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(MAY 21) The New York State 8 round
title fight between world-ranked Mariem “Punchnella” Brakache and
local WBE Champion, Liz Mooney, at last Friday night’s Armageddon at
the Armory in Albany, NY ended with mixed audience reaction to the
judges’ “ draw” decision.
In the first two rounds of the action-packed bout, it was clear that
the State of Georgia fighter, Brakache, came to win the title.
Brakache battled Mooney with aggressive, short-range punches,
concentrating her attacks on Mooney’s face, which after the second
round showed the effects, as her nose continued to bleed. Mooney was
unable to get herself set and execute tight combinations, which
historically, have been able to impair opponents’ fight strategies.
Throughout the 8 rounds, Brakache proved to be a superior fighter in
every department, throwing fast combinations with both hands that
collided with Mooney’s face and sides. Using her ring experience,
Brakache won flurries in almost every round of the fight. “We didn’t
want to have a close fight and leave the decision to the hometown
judges,” said Barry Richardson, Brakache’s coach.
From the first round, Brakache used her speed and agility to throw
sharper and quicker punches from odd angles, backing Mooney up and
disbanding Mooney’s power. “Mooney came forward a few times at me,
but I thought she would be tougher than she was,” said Brakache. “I
stayed with my game plan and used a lot of side-to-side movement and
multiple combinations.”
Hardly showing any signs of being in a fight, Brakache said, “the
draw decision is a harder hit than Mooney.” Final judges’ scores
were 77-76, 76-76, and 74-78.
With the “draw” decision, Brakache and Mooney share the New York
State title belt, but Brakache is dissatisfied with that outcome.
“Elizabeth Mooney is a great fighter, and I don’t have a bad thing
to say about her; however, I did my job well in the ring and proved
I deserved the title,” says Brakache. After the fight, a local from
Albany said it best to Brakache, “that score was definitely some
‘home town cooking,’ and it is a shame that you didn’t get the
decision and the title you deserved.”
“A draw is like kissing your brother…no one is fulfilled, says
Brakache, “this isn’t finished…like the old 70’s song goes…’let’s do
it again, soon!’ ” Brakache has formally challenged Liz Mooney to a
rematch. A rematch fight would, most likely, be fought outside of
the Albany, NY area, offering Brakache the opportunity to avoid the
“home town cooking” scores.
Atlanta-based Mariem “Punchenella” Brakache (5-6, 1 KO) is a former
IBA Jr Middle Champion, boxing coach, and a renowned personal
trainer in the Atlanta area.
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