The WBA will make history Saturday night at Polideportivo José María Vargas in La Guaira, Venezuela, when it is stages “Batalla de Campeones,” a fight card that features seven women’s title fights on one night and in one ring.
All the boxers are female, as are the referees and judges.
WBA President Emeritus Gilberto Mendoza always supported women’s boxing. His son Gilberto Jesus Mendoza, who was elected WBA President in December, has embraced that tradition, but has taken that support to a whole new level.
“It’s the first time we see so many female champions together in one boxing event ,” said Ralph Hannah, Senior Manager of Guinness World Records, “and therefore the Guinness World Records family is very happy to be here endorsing what is happening.
“We are grateful to the World Boxing Association, which has supported us in various records attempts over the years. Obviously we celebrate excellence and achievement and WBA is an organization that does the same by looking for the best in the world.”
In the main event, WBA World female bantamweight champion Mayerlin “La Monita” Rivas (13-3-1, 9 KOs), from Maracaibo, Venezuela, will defend her title against Maria “Chony” Sorroche (11-0-1, 2 KOs), the unbeaten 25-year-old from Manresa, Cataluña, Spain.
“I have trained for three months,” said Rivas. “We will give a great battle. This victory will be in memory of Gilberto Mendoza.”
In the co-main, WBA World female light flyweight champion Yesica “La Tuti” Bopp (28-1, 12 KOs), fighting out of Wilde, Buenos Aires, Argentina, defends her title against former IBF World female minimumweight champion Nancy “Chatita” Franco (14-7-2, 4 KOs), from Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico.
WBO female super welterweight champion Hanna “La Amazona” Gabriel (15-1-1, 10 KOs), from Alajuela, Costa Rica, will defend her title against Katia “La Leona” Alvariño (8-2-1, 3 KOs), from Juan Lacaze, Colonia, Uruguay. The vacant WBA World female super welterweight will also be on the line.
Laura Linda Lecca (12-2-1, 3 KOs), “La Princesa Inca” from Lima, Peru, defends her WBA World female super flyweight title against the Carolina “La Fiera” Alvarez (12-6-3, 9 KOs), the rugged competitor from Caracas, Venezuela. The fight is a rematch. Their first fight, in March 2015, was ruled a no decision after an accidental clash of heads in the second round.
Former WBA World female featherweight champion Ogleydis “La Nina” Suarez (20-3-1, 8 KOs), from Caracas, Venezuela, will face Colombian Yolis Marrugo Franco (18-9-3, 9 KOs), “La Diablita” from Cartagena, Colombia, for the vacant WBA Fedelatin female super lightweight title.
There will be three Fedelatin championships in all, rounding out an historic night of female boxing in Venezuela.
Speaking about Saturday night’s fights, Gilberto Jesus Mendoza said, “It is very important for me this is happening. It shows the boxing world that the WBA goes beyond regular or sanctioned fights to support the rights of women in a sport that many characterize as sexist. So it is a great honor for me and for the WBA to be awarded this Guinness record.”
This article was penned by the author who is not related to the WBA and the statements, expressions or opinions referenced herein are that of the author alone and not the WBA.
