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TUSTIN, CALIF.-A last-minute cancellation forced a promoter to pull an ace
out of his sleeve for featherweight title-holder
Kristy Follmar, and
though it was an exhibition it proved to be an eyeful.
When the scheduled fighter
Lisa Lewis
was unable to make weight, IFBA
junior bantamweight title-holder
Mariana
Juárez
stepped in to
confront Indiana’s talented Follmar at the Marconi Museum of exotic cars on
Saturday.
Those at the charity event promoted by Marconi Promotions and matched by Ray
Alcorta, were lucky enough to see two top-flight female champions trade
forces like a pair of twin tornados.
More than 500 people who paid from $300 to $1,000 a ticket, got their
money’s worth as Juarez and Follmar showed people what elite fighters could
do.
In the first round Juarez and Follmar traded jabs and matched wits with
expertise rarely seen. Punch for punch, block for block, the two
title-holders exchanged cautiously unable to exploit openings in the first
round.
“It was great to fight someone like her, it wasn’t like my other fights were
girls just come in brawling,” said Follmar (15-1, 9 KOs). “She was fun to
fight.”
In the next three rounds the tempo increased with Follmar firing more
combinations and moving in and out. Juarez always pressed forward blocking
with one hand then hitting back with that same hand. Her right hand found
the mark.
Follmar used her quick jab to score from the outside, then jumped in
occasionally with three punch combinations.
Juarez picked off punches and countered to the body or head, whatever was
open.
“She has good technique,” said Juarez, who was a couple of inches shorter
but traded jabs with Follmar on occasion. “Her hand speed was pretty good.”
Because it was an exhibition the fight was not scored.
“I was hoping I wouldn’t have to go home without a fight,” said Follmar who
made her first visit to the West Coast. “I was excited to be fighting in
California. I hope my next trip here is a world title fight.”
The fight was supposed to feature Follmar and Lewis, but the Northern
California fighter came in seven pounds over weight. The matchmaker tried to
still make the fight but Lewis team pulled out.
Juarez had been sparring eight rounds earlier in the day at Maywood Boxing
Club and was asked to be an alternate in case Lewis pulled out.
“I got the call and they asked if it would be OK so we said sure,” said Ben
Lira, Juarez’s trainer. “The weight difference doesn’t bother Mariana.”
Juarez is set to defend her 115-pound title in China at the end of the
month. Finding sparring is always a goal.
“I’m really tired now,” said Juarez (18-2-3, 11 KOs), who fought four rounds
with Follmar. “It was good preparation for me.”
Follmar said she’s ready to defend her title or fight any of the other
contenders at 126 pounds.
“There’s a list of fighters I’d like to meet,” Follmar said. “I don’t want
to say who because it doesn’t sound right. But I do want to fight soon.”
Shelby Walker vs., Maria Elena Anderson
It was supposed to be the semi-main event but was switched to the main event
as Walker and Anderson (1-2) met in a six round lightweight bout.
Walker, an Indiana fighter like Follmar, used her speed and power to
continuously pound Anderson. A right hand dropped the Mexican fighter in the
first round but she anxiously returned to the fight with bombs of her own.
In four rounds Walker dropped bombs that looked to be decisive enough to
make Anderson quit, but the cousin of Juan “Pollo” Valenzuela who was in her
corner, refused to quit.
In the sixth round, after Walker landed another thudding right hand, referee
Jose Cobian had seen enough at stopped the fight at 37 seconds of the round.
“I’m glad my opponent showed up,” said Walker (7-4), whose fight a year ago
in the same location was cancelled. “I was so rusty. It’s been a long time
since my last fight so I really wanted to get in the ring.”
Other bouts
Brazil’s talented middleweight Joilson Dos Santos scored a unanimous
decision win over San Diego’s Lamar Horne (1-2) in a six round fight.
Dos Santos (7-1, 6 KOs) landed a left hook from hell to drop Horne in the
second round that looked to be the final round, but the San Diego fighter
kept on his feet and waited out the onslaught.
In the sixth round, another left hook dropped Horne, but he gutted out the
round in a good display of toughness. The Brazilian’s firepower proved too
much for Horne who was only making his third professional appearance.
In a heavyweight match, Shaun Ross scored a majority decision against Joel
Mosley 38-38, 39-37, 39-37.
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