Female Fight News for week of Feb. 13, 2017 Jennifer Han and more
Action in the female fight world saw some increased action in Hungary, Mexico and Venezuela this past weekend with several ex-world champions participating in main events in several continents.
In Europe two of Hungary’s best collided with each other as Kleopatra Tolnai and Alexander traded punches for 10 rounds in Kistarcsa, Hungary. In the Mexican border town of Tecate, a town more famous for its beer, former flyweight world champion Arely Mucino took a step toward winning yet another world title. Other parts of Mexico also saw loaded female fight cards in Morelos and Iztacalco in Distrito Federal, Mexico.
Further south in Venezuela another former bantamweight champion collided with a local fighter and saw disappointment. Way up north in Canada a couple of welterweights tangled in an eight round engagement.
Next Friday, a couple of world champions kick into action as Jennifer Han defends the IBF featherweight title on a Top Rank fight card. What’s interesting is that Top Rank has not allowed a female bout on one of its cards in many years. The last one I remember was Ana Julaton versus Johanna Mendez in 2008 in Las Vegas. That fight was filled with head butts and bloody faces that might have kept Bob Arum from putting female bouts on his cards for nine years. Who knows?
Africa will see Kenya’s Fatuma Zarika, the new WBC super bantamweight titlist, return to her homeland for a nontitle fight against Tanzania’s Asha Ngedere. Zarika last fought in Detroit where she upset Alicia Ashley to grab the world title.
In less than two weeks one of the biggest fights of the year, so far, takes place when Cecilia Braekhus defends all of the welterweight world titles against Klaressa Svensson on Feb. 24, in Oslo Norway. It’s a female super fight that could reveal the best pound for pound fighter in the world for 2017.
Female Fight News
Argentina
On Saturday Feb. 18, in Necochea, Buenos Aires, super flyweights Jorgelina Guanini (5-0-1) and Veronica Tesure (0-4-1) meet in a six round contest.
Belgium
Djemilla Gontaruk (13-3-1) knocked out Amra Okugic (0-5) in the second round of their featherweight bout on Saturday Feb. 11. The fight took place in Lembeek, Belgium.
Canada
Marie Eve Decaire (7-0) beat Lisa Garland (15-7) by decision after eight rounds on Thursday Feb. 9. The welterweight fight took place in Montreal, Quebec.
Croatia
On Saturday Feb. 18, in Zagreb, flyweights Nevenka Mikulic (7-7-1) and Nina Stajanovic (9-1) meet in a four round bout. Also, Raja Amasheh (19-1-1) and Agnes Draxler (9-14) in a four round flyweight match.
Denmark
Sarah Mahfoud (1-0) won her pro debut by first round knockout Petra Podraska (0-4) in their featherweight clash on Saturday Feb.11. The bout took place on Copenhagen, Denmark.
France
On Friday Feb. 17, in L’etrat, Loire, lightweights Elhem Mekhaled (2-0) and Bilitis Gaucher (5-7-2) meet in a contest set for six rounds.
Hungary
Kleopatra Tolnai (12-9) defeated Alexandra Lazar (9-4) by decision after 10 rounds on Saturday Feb. 11. The match was held in Kistarcsa, Hungary. It was a battle between the country’s two top super bantamweights. Both Tolnai and Lazar are 20 years old. In a middleweight bout, Ema Kozin (3-0) knocked out Jelena Drakulic (0-1) in the second round.
Japan
On Sunday Feb. 19, in Tokyo, minimum weights Nana Takahashi (1-0) and Sayaka Aoki (3-3) meet in a four round fight.
Kenya
On Saturday Feb. 18, in Nairobi, super bantamweight champion Fatuma Zarika (28-12-2) meets Asha Ngedere (4-6-2) in an eight-round non-title bout. Zarika, 31, holds the WBC title that she won against Alicia Ashley last October in Detroit, Michigan. Zariki is originally from Kenya. In another female bout, Judy Waguthii (14-7-4) meets Joice Awino (7-3-1) in an eight round lightweight match.
Mexico
Arely Mucino (23-3-2) beat Kandy Sandoval (9-8) by technical decision on Saturday Feb. 11. The super flyweight fight was stopped in the ninth round due to a bad cut near the eye of Mucino. Also, Sandra Robles (17-2) stopped Maria Soledad Vargas (4-2) in the fifth round of their light flyweight clash. Both fights took place in Tecate, Mexico. (Read Felipe Leon’s story on this web site for a thorough report.)
Laura Mendoza (3-2) defeated Cristina Serrano (6-12) by unanimous decision after eight rounds on Friday Feb. 10. The light flyweight match was held in Sahuayo de Morelos. Also, Adriana Valdes Meza (2-3) beat Mayte Rivas (3-7) by decision after a six round light flyweight bout. Erika Hernandez (4-0-1) beat Vanessa Rodriguez (0-1-1) by decision after a six round super lightweight bout. And Karina Mondragon Caicedo (3-0) beat Elisa Sanchez Cruz (0-3) by decision after a four round welterweight clash.
Jessica Guerrero (2-1) won by disqualification in the first round over Yocelin Martinez (0-2) on Friday Feb. 10. The light flyweight match was held in Iztacalco, Districto Federal. Also, Alondra Gonzalez Flores (3-0) won by split decision after four rounds versus Aurora Ramirez (0-1) in their lightweight fight.
On Saturday Feb. 18, in Guaymas, Sonora, flyweights Sulem Urbina (3-0) and Kumora Yang Badillo (2-1) meet in a four round bout. Urbina had a prior fight canceled two weeks ago.
Russia
On Wednesday Feb. 15, in Moscow, super bantamweights Kristina Sargsyan (0-0) and Viktoria Alexandrova (0-2) meet in a four round bout.
Singapore
On Friday Feb. 17, in Singapore, super featherweights Nurshahidah Roslie (4-1) and Ratsadaporn Khiasopa (0-6) meet in a six round affair.
South Korea
Eun Young Huh (8-4-1) defeated Hee Jung Shin (1-2) by decision to win the vacant South Korean minimum weight title on Saturday Feb. 11. The eight round-fight took place in Chuncheon, South Korea.
USA
Tamar Israeli (1-0) knocked out Khadija Sanders (0-3) in the first round on Saturday Feb. 11. The lightweight bout took place in Raleigh, North Carolina.
On Friday Feb. 17, in El Paso, Texas, featherweights Jennifer Han (15-3-1) and Canada’s Oliva Gerula (18-16-2) meet for Han’s IBF title set for 10 rounds.
Venezuela
Claudia Munoz (3-2) defeated Chanttall Martinez (19-8) by majority decision on Saturday Feb. 11. The featherweight bout was held in Turmero, Venezuela. Munoz, 34, fights out of Venezuela. Martinez, 26, fights out of Panama and is a former super bantamweight world champion.