.
Second, Dubois is fighting Stephanie Han next. So, basically, the promoter or the TV network are saying don’t watch their fight because DuBois is sure to win. It’s stupid and tacky for any network or analyst to try and make a fight at that moment. I know DAZN does that all the time, It’s wrong and disrespectful.
Amanda’s Last Presser
Seven-division champion Amanda Serrano took part in her final press conference this week in Puerto Rico.
Serrano (50-4-1, 32 Kos) will be fighting Skye Falzone 12-2, 7 Kos) on January 9, at Coliseo de Puerto Rico. DAZN will stream the certain Hall of Famer’s final fight and the MVP event. She has been fighting since 2009 and has accomplished incredible feats such as taking part of several million-dollar gates and purse with her contests against Katie Taylor. Their fights helped prove that women’s boxing could sell when they sold out Madison Square Garden in their two fights.
Since their first encounter women’s boxing has soared and become a growing sport.
“You know when it’s time. I enjoyed it every time I fought, every time I get to go into that ring, I enjoy it. But I think it’s time,” said Serrano.
More Fight News
Argentina
Adriana Piniero (12-0) knocked out Debora Gomez (8-15-2) in the third round on Saturday Nov. 7. The super fly fight was held in Buenos Aires.
Juiana Pettinato (4-1) beat Antonella Hein (0-4) by majority decision after four rounds on Friday Nov. 6. The super fly fight took place in Buenos Aires.
On Friday Nov. 13, super flies Florencia Compiano (3-2-1) and Celeste Gonzalez (0-3) meet six rounds at Buenos Aires.
On Saturday Nov. 14, lightweights Maria Luz Diaz (2-1-1) and Daiana Lailana (1-3) meet six rounds at Tandil.
Australia
Kelsey Minton (1-1) knocked out Marissa Selaidinakos (0-1) in the first round on Saturday Nov. 7. The super bantamweight fight took place in Flemington. Also, super welter Tahkara Osei (1-0) knocked out Aimee Leher (0-2) in one.
On Saturday Nov. 14, middleweights Alana Moussa (2-0) and Khushi Dhiman (2-0) meet four rounds at Essendon Fields. Also, super feathers Stella-Kate Lilly (0-0) and Pattarawee Nareeruk (4-4) meet four.
Austria
On Saturday Nov. 14, heavyweights Alexandra Petre (3-1) and Mariami Nutsubidze (1-7) meet six rounds at Wiener Neustadt.
Colombia
On Friday Nov. 13, bantamweights Conny Cabrera (2-0) and Martha Redondo (0-3) meet six rounds at Santa Marta.
France
Justine Lallemand (14-4-1) defeated Sara Orszagi (3-17) by decision after six rounds on Saturday Nov. 7. The super fly fight took place in Charleville-Mezieres.
Anna Boullez (3-0) defeated Agathe Cailleau (1-2) by decision after six rounds on Saturday Nov. 7. The flyweight match took place in Balaruc-les Bains.
Tania Kovacic (1-0) won by decision after four rounds against Ksenija Medic (4-43-3) on Saturday Nov. 7. The super lightweight fight was held in Toulon.
On Friday Nov. 13, super bantams Anna Micard (1-5-1) and Tijana Draskovic (2-18) meet six rounds at Calais.
On Saturday Nov. 14, feathers Hasna Tebsi (3-1) and Sacha Morice (4-2) meet 10 rounds at Levallois-Perret.
On Saturday Nov. 14, welters Emilie Sunvico (9-0) and Elsa Hemat (6-13-2) meet six rounds at Lattes.
On Saturday Nov. 14, lightweights Imen Boucetta (0-0) and Emmie Hode (0-0) meet four rounds at Tours.
Indonesia
On Tuesday Nov. 10, feathers Louise Alexandra (0-0) and Jasmine Alfarizi (0-0) meet four rounds at Jakarta. Also, super feathers Monica Dewi (1-0) and Laurent Santose (0-0) meet four.
Italy
On Sunday Nov. 15, super flyweights Sara Lombardi (7-2) and Francesca Corso (3-2) meet 10 rounds at Venice.
Japan
Noa Sakamoto (9-3) beat Megumi Watanabe (3-3-8) by decision after six rounds on Saturday Nov. 7. The atomweight fight took place in Sakai.
Rui Takahashi (1-0) defeated Manli Lei (1-8-1) by decision after four rounds on Wednesday Nov. 4. The lightweight match was held in Tokyo.
Mexico
On Thursday Nov. 12, atomweights Camila Zamorano (15-0) and Brenda Balderas (9-9-2) meet 10 rounds at Acapulco for the WBC world title.
South Africa
Nonkululeko Mncube (6-0-1) knocked out Babalwa Nonqonqoto (5-7-1) in the fourth round on Saturday Nov. 7. The super fly fight took place in Pietermaritzburg. Also, super welter Nobengazi Booth (6-3) knocked out Nomadithini Ndyambo (8-8-1) in the first round.
Spain
Alba Cascajo (1-0) knocked out Margareta Hidigan (0-1) in the second round on Saturday Nov. 7. The super bantamweight fight was held in Rubayo.
Stepphanie Sangou (4-1) knocked out Sherie Barnes (0-17) in the sixth round on Thursday Nov. 5. The super feather fight took place in Palma de Mallorca.
United Kingdom
Kayla Allen (2-0) won by decision after six rounds against Julia Igel (5-3) on Saturday Nov. 7. The super lightweight match was held in East London.
Bree Burbeary (8-0) defeated Jenna Piling (4-2) by decision after 10 rounds on Saturday Nov. 7. The middleweight fight took place in Doncaster. Also, featherweight Billy Jarmolinski (6-0) defeated Samantha Lightfoot (4-1) after 10.
On Saturday Nov. 14, lightweights Zoe Smith (5-4) and Georgia Klein (2-3) meet eight rounds at Harrow.
USA
Alycia Baumgardner (19-1) defeated Elif Nur Turhan (14-1) by decision after 10 three-minute rounds on Sunday Nov. 8. The IBF lightweight title fight took place in Arlington, Texas. Also, super bantam Ramla Ali (12-2) beat Mikiah Kreps (11-1) by split decision after 10 to win IBF and WBO titles; Skye Nicolson (17-1) beat Miyo Yoshida (19-6) by decision after 10 to keep WBC super bantam title; super fly Irma Garcia (27-5-1) beat Nataly Delgado (21-8-2) by decision for IBF and WBA titles; bantamweights Shera Mae Patricio (10-0-1) and Brittany Sims (10-3-1) fought to a split draw after 10; flyweight Nayeli Rodriguez (8-2-1) beat Natalie Dove (8-1-1) by split decision after eight; super lightweight Albina Moldazhanova (6-0) knocked out Kirstie Bavington (10-7-2) in four; and minimumweight Jocelyn Camarillo (8-0) defeated Nazarena Serra (6-3) by decision after six.
Yeni Arias (3-0-1) won by unanimous decision after six rounds against Ayanna Orona (8-3-1) on Saturday Nov. 7. The featherweight fight was held in Mescalero, New Mexico.
On Saturday Nov. 14, featherweights Rosa Torres (5-1) and Ediana Meel Da Silva (2-1) meet six rounds at Hammond, Indiana. Also, minimumweights Margarita Porras (2-0) and Amarilis Adorno (1-20) meet six.
On Saturday Nov. 14, lightweights Mercedes Castanon (0-0) and Alex Cirka (0-0) meet four rounds at San Antonio.
Zimbabwe
On Saturday Nov. 14, flyweights Elizabeth Phiri (3-0-1) and Caitlin Chipoperwa (0-0) meet four rounds at Myurwi.
(Photo by Most Valuable Promotions)
