The WBC super bantamweight title was up grabs this weekend as reigning title holder Alicia Ashley (19-9-1, 1 KO) defended against Chanttall Martinez (18-6, 7 KO’s) at Arena Roberto Duran in Panama.
It was the second defense for Ashley, who has held the belt since 2011, winning a 10 round decision over Christina Ruiz where the vacant title was up for grabs. Martinez, a former WBA super bantamweight titlist, was coming in on a three fight win streak and held the big advantage in age over the 45 year old Ashley, being just 22 years old.
Ashley proved that age is just a number, working her way to close, but unanimous decision win to retain the title: 96-94 on two cards and 97-93 on the third. This marks not only the second successful defense for Ashley but also her fifth consecutive win. She was last defeated in 2009, losing a 10 round decision to Marcela Acuna in a bid for the same title belt she now holds today. She has also held the Global and WIBF titles in the bantamweight division.
In Argentina, Alejandra Oliveras (30-2-2, 15 KO’s) put on a good show, defending the WBO featherweight title against first time title challenger Calixta Silgado (9-2-1, 7 KO’s). Silgado came in a on a four bout win streak, three by stoppage.
It was a close bout for the first three rounds, Oliveras looking to find her range while Silgado used her long reach to establish a safe distance, catching the champ with lead and counter right hands, and then using her lateral movement to avoid the champion’s offense. Come the fourth round, Oliveras took complete control. A left hook stunned Silgado, who was saved from a knockdown by the ring ropes, and Oliveras never let up. She kept the challenger on the ropes the length of the round, closing the distance, and landing some heavy shots. It didn’t take long for Oliveras to wrap things up: at the midway point of the fifth round, a crushing right dropped Silgado, who beat the count only to have the fight waved off by the referee.
It’s been a busy year for Oliveras, this fight marking her fifth successful title defense since winning the belt in January of 2012 and this was also her 11th consecutive victory. She fought five times in 2012, defending the belt four times, and is also the former holder of the WBC super bantamweight title and the WBA lightweight belts.
The reigning WBO lightweight champion Enis Pacheco (10-1-2, 7 KO’s) saw non-title action this weekend. Pacheco fought Lely Florez (12-5-1, 6 KO’s) to an eight round draw in Colombia. This is Pacheco’s second straight draw; she drew over 10 rounds with Ana Esteche last year. This was Florez’s second fight of 2013; she won a six round decision in March, prior to that she had lost her last two bouts, which were fought more than a year apart.
Other results:
Germany: Aida Salac (1-0) won in four rounds over Steffi Schuenke (1-1)
Mexico: Karina Hernandez (4-0, 1 KO) won a six round decision over Lupita Lopez (0-2-1), Angelica Dominguez (2-1) won in four rounds over Veronica Rodriguez (3-8, 2 KO’s), and Katia Gutierrez (18-3, 4 KO’s) won an eight round decision over Kareli Lopez (5-3-1, 1 KO)
Argentina: Anahi Salles (4-11-2, 2 KO’s) won via RTD 4 over Ivonne Cordoba (10-2, 2 KO’s) and Alejandra de Lujan Rios (5-3-2), drew in four round with Soledad del Valle Frias (1-3-2)
Japan: Ayano Ikeda (2-0, 2 KO’s) stopped Neppawan Ruennam (0-2) in the first round
USA: Aracely Tinoco (1-0) won a four round decision over Guadalupe Gutierrez (1-4) and the New England welterweight champ, Aleksandra Lopes (10-1, 1 KO) won an eight rounder over Kita Watkins (7-10, 1 KO), (non-title bout)
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