Jill Diamond, Chairwoman of the female
division of the North American Boxing Federation, announced that
Melissa Hernandez and Brooke Dierdorff will meet, August 3, for the
vacant NABF featherweight title. Dierdorff replaces Jeri Sitzes, the
former NABF champion, whose title was vacated earlier this week by
the sanctioning body.
Addressing the change in the NABF title status, Diamond stated, "It
was with great reluctance that the NABF felt compelled to vacate
Jeri Sitzes as the featherweight champion. This is particularly true
given the personal hardships Jeri has experienced recently. The NABF
fully supported Sitzes withdrawing from the original August 3 bout
with Melissa Hernandez.
In fact, special accommodations were being
made, with Brooke Dierdorff and Melissa Hernandez, to provide Sitzes
with the opportunity to fight for the title within 60 days following
the August 3 bout. However, when the NABF was informed that Team
Sitzes was actively seeking another bout in Springfield, MO on
August 10, the organization felt that such disregard for the NABF,
it's fighters and it's titles, necessitated removing Jeri Sitzes
from present consideration as a contender for the featherweight
title.
Jeri Sitzes was the NABF featherweight champion for nineteen
months and now Melissa Hernandez and Brooke Dierdorff will get a
chance. In the future, the NABF will allow their champions to hold
the title for six months before defending it, so that other
deserving women will get a chance at a championship."
Hernandez, from the Bronx, NY, is coming off a win against Layla
McCarter in April and was the number one contender for the NABF
featherweight title. She has been fighting, professionally, for 21
months and has a 7-1-1 record, highlighted by a win over Lisa Brown
and a draw with Kelsey Jeffries.
Dierdorff, fighting out of Elgin, IL, is taking the opportunity for
the title on relatively short notice, following a technical draw
with Elizabeth Villarreal on the undercard of the Fox Sports TV
program from Temecula, CA on July 2. Dierdorff also has a split
decision win over Mia St. John, in April, on her 4-0-1 record. She
has been campaigning professionally for ten months.
The ten round bout will be held at the Far West Rodeo in Doraville,
GA, an Atlanta suburb and is being promoted by Gladiator X
Promotions.
#
# #
#
For Online IWBHF Tickets for
Next Event!
Check Our Next Annual International
Women's Boxing Hall of Fame Event that we have to celebrate hour IWBHF
Inductees and Special Award Recipients!
Next Event, Go Here!
Our Online
WBAN/IWBHF Online Store
Proceeds from the Online Store is to
continue our mission to support the INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S BOXING HALL OF
FAME. The Official collection includes IWBHF and WBAN Merchandise and
Memorabilia from the WBAN Boxing Collection. We will continue to list
items from the collection and merchandise.
