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Featherweight champion Jelena Mrdjenovich (35-9-1, 19 KO’s) successfully defended the WBC title, stopping Francia Elena Bravo (19-5-2, 9 KO’s) in the ninth round at Hotel Sortis in Panama City, Panama. A six time world champion in multiple weight divisions, Mrdjenovich was making the second defense after regaining the belt from Melissa Hernandez in May of 2013. She’s also had four non-title bouts since then, making this weekend’s win her seventh in a row with six of those coming inside the distance. The 32 year old Edmonton native has been part of the world title picture since 2005 when she won the IWBF and WBC super featherweight titles. In the following years, she’s added the WIBF lightweight belt and the WIBA, WBC, and WBC featherweight championships to her credits.
Francia Bravo came in off three decision wins after failing in a WBA featherweight title shot against Dahiana Santana last June. She won the WBA Fedalatin featherweight belt in August of 2013 that title hasn’t been defended or fought for by any other fighters since.
A WBA super flyweight title contest between champion Linda Laura Lecca (12-2-1, 3 KO’s) and Carolina Alvarez (11-6-3, 8 KO’s) ended in a no contest after Lecca was cut over the eye by an accidental head butt; the official ruling was ND 2. This was the third defense of the interim title in seven months’ time for the champ; she scored 10 round decisions over Guadalupe Martinez and Maribel Ramirez in her prior two. Alvarez has had numerous opportunities at world honors, but has failed to come out on top in five prior title bouts.
Cindy Serrano (22-5-3, 10 KO’s), the UBF lightweight champion, fought Fatuma Zarika (24-9-2, 14 KO’s) to a six round draw in Queens, New York. Serrano had run up a seven fight winning streak coming into this contest and along the way had won the WIBA International lightweight, UBF International super featherweight, UBF world super featherweight and UBF world lightweight titles, the last of which she still possesses. Zarika is a former WIBF bantamweight and super bantamweight champ who’s fought a number or world champions or former title holders.
The Women’s International Clash of Champions tickets are now on sale. The Olympic style round-robin tournament will take place April 20-25 in Atlanta Georgia at the Buckhead Fight Club. This is a huge event in women’s boxing and the first of its kind in the U.S. since 2001. Featuring top level amateur fighters from around the world, all 10 weight divisions will see competition. The opening ceremony and press conference will be held at the Lynwood Park Recreation Center on April 20th at 2pm. Visit www.buckheadfightclub.com for more info.