Female Fight News for week of Oct. 9, 2017 Cindy “Checkmate” Serrano
By David A. Avila
WBO featherweight titlist Cindy “Checkmate” Serrano meets an old foe of the family on Saturday at Barclays Center in her hometown of Brooklyn. Hungary’s Edina Kiss meets the older sister of her two-time conqueror Amanda Serrano.
“But that was my sister. I’m a different fighter,” says Cindy Serrano, 35. “Amanda makes everyone look average. She is so strong.”
In a non-title fight Serrano returns to the boxing ring for the first time since defeating Mexico’s offensive-minded Paola Torres in Puerto Rico. It was a memorable experience that included fighting in front of her country in defense of the WBO title.
But it’s a bittersweet memory now as the island was ravaged by the recent hurricane.
“It’s devastating. It does affect us emotionally me and my sister and my team try to help with relief. I’m definitely an emotional person,” said Cindy Serrano. “We met so many friends. I heard it’s nothing like before. It doesn’t look like it used to. It was beautiful. It will get back.”
Getting back into the boxing ring Serrano knows exactly who she is facing in Kiss but does not expect an easy fight. Though her sister Amanda defeated her twice by knockout in the third round this past July, and in the fourth round in April 2016, the sisters are completely different fighters.
Cindy has the buttery smooth movement and combinations like Amanda, but not the power.
“I just don’t have the power my sister has,” says Cindy Serrano matter-of-factly. “I try to imitate Hector Camacho a little bit. I’m not a heavy hitter so we box. I’m on my toes and like my trainer says I have a beautiful one-two. I’m not sloppy. I slip and move and look pretty.”
It’s hard work to box and move for eight rounds especially against an experienced fighter like Kiss.
“We do rounds and rounds of preparation. I know every angle so we do a lot,” says Cindy Serrano.
And who does she spar?
“I have the number one fighter in the world to spar,” says Cindy about her sister Amanda Serrano who turns 29 today. “Amanda is tough on me so she brings the best out of me. We spar three, four times a week.”
After Cindy performs this Saturday then her sister Amanda Serrano follows on Nov. 4th at the same venue.
Both are world champions and the very first sisters to hold world titles simultaneously. On Saturday, it’s a chance to see history.
“It’s my first time at Barclays,” says Cindy Serrano one of Brooklyn’s own.
Japan
Japan recently staged several fight cards with more than two female bouts in both Kyoto and Tokyo, Japan. In a marquee bantamweight clash Miyo Yoshida defeated Tomomi Takano by unanimous decision after six rounds on Friday Oct. 6. The bantamweight clash was held in Tokyo. Oshida, 29, fights out of Tokyo as does Takano, 30, a former model who has taken the country by storm.
A week ago four female bouts took place in Kyoto and we will be reporting on that significant fight card later this week.
Layla
Las Vegas prizefighter Layla McCarter was scheduled to fight next week on Oct. 21, but we were informed that fight in Las Vegas has been canceled. McCarter is considered by this publication the top female fighter pound for pound. She has not lost a fight in more than 10 years despite fighting lightweights to super welterweights. It’s an amazing feat.
Mikaela
Former U.S. Olympian Mikaela Mayer already has a fight date and has been told she will participate in the Dec. 9, fight card at Madison Square Garden Theater in New York City. The main event features Vasyl Lomachenko against Guillermo Rigondeaux in a super featherweight showdown.
Mayer, 27, recently knocked out Allison Martinez in the third round this past September. It was her second pro fight and second knockout victory.
Female Fight News
Argentina
Iara Cortes (3-2) beat Valeria Almiron (2-16) by decision after four rounds on Friday Oct. 6. The featherweight contest took place in San Justo, Buenos Aires.
Natalia Alderete (3-0) won by technical knockout in the second round versus Agustina Del Valle (0-7) on Friday Oct. 6. The bantamweight fight took place in Tucuman.
On Friday Oct. 13, flyweights Leonela Yudica (12-0-3) and Yunoka Furukawa (9-1-2) meet for the IBF flyweight world title in a 10 round fight in San Juan, San Juan. This will be Yudica’s fifth defense of the title since Dec. 2014. Furukawa, 23, fights out of Tokyo, Japan.
Australia
On Friday Oct. 13, super flyweights Susie Ramadan (26-2) and Saowaluk Nareepangsri (7-5) meet in an eight round contest in Flemington, Victoria. This is Ramadan’s second fight this year. The former IBF and WBC bantamweight world champion is now fighting at super flyweight.
Canada
On Saturday Oct. 14, super lightweights Kandi Wyatt (3-0) and Heidy Martinez (2-2) meet in a four round bout in Calgary.
China
Ayumi Goto (8-0) defeated Kirti (3-1) by unanimous decision after eight rounds on Saturday Oct. 1. The super bantamweight fight was held in Hong Kong. The win gives Japan’s Goto, 29, the WBO Asian Pacific title. Kirti, 19, fights out of India. Also, a light flyweight bout saw Sandy Lam (2-1) beat Nadya Nakhoir (0-3) by decision after four rounds.
Fiji
On Friday Oct. 13, middleweights Visila Kolitapa (0-0) and Anaseini Dakua (0-0) debut in a four round fight in Nadi. Also, welterweights Katrina Singh (0-1) and Mable Talei (0-0) meet in a four round bout.
France
On Thursday Oct. 12, super featherweights Elhem Mekhaled (5-0) and Cindy Bonhiver (6-10-1) meet in an eight round contest for the vacant France title in Montepellier, Herault.
Hungary
Edina Kiss (14-5) was the winner by technical knockout of Beata Bodo (1-2) in the first round on Sunday Oct. 1. The featherweight clash took place in Budapest.
On Saturday Oct. 14, flyweights Alexandra Lakatos (6-2-1) and Andrea Jenei (1-12) meet in a 10 round contest in SzazHalombatta, Hungary.
Japan
Miyo Yoshida (8-1) defeated Tomomi Takano (10-3) by unanimous decision after six rounds on Friday Oct. 6. The bantamweight clash was held in Tokyo. Oshida, 29, fights out of Tokyo. Takano, 30, also fights out of Tokyo. All three judges gave Yoshida the win by one point.
Tamao Ozawa (13-4) defeated Eun Young Huh (8-5-1) by fifth round technical knockout on Saturday Sept. 30. The flyweight clash took place in Kyoto. Other winners Shione Ogata (8-6) beat Saemi Hanagata (13-7-4) by majority decision I a light flyweight bout; Yuki Kira (2-0) beat Hee Jung Shin (1-3) in a four round minimum weight bout; and Aya Morita (1-1) won over Thitinan Saithonggym (0-2) in a super flyweight match.
Mexico
Sulem Urbina (6-0) was the winner by decision over Mitzi Rodriguez (2-7-1) after four rounds on Saturday Oct. 7. The flyweight match was held in Hermosillo, Sonora. Urbina, 27, fights out of Phoenix, Arizona. The loser Rodriguez fights out of Mexico City.
Irma Garcia (18-2-1) defeated Kandy Sandoval (9-9) by decision on Saturday Oct. 7. The bantamweight match was held in Tampico, Tamaulipas. Garcia is a former bantamweight world champion.
On Friday Oct. 13, super featherweights Aurora Ramirez (0-1) and Guadalupe Jaimes (1-3) meet in a four round fight in Tlatelolco, Mexico City.
On Saturday Oct. 14, flyweights Irma Sanchez (29-7-1) and Brenda Ramos (10-5) meet in a 10 round fight for the interim WBA flyweight title in Guadalajara, Jalisco. Sanchez, 29, formerly held the WBF title and lives in Guadalajara. Ramos fights out of Monterrey, Mexico.
New Zealand
On Friday Oct. 13, light heavyweights Geovana Peres (2-1) and Trish Vaka (0-1) meet in an eight round fight in Auckland.
Slovenia
On Saturday Oct. 14, middleweights Ema Kozin (9-0) and Florence Muthoni (11-5-2) meet in a 10 round fight for the vacant WBC International title in Ljubljana.
South Africa
Mashudu Ramakwelo (2-4) beat Modau Gudani (0-1) by unanimous decision after six rounds on Saturday Oct. 7. The featherweight bout took place in Makhado, Limpopo. Also, a light flyweight bout saw Nothuthuzele Chitani (2-0) beat Thompo Mathodzi (0-1) after four.
Melissa Miller (2-7-3) and Ellen Simwaka (6-2-1) fought to a split decision draw after 10 rounds on Friday Oct. 6. The bantamweight clash was held in Free State for the vacant WBF Intercontinental title.
Spain
Davinia Perez (6-0) was the winner by decision of the vacant WBC Silver title after 10 rounds against Jorgelina Guanini (7-1-1) on Saturday Oct. 7. The super bantamweight title fight took place in Las Palmas, Canary Islands.
Melania Sorroche (13-2-1) beat Violeta Gonzalez (4-1) by decision after six rounds on Friday Oct. 6. The bantamweight fight was held in Catalan.
Switzerland
Viviane Obenauf (12-3) won by knockout of Sylwia Maksym (1-1) in the fifth round on Saturday Oct. 7. The lightweight battle was held in Berne.
Uganda
On Friday Oct. 13, super lightweights Patricia Apolot (2-0) and Joice Awino (7-6-1)
United Kingdom
Chantelle Cameron (3-0) won by technical knockout in the first round versus Bilitis Gaucher (5-10-2) on Saturday Oct. 7. The lightweight match was held in London, England.
On Friday Oct. 13, lightweights Natasha Jonas (2-0) and Karina Kopinska (10-20-3) meet in a six round fight in London, England.
USA
On Saturday Oct. 14, featherweights Cindy Serrano (26-5-3) and Edina Kiss (14-5) meet in an eight round contest at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. Serrano, 35, holds the WBO featherweight title but it will not be at stake. Kiss, 27, just recently fought on Sept. 30 and recently fought in Hungary a week ago.
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