IBF Flyweight Champion, Leonela Yudica
In Buenos Aires, Argentina, IBF flyweight champion Leonela Paola Yudica (9-0-3) retained the world title when she and challenger Vanesa Lorena Taborda (8-4) fought to a 10 round draw in a bout that saw both fighters lose a point for fouling. It was the first defense for Yudica, who won the belt last December, defeating Gabriela Bouvier over 10 rounds. This was the second consecutive title shot for Taborda; in January she lost a decision to Daniela Bermudez for the super flyweight belt. These two met previously, fighting a year ago with Yudica wining a four round decision.
A triple header in Woodlawn Maryland saw three vacant UBF titles claimed. In the super welterweight division, Tori Nelson (14-0-3, 1 KO) defeated Kita Watkins (7-12, 1 KO) over 10 rounds to add the vacant UBF title to her WIBA and UBF welterweight belts. Nelson is also a former WIBA and WBC middleweight champion. This is her eighth consecutive win since fighting Teresa Perozzi to back-to back draws in 2012-2013.
Also on the card, bantamweight title holder Tyrieshia Douglas (9-0, 4 KO’s) came down in weight to win the vacant UBF flyweight belt, stopping Maria Suarez (9-2-1) in the eighth round. Douglas won the UBF and WIBA bantamweight titles in her last bout this past November, and Suarez had a May title shot for the IFBA light flyweight belt but was beaten on points by Sindy Amador.
In the third title contest of the night, the “Bolivian Queen”, WBF super bantamweight champ Jennifer Salinas (16-3, 4 KO’s) returned after a 16 month absence to beat Angel Gladney (8-11-1, 6 KO’s) on points, taking the vacant UBF super featherweight title. This was Salinas’s fifth consecutive win, with Gladney now being unsuccessful in five title opportunities. In 2012, Salinas beat Gladney in a four round bout.
A contest for the interim WBA flyweight title saw former NABF champ Joselyn Arroyo (18-0, 7 KO’s) remain undefeated and win her first world strap, taking a 10 round split decision over Maribel Ramirez (9-8-2, 3 KO’s). Ramirez has been in with a number of top level opponents, but hasn’t been able to pull off a win in a title bout just yet.
Ibeth Zamora Silva (22-5, 8 KO’s) won a non-title bout, taking a 10 round decision over Suri Tapia (7-5, 2 KO’s) in Tlalnepantla, Mexico. The world champ has made three defenses of the belt and beaten quality opponents and former world title holders.
Multiple world title holder Mikaela Lauren (24-3, 9 KO’s) picked up some non-title action, stopping Celia Sierra (4-2) in the third round of scheduled six rounder. Lauren holds the super welterweight titles for the WBC, WIBA, and UBO and has fought for the world middleweight title, losing to Christina Hammer in 2013.