Marlen Esparza outpointed Ibeth Zamora in a brawl to win her first world title Saturday in El Paso, Texas.
Marlen Esparza is a world titleholder.
The 2012 Olympic bronze medalist from Houston survived a first-round knockdown to defeat Ibeth Zamora of Mexico by a unanimous decision and take Zamora’s flyweight title Saturday in El Paso, Texas.
Esparza (10-1, 1 KO) went down from a right hand with about 40 seconds to go in the first round, although she didn’t seem to be hurt.
The fight was close after that, with the more-skillful Esparza outboxing Zamora at times and the two exchanging a high volume of punches inside at other times.
Zamora (32-7, 12 KOs), making her third defense, threw more punches than Esparza but the new champ was more accurate with her shots.
The judges scored it 97-92, 96-94 and 95-94, all for Esparza. Boxing Junkie had it 95-94 in Zamora’s favor.
Esparza has now won three consecutive fights since he lost a technical decision to Seneisa Estrada for an “interim” title in November 2019, a fight that was stopped because of cut on Esparza’s forehead.
Zamora, 32, hadn’t lost since she was outpointed by Esmerelda Moreno in 2017.
Marlen Esparza outpointed Ibeth Zamora in a brawl to win her first world title Saturday in El Paso, Texas.
Marlen Esparza is a world titleholder.
The 2012 Olympic bronze medalist from Houston survived a first-round knockdown to defeat Ibeth Zamora of Mexico by a unanimous decision and take Zamora’s flyweight title Saturday in El Paso, Texas.
Esparza (10-1, 1 KO) went down from a right hand with about 40 seconds to go in the first round, although she didn’t seem to be hurt.
The fight was close after that, with the more-skillful Esparza outboxing Zamora at times and the two exchanging a high volume of punches inside at other times.
Zamora (32-7, 12 KOs), making her third defense, threw more punches than Esparza but the new champ was more accurate with her shots.
The judges scored it 97-92, 96-94 and 95-94, all for Esparza. Boxing Junkie had it 95-94 in Zamora’s favor.
Esparza has now won three consecutive fights since he lost a technical decision to Seneisa Estrada for an “interim” title in November 2019, a fight that was stopped because of cut on Esparza’s forehead.
Zamora, 32, hadn’t lost since she was outpointed by Esmerelda Moreno in 2017.
Those responsible for allowing ill-equipped Miranda Adkins to fight Seniesa Estrada on Friday acted irresponsibly.
The primary duty of those who oversee boxing is to protect the fighters. They failed Miranda Adkins on Friday.
Adkins is a 42-year-old who took up boxing at 39 and had only five fights, all of them against opponents with less experience than she had. Four were making their pro debuts. Her opponent on the Vergil Ortiz Jr.-Samuel Vargas card was Seniesa Estrada, a talented, seasoned boxer coming off a victory over Olympian Marlen Esparza.
The result was as predictable as it was gruesome: Estrada rendered Adkins unconscious in seven seconds.
How did this happen? How was a novice like Adkins allowed into the ring to face a seasoned pro like Estrada?
Estrada had a more-experienced opponent fall out and, according to her, a subsequent search for a suitable replacement produced few options. Adkins obviously wasn’t ready but she was willing, which seems to have been good enough for California State Athletic Commission officials and promoter Golden Boy.
In other words, they pushed Adkins in front of a moving train.
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Someone with common sense should’ve yelled at the top of his or her lungs beforehand: “Wait a second! We’re placing this woman in a situation that is unreasonably dangerous. We can’t do this.”
No one did. And Adkins paid the price. She was fortunate to be able to walk out of the ring.
State officials and others involved in the promotion can point out that she had stopped each of her five previous opponents, an indication that she had some ability. They can say that she passed all medical tests required of every fighter. They can say every fighter faces a degree of danger in the ring. And they can say she agreed to exchange punches with Estrada. It’s a free country, after all.
All that is true. And it’s still not good enough.
Those who made the decision to allow Adkins to step through the ropes have a great deal of experience in the sport. They know a gross mismatch when they see one. If they don’t, they shouldn’t be in a position to oversee the safety of boxers.
Miranda Adkins was knocked out cold by Seniesa Estrada in seven seconds. Tom Hogan / Hoganphotos-Golden Boy
This was a gross mismatch, one in which the gap in skill combined with experience was too large to sanction the “fight.” The fact it happened anyway should be an enormous red flag.
No one involved in the decision will face punishment, although they probably should. Only Adkins will have suffered.
However, I can tell you what I’d like to see. I’d like to see CSAC Executive Director Andy Foster call an emergency meeting of everyone who played a role in the debacle and ask the question I asked at the beginning of this column, “How did this happen?”
I’d like to see the same thing at Golden Boy. Oscar De La Hoya should gather his troops and ask, “How can we avoid such horrible mismatches going forward?”
Indeed, something like this should never happen again.
Seniesa Estrada stoped overmatched Miranda Adkins in seven seconds on the Vergil Ortiz Jr.-Samuel Vargas card on Friday.
Seniesa Estrada proved that lot of ugliness can be crammed into seven seconds.
The gifted, experienced pro fought Miranda Adkins, a 42-year-old who took up boxing at 39 and had only five fights against winless foes, on the Vergil Ortiz-Samuel Vargas on Friday at Fantasy Springs Casino in Indio, California.
The result on was predictable and grotesque.
Estrada walked across the ring at the opening bell, unloaded a few hard punches to the head of her utterly helpless foe and knocked her temporarily unconscious. Referee Edward Hernandez Sr. didn’t have to count over the motionless loser.
The horror show lasted seven seconds, which obviously is one of the quickest knockouts in boxing history.
Ill-equipped Miranda Adkins lasted only seven seconds against Seniesa Estrada. Tom Hogan / Hoganphotos-Golden Boy
Estrada (19-0, 8 KOs) was coming off a victory over U.S. Olympian Marlen Esparza in November. The junior flyweight was supposed to have fought the more-experienced Jacky Calvo but Calvo reportedly was injured and couldn’t fight. Adkins was willing … but unfortunately not able.
Many will argue that California officials and everyone else involved in making that fight should’ve known better.
