Gabriela Fundora defends all flyweight world titles with knockout win over Marilyn Badillo Amaya – surprise by Jorge Garcia in super welterweight.
In the Frontwave Arena in Oceanside, California, Gabriela “Sweet Poison” Fundora (16-0, 8 knockouts) left no doubt about her dominance. With a technical knockout in the seventh round, she secured the successful defense of her four major world title belts (IBF, WBA, WBC, WBO) in the flyweight division against the previously unbeaten Mexican Marilyn Badillo Amaya (19-1-1, 3 knockouts). The event was organized by Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions.
Fundora, the right-hander with the killer instinct, started the fight aggressively and put her opponent under pressure from the outset. Badillo initially showed good footwork and head movement, skillfully dodging the attacks. However, Fundora found her rhythm from round two onwards, establishing her jab and dictating the pace with her jab. In the following rounds, she clearly dominated the action from the center of the ring.
The pressure became too much in round seven: a precise three-punch combination to the head brought Badillo to her knees. Although the Mexican got up again, both her corner and the referee had seen enough. The duel was stopped with 15 seconds left in the round. Fundora thus remains the undisputed world flyweight champion.
Surprise in the co-main event:
There was a big surprise in the preliminary program. The previously unbeaten super welterweight Charles Conwell (21-1, 16 knockouts) lost a close duel on points to Mexico’s Jorge Garcia Perez (33-4, 26 knockouts). Perez, who entered the ring as the clear underdog, produced a career-best performance and boxed his way to the top of the super welterweight rankings with a split decision.
After twelve hard-fought rounds, the judges scored it 115-113 for Garcia, 115-113 for Conwell and 115-113 again for Garcia – a very close but deserved victory for the Mexican.