Female Fight News for week of Nov. 27 Worldwide Action
By David A. Avila
As we near the end of the year 2017 the sport of women’s boxing seems bent on going out with all guns blazing.
And it’s not in just one area of the world.
Beginning in Japan, two world champions clash in Tokyo when Naoko Fujioka and Yokasta Valle fight for a vacant world title. Then the following successive weeks we have Olympians and contenders banging it out in Europe and the USA.
Female fighters are showing a complete lack of fear to compete in other countries. Costa Rica’s Valle could have forced Japan’s Fujioka to come to Central America, but she wanted to show everyone total belief in her own skills.
“I want to beat all the Japanese so I’m starting with the head Fujioka,” said Valle adding that it was a decision all her own. “The Japanese have the best fighters in my division so I want to start with the best Fujioka.”
According to promoters the Fujioka-Valle world title fight may be streamed via www.boxingchannel.com on Friday.
The following week American Olympian Mikaela Mayer travels to New York City to meet veteran Nydia Feliciano near her home turf at Madison Square Garden. The California bred prizefighter is eager to fight in Manhattan.
Another week later Chicago’s Jessica McCaskill crosses the Atlantic Ocean to meet Ireland’s Katie Taylor for the lightweight world title in London, England.
“It’s about time,” said McCaskill, 33, who was eager to face the two-time Olympian Taylor. “I want to fight the best. I am a top level fighter.”
Taylor just captured the WBA lightweight title from Argentina’s Anahi Esther Sanchez by decision in England. McCaskill doesn’t care if she travels to England or Ireland as long as she gets a crack at the Irish fighter.
“I want this,” says McCaskill.
McCarter
On December 22 female boxing’s best fighter pound for pound Layla McCarter ventures to Mexico City to face Erika Hernandez who has only one loss in eight pro fights. Traveling to another country to fight is common for McCarter. The Las Vegas-based boxer has fought in numerous countries throughout her career.
Two weeks ago the IBF tabbed McCarter the number one contender and the mandatory to Cecilia Braekhus who holds all the major titles. Whether the champion will fight McCarter to abdicate the title remains to be seen.
Meanwhile, McCarter wants to stay ready just in case Braekhus consents to a showdown of all showdowns. If it happens it will settle the debate of who truly can be called the best female fighter pound for pound.
Claressa
Speaking of best fighters pound for pound, two-time Olympic gold medalist Claressa Shields also has two world titles and is returning to the boxing ring to defend her super middleweight championship in early January.
The ultra-talented Shields faces undefeated Tori Nelson in Verona, New York on January 12. Both the WBC and IBF titles will be the prize. Though only 22, Shields already has a foothold on the super middleweight titles and seeks to face the middleweight champion Christina Hammer of Germany.
“That will be a super fight,” said Shields of her planned clash with Hammer. But her fight with Nelson is another matter. “We wanted this fight for my second fight, my third fight, before I had the belt. She kept turning it down but now she finally accepted the contract. I guess her team wasn’t so smart, now there is no backing out.”
Female Fight News
Argentina
Andrea Sanchez (8-0-1) defeated Nancy Franco (17-12-2) by unanimous decision after 10 rounds on Saturday Nov. 25. The fight for the vacant IBF Inter-Continental light flyweight title took place in Villa Gobernador Galvez. Also, Evelyn Bermudez (5-0) won by knockout in the sixth round versus Laura Salazar (2-6) in a light flyweight fight.
On Friday Dec. 1, super featherweights Karen Carabajal (14-0) and Cintia Castillo (7-1) meet in a 10 round fight in Cordoba, for the vacant Argentina title.
On Friday Dec. 1, Nazarena Romero (0-0) and Eliana Cuello (0-0) meet in a four round fight in La Calera, Cordoba.
Canada
On Saturday Dec. 2, cruiserweights Annie Mazzerolle (4-3) and Martha Gaytan (11-7) meet in a six rounds fight in New Brunswick.
China
Casey Morton (6-0-3) knocked out Daorueng Pakkhetanang (1-8) in the first round on Tuesday Nov. 21. The super flyweight fight took place in Suzhou. Morton, 34, fights out of San Francisco, Calif.
Czech Republic
On Saturday Dec. 2, featherweights Lucie Sedlackova (10-0-1) and Irma Adler (16-9) meet in a 10 round clash for the WBC Silver title in Usti nad Labem. Also, minimumweights Fabiana Bytyqi (11-0) and Fatuma Yazidu (16-4) meet in a 10 round contest for the WBC Silver title.
Dominican Republic
On Saturday Dec. 2, super bantamweights Nairobi Valenzuela (0-1) and Dyana Vargas (0-0) meet in a four round fight in Santiago de los Caballeros.
Finland
On Saturday Dec. 2, middleweights Sanna Turunen (2-0-1) and Borislava Goranova (10-50-3) meet in an eight round in Salo.
Germany
Xenia Jorneac (8-2) beat Amra Okugic (0-6) by decision after six rounds on Saturday Nov. 25. The bantamweight bout was held in Bayern.
On Saturday Dec. 2, minimumweights Tina Rupprecht (6-0) and Ann Sophie Da Costa (24-3) meet in a 10 round fight in Bayern for the interim WBC minimumweight title. Also, super bantamweights Tatyana Zrazhevkaya (5-0) and Oksana Romanova (9-19-1) meet in a six round fight.
On Saturday Dec. 2, lightweights Derya Saki (8-0) and Marija Fedotenkova (1-3) meet in a six round fight in Hangelsburg.
On Sunday Dec. 3, super lightweights Beke Bas (9-0) and Timea Belik (4-4) meet in a six round fight in Hamburg.
Japan
Jun Yabuki (9-0) beat Fuka Komura (5-1) by decision after six rounds on Monday Nov. 20. The minimumweight fight was part of the Japan’s national tournament and took place in Tokyo. (For more on this read Yuriko Miyata’s story on this web site.)
On Wednesday Nov. 29, light flyweights Tenkai Tsunami (23-12) and Carleans Rivas (6-4-3) meet in an eight round fight in Tokyo.
On Friday Dec. 1, light flyweights Naoko Fujioka (16-2) and Yokasta Valle (13-0) meet in a 10 round clash for the vacant WBO light flyweight world title in Tokyo. Fujioka, 41, has world titles in four weight divisions and wants a fifth. Valle, 25, is a minimumweight world champion from Costa Rica looking to get her second world title in a second weight division. (For more on this fight go to this web site.)
Kenya
On Saturday Dec. 2, super bantamweights Fatuma Zarika (29-12-2) and Catherine Phiri (13-2) fight in a 10 round clash for the WBC world title in Nairobi. Zarika, 32, is making the first defense of the title. Phiri fights out of Zambia and is the former WBC bantamweight titlist moving up a weight division.
Luxembourg
On Sunday Dec. 3, super lightweights Caroline Andre (2-2) and Marie Meron (2-0) meet in a six round fight in Rumelange.
Mexico
Alejandra Jimenez (10-0) knocked out Maria Velis (1-4) in the first round on Saturday Nov. 25. The non-title heavyweight bout took place in Chetamul, Quintana Roo. Jimenez is the current WBC heavyweight world champion.
Anabel Ortiz (26-3) defeated Esmeralda Torres (1-6-1) by unanimous decision after 10 rounds on Saturday Nov. 25. The light flyweight bout was held in Mexico City. Ortiz,31, is the WBA minimum weight world champion and moved up a weight division for this fight. Torres, 23, fights out of Mexico City.
On Saturday Dec. 2, flyweights Monserrat Alarcon (9-3-2) and Yesenia Castrejon (17-15) meet in a 10 round fight in Guadalajara.
On Saturday Dec. 2, light flyweights Mayela Perez (18-21-4) and Jessica Rangel (1-7-1) meet in a 10 round contest in Saltillo.
Panama
Olga Julio (26-17-2) was the winner by technical knockout in the second round over Maria Miranda (16-15) on Friday Nov. 24. The flyweight contest was held in Panama City. Also, Nataly Delgado (6-2-1) beat Marlene Aguilar (0-3-1) by decision after four rounds.
Philippines
Renz Dacquel (1-1) knocked out Kathleen Paptie (0-1) in the first round on Sunday Nov. 26. The super flyweight fight took place in La Trinidad.
Russia
On Monday Nov. 27, super lightweights Svetlana Kulakova (12-0-1) and Judy Wuguthii (15-7-4) fight 10 rounds for the IBO world title in Moscow.
South Africa
On Sunday Dec. 3, super flyweights Sharadene Fortuin (9-1) and Ellen Simwaka (6-2-1) meet in an eight round bout in Mdantsane, Eastern Cape.
South Korea
On Sunday Dec. 3, flyweights Shin Young Park (3-0) and Chan Li Kim (2-4) meet in a six round fight in Seoul. Also, super lightweights Bo Mi Re Shin (3-0-2) and Milana Safronova (0-0-1) meet in a four round fight.
Spain
Farah El Bousairi (1-0) defeated Eloisa Rodriguez (0-4) by decision after four rounds on Saturday Nov. 25. The super flyweight bout was held in Palma de Mallorca.
On Saturday Dec. 2, super middleweights Elin Cederros (1-0) and Ester Konecna (1-5-1) meet in a six round fight in Santa Pola.
On Saturday Dec. 2, super welterweights Joanna Ekedahl (2-0) and Hristina Stojadinovic (0-1) meet in a four round fight in Villarubia de Santiago.
Sweden
Patricia Berghult (9-0) was the winner by unanimous decision after six rounds against Sylwia Maksym (2-2) on Saturday Nov. 25. The super lightweight fight was held in Orebro.
Switzerland
Sandra Atanassow (7-0-1) defeated Olena Medvedenko (1-3) by decision after six rounds on Saturday Nov. 25. The featherweight contest took place in St. Gallen.
On Saturday Dec. 2, super bantamweights Vissia Trovato (9-0) and Jasmina Nad (6-20-4) six round fight in Ascona.
Thailand
Rose Samuel (1-0) won by technical knockout in the third round over Tantip Chimpalee (0-4) on Thursday Nov. 23. The lightweight fight was held in Bangkok.
United Kingdom
Terri Harper (1-0) beat Monika Antonik (1-8) by decision after four rounds on Saturday Nov. 25. The super lightweight fight was held in Doncaster, Yorkshire.
Kallia Kourouni (8-1) beat Bojana Libiszewska (5-26) by unanimous decision after 10 rounds on Friday Nov. 24. The GBU and WIBF world title fight took place in Tolworth, London.
On Saturday Dec.2, lightweights Chantelle Cameron (4-0) and Viviane Obenauf (12-3) meet in a 10 round fight in Leicester.
USA
Kali Reis (13-6-1) was the winner by unanimous decision after six rounds versus Tiffany Woodard (4-9-3) on Saturday Nov. 25. The middleweight fight was held in Uncasville, Conn. Reis, 31, is the former WBC middleweight champion.
Adelaida Ruiz (3-0) defeated Dalia Gomez (1-2) by unanimous decision after four rounds on Saturday Nov. 25. The super bantamweight clash took place in Los Angeles, Calif. Ruiz, 29, fights out of L.A. Gomez, 35, fights out of Oakland.
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