Wordless Wednesday, 1/25/2012

Wordless Wednesday, 1/25/2012

Fire in the Ring, June 2011

Wordless Wednesday is a group of bloggers who give words a rest once a week.

Weekend Women’s Boxing: 9/2 – 9/3/2011

>>>Update!>>>

Frida “Golden Girl” Wallberg defeated Olivia Gerula in a ten round decision to retain her WBC Super Featherweight Title.  In a unanimous decision, the judges scored the bout 99-91, 98-92 and 98-92.  As quoted in the Winnipeg Free Press, Gerula said,”Frida was the better fighter and this time around she deserved the win.”

 

Weekend Women’s Boxing: 9/2 & 9/3/2011

Friday, September 2nd

Relew, Chubut, Argentina!

Soledad Edith Matthysee

In what appears to be some lopsided match making, the 31 year old, Argentinian fighters from Rafaela, Santa Fe,

Natalia del Pilar Burga

Soledad Edith Matthysee (8-2, 1-KO) will be taking on 32 year old Natalia del Pilar Burga (5-11-1) originally from Rosario de la Frontera in Salta in a scheduled 8-round bout.

The fight is being promoted by Walter Dario Matthysse.

Saturday, September 3rd

Hotel Sheraton, Colon City, Panama

Abigail Villar (L) and Yaditza Perez

The 21-year old Panamanian fighters Abigail Villar (4-5-3, 2-KO’s) will be fighting a rematch against Yaditza Perez (2-6)  in an 8-round bout for the WBC Latino Light Flyweight Title.  Villar has previously fought and lost in her bids for the interim WBC Female Flyweight Title and the WBC Youth Female Light Flyweight Title.  Kiesher Mcleod-Wells also bested Villar in their 2009 fight at the Hotel El Panama in Panama City.

Also on the card will be a 4-round  super featherweight bout pitting Migdalia Asprilla (2-1-1, 2-KO’s) against Cecilia Montezuma making her professional debut.

Karlstad CCC, Karlstad Sweden

Frida Wallberg (L) vs. Olivia Gerula, Foto: fridawallberg.com

Swedish WBC Female Super Featherweight Title holder, 28 year old Frida “Golden Girl” Wallberg (9-0, 2 KO’s) will be fighting a rematch against the 32 year old Canadian challenger Olivia Gerula (13-11-2, 3-KO’s) in a 10-round main event contest.  Gerula had been the previous title holder having successfully defended the title against three challengers.  In their first outing Wallberg won by a close decision with the scores 77-75, 78-75, 78-75.

Mikaela Lauren

Also on the fight card will be a 6-round female welterweight bout will pitting Sweden’s own Mikaela Lauren (10-1, 2-KO’s) against Serbia’s Eva Halasi (9-4, 8-KO’s).

Eva Halasi, Phote: Wende

In her last outing, Halasi was defeated by German fighter Jennifer Retzke for the vacant IBF Female Light Middleweight Title.

The card is being promoted by Anders Holmber of Pugnus Boxing Promotions.

For a preview of some terrific boxing, check out the videos of Wallberg v. Gerula I!

Reminder! Great Women’s Boxing on 7/30. Mcleod-Wells v. McMorrow & Nava v. Torres!!

Reminder!  Great Women’s Boxing on 7/30.  Mcleod-Wells v. McMorrow & Nava v. Torres!

Keisher "Fire" Mcleod Wells (R) and Melissa "Mighty" McMorrow

 McLeod-Wells v. McMorrow

In a rematch of their 6-round fight from this past February which had Gleason’s own Keisher “Fire” McLeod Wells (4-1, 1KO) on top  – Fire will be facing California’s Melissa “Mighty” McMorrow (5-2-3) in the ring on Saturday night, July 30th, only this time in an 8-round bout with the New York State Flyweight Championship belt on the line. McMorrow picked up the belt in a split decision against New York’s Eileen Olszewski on June 24, 2011.

The bout, part of Lou DiBella‘s Broadway Boxing series also comes with DiBella’s commitment to feature at least one women’s bout on all of his future fight cards.  This is welcome news for the sport of Women’s Boxing and Girlboxing sends a huge shout out to the DiBella Entertainment organization for their continued support!

The fight will be held at Aviator Sports & Event Center @ Floyd Bennet Field, 3149 Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn New York.

Tickets are still available and can be purchased by contacting Gleason’s Gym (718-797-2872 – credit card accepted).  Pricing for tickets: $55 (General Standing), $75 (Seating), $125 (Ringside), $1,500 (VIP Table: 10 persons/Table).

Nava v. Torres

Ana Maria Torres (l) vs. Jackie Nava

Jackie Nava v. Ana Maria Torres, Photo: Rafael Soto/Zanfer

Where can you find Women’s Boxing at its best you ask? Try flying down to the Metropolitan Center in Tuxtla Gutierrez, Chiapas for the chance to see the rematch between Jackie Nava (24-3-3, 11KO’s) and Ana Maria Torres (25-3-3, 15 KO’s), arguably on everyone’s top ten list of women fighters these days.

Their last outing in April was a 95-95 draw on all three judges cards, and as I keep saying their bout was as fierce a boxing battle as ever you’ll see. (Link to article & videos)

In the last presser before Saturday’s battle, Fight News quotes both boxers as saying:

Ana Maria Torres: “The first fight was very tough, we feel that we won it, but this time to avoid doubt look for the knockout with intelligence, without rushing, but just win round after round if the fight would go to decision.”

Jackie Nava: “It would have special meaning to win the Diamond belt. Plus at this point in my career, I am a very experienced fighter who has faced any challenges that has come…the fight will be a war in the ring, I’ll start with great determination and intensity unlike the first fight.”

Thankfully, the fight will be broadcast on Mexican television, which means we get a shot at seeing the fight on YouTube — it’ll also likely be carried live on a video stream so look for it if you want to see this non-stop action fight live.

Mid-summer and remembering what hot means!

Mid-summer and remembering what hot means!

As with most parts of the United States, Brooklyn is baking under the sun and about to get a lot hotter today. At Gleason’s Gym after work yesterday, I found myself dragging and remembered what that hot, funky mid-summer gym smell was!  Pretty ripe — but as I worked out and my muscles loosened to a gelatinous mass I also remembered why I love a summer workout.

Keisher "Fire" Mcleod-Wells

Still, it was hard to get the rhythm and I never did get my usual overheated combinations on my combinations going, rather I found myself throwing punches at a slow and steady pace … meanwhile, as one of my fellow gym denizens remarked, women actually out-numbered men at the gym, including Keisher “Fire” Mcleod-Wells sparring and working out in preparation for her upcoming NY State Championship bout on July 30th.  That alone was inspiring enough to keep me going for a couple of more rounds — that and a look at just how hard everyone was working.

And that’s the thing isn’t it.  So much of what we do is in relation to the folks we share the mirror with.  Checking out moves, stances, combinations, cute tricks, and level of effort. To me that’s what the real hot means.

Whether it’s catching a glimpse of Fire in the ring as she works her magic or on any Saturday morning when all three rings are filled with sparring, some of it skilled, some of it less so, and some of it showing all the beauty of an improvisational pad de deux; catching the pulse of the boxing all around us is a boost like no other.

I wished I had more energy yesterday to match some of the effort, but even at my plodding pace, I felt the heat of the place as so much boxing energy winding its way through the gym as a giant wave capturing us all in its wake.

Two Great upcoming July Women’s Bouts from Gleason’s Own!

Two Great Upcoming July Women’s Bouts from Gleason’s Own!

Two great female boxer’s out of Gleason’s Gym will be showcasing their considerable talents in the ring this month!

Alicia “Slick” Ashley

The July 23rd “Knock Out Cancer” boxing show at the Hunts Point Produce Market in the Bronx will feature none other than Alicia “Slick” Ashley (16-9-1, 1KO) in a bout against Christina Ruiz (6-3-1, 4KO’s) for the vacant WBC Female Super Bantamweight World Title.  promoted by Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing to aid in the fight against cancer, the event promises to be exciting! Ruiz is coming off her knockout win over Emily Klinefelter that sent Klinefelter to the hospital — and Gleason’s own Ashley, a 13 year veteran of the sport is quoted as saying, “It would be phenomenal to win my 4th world title, especially in New York with my friends, family and fans lending support in what should be an exciting boxing match.”

Tickets for this exciting event can be purchased by contacting Gleason’s Gym (718-797-2872 – credit cards accepted) prices are set at $50, $75 and $100. Doors open at 6:00 p.m. and the first bout is scheduled to begin at 7:15 p.m.  Hunts Point Market is located at 772 Edgewater Road, Bronx, NY 10474

Keisher “Fire” Mcleod-Wells

Keisher "Fire" Mcleod-Wells, Credit: Andrea Mohin/NY Times

Fresh off her stint filming the upcoming Mexican reality TV show Todas Contra México, Keisher Mcleod-Wells (4-1) will be returning to the ring for none other than an eight-round New York State Flyweight Title Championship bout on July 30, 2011.  Fire is taking on the current NYS Champion, Melissa “Mighty” McMorrow (5-2-3) in a rematch of their February 9th bout.

The event is promoted by DiBella Entertainment and will be held at The Aviator Sports & Event Center @ Floyd Bennet Field, 3149 Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn New York.

Ticket information for this championship event can be purchased by contacting Gleason’s Gym (718-797-2872 – credit card accepted).  Pricing for tickets: $55 (General Standing), $75 (Seating), $125 (Ringside), $1,500 (VIP Table: 10 persons/Table).

Friday night fights: Women’s Boxing Results!

Friday night fights: Women’s Boxing Results!

Truth be told, I’m still over the moon about the tremendous efforts shown by the top amateur women’s boxers at the 2011 Nationals in Colorado Springs!  Talk about a wow! There was, however, even more terrific fighting around the pro ranks.  Here’s a smattering of what happened in Friday night action:

Ana Julaton (r) and Angel Gladney, Photo: MPSportsimages

Ana “The Hurrican” Julaton (9-2-1, 1-KO) stepped up in weight to the 128lb weight class to defeat Angel “Non-Stop” Gladney (6-4-1, 5-KO’s) in a slug-fest on Friday night at the Dade County Auditorium on Friday night. The non-title bout proved Julaton’s punching power in the 8-round toe-to-toe match of skills and power.  Julaton’s promoter Allan Tremblay was quoted as saying “This is the best performance I’ve ever seen out of Ana! She did everything from superior body punching, opening up with the right hand, using the uppercut and of course her signature jab!”

Melissa McMorrow, 2009, Photo: Mario Cabera, Jr.

The New York State Women’s Flyweight Title went to Melissa McMorrow (5-2-3) in a split decision over Eileen Olsezwski (7-3-2).  The fight was the co-feature at the Cordon Bleu in Woodhaven, Queens on Friday night (6/24) with the judges scoring the bout 78-74 McMorrow, 78-74 Olsezwski and 79-93 McMorrow.   It should be noted that Olsewski, the women’s WIBA and GBU title holder retained her titles as the bout was not a santioned championship fight for those titles.  McMorrow lost her previous fight to Gleason’s own Keisher Mcleod-Wells in a squeaker.

Melissa "Huracan" Hernandez @ Gleason's Gym

At the Shaw Conference Centre in Edmonton, Canada, Gleason’s own Melissa “Huracan” Hernandez (15-2-3, 5-KO’s) was a last-minute opponant against boxer Jelena Mrdjenovich (24-8-1, 12 KO’s), but that didn’t stop her!  Hernandez took the fight with a split decision.

Mrdjenovich’s original oponnent was Bosnia’s Irma Balijagic Adler in what had been promoted as a WIBA featherweight title headliner on KO Boxing’s seven-bout No Turning Back card. Adler was scratched from the fight on Wednesday after she tested positive for hepatitis B.

Friday morning odd-bins

Friday morning odd-bins

Good morning fight fans! (Always wanted to says that!)

Todas Contra México Update!

Here’s a first look at Todas Contra México‘s star fighters as they get ready to begin shooting in Chiapas, Mexico!  Nice promo up on YouTube:

Pan American Games Box-off begins today!

Yep, the USA Boxing qualifier for the debut of women’s boxing at the Pan American Games is set to begin today at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado with a “Box-Off” of USA’s top competitors in the three Olympic weight categories:  Flyweight (112 lbs), Lightweight (132 lbs), and Middleweight (165 lbs).

This is historic stuff!

The top women amateur boxers participating in the Box-Off are:

Flyweight/112 lbs
Marlen Esparza, Houston, Texas
Tyrieshia Douglas Baltimore, Md.
Cynthia Moreno, Phoenix, Ariz.
Alex Love, Monroe, Wash.
Christina Cruz, New York, N.Y.
Marina Ramirez, Las Vegas, Nev.

Lightweight/132 lbs
Queen Underwood, Seattle, Wash.
Patricia Manuel, Long Beach, Calif.
Caroline Barry, Boulder, Colo.
Mikaela Mayer, Marquette, Mich.
Melissa Parker, Camp Lejeune, N.C.
Jody-Ann Weller, Pomona, N.Y.
Liz Leddy, Portland, Maine

Middleweight/165 lbs
Tiffanie Hearn, Louisville, Ky.
Franchon Crews, Baltimore, Md.

The winners of this event will go on to the Pan American Games qualifying event in Cumana, Venezuala set to run from March 25th to March 30th 2011.  The Pan American Games are set to run in Guadalajara, Mexico from October 14th – October 30th 2011.

WBA Women’s Super Bantamweight Title Fight Tonight

Yesica Patricia Marcos, WBA Women's Super Bantamweight

Bleacher Reports has a story up on tonight’s WBA Women’s Super Bantamweight title fight tonight between Yesica Patricia Marcos (16-0, 5-KO) and Maria Andrea Miranda (13-5) in San Martin, Mendoz, Argentina.  The folks at Bleacher Report opine that the shorted training period for Marcos, and Miranda recent 2-4 record will present challenges to both fighters.  The full story is here including news on other upcoming bouts.  Well worth the read!

Enjoy the day — and if you happen to be in the NY area it’s set to hit the high 60′s, yea!

Sunday odds and ends

Sunday Odds and Ends

I watched the Sergio “Maravilla” Martinez vs. Sergiy Dzinziruk fight last night and came away truly impressed with Martinez’s fighting ability and the maturity he showed in the ring.  Not only had he truly trained for the bout, but his mental fortitude was also apparent as he kept to his game, never lost focus and put on the kind of boxing show that keeps fans out of their seats in concert with the fighters, all without the kind of self-aggrandizing nonsense that so often, of late, gets in the way of a good bout.  Given his peak physical condition and the kind of training regimen he keeps to, we shall likely have Martinez, 36, around for some time to come.  The fight was truly boxing at its best with a huge shout out to Dzinziruk for his considerable efforts in the fight.

Women’s boxing in Japan

The triple-header WBC title fights to have been held at Tokyo’s Korakuen Hall have been put on hold due to the devastating earthquake the hit North-Eastern Japan on Friday.  Apparently all six of the boxers had just completed their official weigh-ins when the earthquake hit.  Thankfully, none of the participants were injured.  The OBPF light flyweight bout was also canceled. For more on the story in WBAN click here.

Todas Contra México - UPDATE

Crystal Hoy, Photo Credit: Mary Ann Owen

A Girlboxing shout out to Crystal “Baby Faced Assassin” Hoy (5-4-3 2-KO) on getting the nod to represent the Philippines in the upcoming Mexican Women’s Boxing reality TV-show:  Todas Contra México.  Crystal will join Karolina Owczarz and Keisher “Fire” McLeod-Wells on the international team as each contestant vies to win the $100,000 dollar prize. Click here for a nice feature piece on Crystal on the GMAnews.tv website.

Ana Julaton – the next bout?

Ana Julaton

Close on the heels of her successful WBO Super Bantamweight defense, The Philippines Star is reporting that Ana “The Hurricane” Julaton “is yearning for a rematch with Lisa “Bad News” Brown in the hope of avenging one of the most heartrending losses in her boxing career.”  This fight, however, will need to occur after her next bout deemed a title defense by a “mandatory challenger,” although neither Julaton nor her team are talking on what fighter that may be or where and when the fight will occur.

Julaton, a popular boxer in both her native California is considering having her next bout on Philippine soil.  Time will tell.  The link to the story is here.

Women’s Boxing News Roundup – 3/10/11

Women’s boxing news roundup – 3/10/2011.

Todas Contra México names Global Boxing Foundation prospect and Polish Amateur sensation Karolina Owczarz as a contestant on the upcoming Reality TV Show!

Karolina Owczarz, Gold Medal Winner in the Polish Amateur Boxing Championships

Production for Todas Contra Mexico is set to begin the week of March 14th in Chiapas, Mexico where Karolina Owczarz is set to have her professional debut.  Karolina will be joined by Keisher “Fire” McLeod-Wells on the international team as each contestant vies to win the $100,000 dollar prize. For more information Click on the Eastside Boxing.com story here.

Women in Sports

To coincide with the International Women’s Day on March 8th,  there have been a few articles from the world press that have addressed the issue if inequality in women’s sports.  From an article by Mike Beamish of the Vancouver Sun and published online in the Montreal Gazette.com, Beamish makes the point that, “Women will come out fighting for the first time at the 2012 Olympics in London, 15 years after British boxing authorities claimed their menstrual cycles made them too “unstable” to box. The concern for women’s reproductive systems and supposed frailty are time-honoured excuses that harken back to the 19th century and, apparently, still have dubious cachet today.”

The story in the Torontoist entited, “Sporting Good: The Toronto Newsgirls,” while not a polemic about the state of women’s sports, is an article about the Toronto Newsgirls Boxing Club, dedicated to empowering women through boxing.  The club, founded by Savory Howe supports women and girls of all abilities from beginners on through amateur champions with Olympic dreams.  The club offer classes in boxing, individual training, sparring and regular “fight nights” for club participants.  As well, the space is designed to offer women an environment that encourages women’s athleticism at all levels and a safe haven from the work-a-day problems of the world at large. A link to the article is here. For more information about the club click here.

Kaliesha West back to boxing?

8countnews.com is reporting that Kaliesha “Wild West” West is eyeing an April return to the ring after her layoff from competitive boxing following a car accident.  Kaliesha also participated in a podcast that is well-worth a listen.  A link to the article and podcast can be found here.  Please also have a look at an interesting feature story run on Kaliesha last year in PE.com entitled, Boxing Column: Times have changed for Kaliesha West.  A link to the earlier story can be found here.

Women’s Boxing: Todas Contra México

Women’s Boxing: Todas Contra México

Maureen Shea

The new Mexican reality TV show Todas Contra México to be aired from Chiapas, Mexico, will showcase women’s professional boxing at its highest level.  The premise of the show is to feature bouts between a team of Mexican women professional boxers against an international team featuring none other than Gleason’s own Keisher ”Fire” McLeod-Wells.

Keisher "Fire" Mcleod-Wells

As noted in the Girlboxing piece Women Boxing Everywhere!, the show will be hosted by New York’s own Million Dollar Baby, Maureen Shea.

The New York Daily News published a fabulous must-read piece by reporter Tanyankia Samuels about the show entitled, “Boxer Maureen Shea, who trained Hilary Swank for ‘Million Dollar Baby’ tapped for reality TV show.”

As quoted in an extensive piece in Eastside Boxing.com, Maureen Shea said “This is a big moment for female boxing.”  Shea continued, “For a long time, the public ignored female boxing but there has been a shift in recent years in the perception of the sport.  Women in boxing are gaining more respect with the way they are being portrayed, and the sport is gaining in popularity among females due to the women’s empowerment movement. After this show, the world will have to take notice of female boxing.”

There is talk of finding an outlet for the series in the US, however, that has not been reported as yet.  Meanwhile, this exciting new showcase for women’s boxing will begin filming in Chiapas towards the end of March.

Congratulations and a huge Girlboxing shout out to Fire and Maureen!

Women’s Boxing Upcoming Fight!

Women’s Boxing Upcoming Fight!

Gleason’s own four-time Golden Gloves winner Keisher “Fire” McLeod-Wells (3-1), will be fighting on February 9th, 2011 at B.B. King’s on a card promoted by DiBella Entertainment.  This will be Keisher’s first six round bout where she will face off with San Francisco fighter Melissa “Mighty” McMorrow (4-1-3).  For tickets and more information about this bout, contact Gleason’s Gym here.

Rock Chicks Live has a piece about it here.  WBAN has a piece about it here.  And take a visit to Fire’s website here.

The lady is a champ

The lady is a champ

Christy Martin, The Lady is a Champ, Sports Illustrated

This story has been out for a few days, but in case Girlboxing readers didn’t see it, women’s boxing pioneer Christy Martin, 42 has been tentatively set to box March 12th in Las Vegas on the Miguel Cotto-Ricardo Mayorga undercard.

As quoted on Fanhouse.com, Christy said, “The deal is done.  I will finish my career being promoted by the best, Bob Arum, of Top Rank…”  Christy was pronounced, “healthy” and will train in Las Vegas with Miguel Diaz.  Given where she’s come from and where she is today, win, lose or draw Christy’s remarkable spirit is inspirational inside and outside the boxing world.

To read Lem Satterfield’s original article entitled “Christy Martin ‘Burning’ for Return to Ring,” on the Fanhouse.com website click here.

PS – Big fights coming up in NYC!  Alicia “Slick” Ashley on January 13th @ Brooklyn’s Masonic Temple. Keisher Mcleod-Wells at B.B. Kings on February 9th.  Tickets available at Gleason’s Gym — link for information here.

100th post today!

100th post today!

The number 100 seems to have a lot of significance.

In boxing as with many other sports we talk about giving 100% of ourselves to our efforts.  It is also a marker for progress.  We speak of a president’s first 100 days in office as a measurement of success or failure.  We use the 100 degree measurement to signify the boiling point of water in Celsius.  We also often speak of the top 100 — say boxers of all time and consider a centenary birthday as a remarkable achievement as a much a testament to the human spirit to endure as to genetic make-up.

Thus, Girlboxing is proud, if humbled to mark its 100th post today.  Not to say that Girlboxing is even remotely in the league of the aforementioned achievements, rather, the number 100 is a marker for an ongoing personal commitment to a daily something.  To writing it down for personal growth as well as the chance to put out thoughts and ideas to the larger community.

Knowing that these thoughts and ideas have been listened to has been, well, humbling, exhilarating and a bit daunting!

Thank you to all Girlboxing readers and friends who have been so supportive of this blog — and of my efforts.  I am astounded that the blog has gotten this far and again have everyone to thank for encouraging me to keep on going.

I found the following on YouTube — pretty inspiring stuff, it represents the first 8 days of a 100 day fitness challenge!

(Note:  Will only play on YouTube)

PS – Big fights coming up in NYC!  Alicia “Slick” Ashley on January 13th @ Brooklyn’s Masonic Hall. Keisher Mcleod-Wells at B.B. Kings on February 9th.  Tickets available at Gleason’s Gym — link for information here.