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(DEC 7) It’s finally
time for Rhonda Luna to test world championship waters when she travels
to New York to face Cindy Serrano for the WIBA featherweight title on
Saturday.
After years of slugging it out with lesser-known opponents, Luna finds
herself as the stranger walking into Serrano’s den of followers at the
Turning Stone Resort and Casino in Verona, New York.
Both Luna and Serrano are undefeated and will be facing their sternest
test.
“I feel I’ve been tested pretty well,” said Luna, who serves as an
Activities director for Nogales High School in Walnut, California.
“We’ll see if she’s ready for me.”
Serrano (12-0, 7 Kos), 23, raised in Brooklyn, New York, has faced only
two fighters with a winning record. One opponent was 2-1 the other 5-3.
Other than that, she’s hardly faced competition in the talented
featherweight division.
Luna, (10-0, 1 KO) has faced four fighters with winning records, but
only one had more than three fights. Perhaps her best victory came
against former amateur national champion Amber Gideon almost two years
ago. She only has one knockout, that came in her second fight.
Can she bring back a title against a hometown fighter?
“It’s going to be tough but I think Rhonda has the style to do it,” said
Jacob Luna, a Riverside attorney who serves as Rhonda’s advisor. “Rhonda
is an aggressive fighter and that’s what you need to fight in someone
else’s area.”
Victor Valenzuela, who trains Luna, said she needs that aggression to
win in someone else’s home.
“It’s going to be tough especially going up to New York,” said
Valenzuela, who trained former world title-holders Zack Padilla and Paul
Banke. “She has to put on pressure.”
Usually Luna has at least 300 people supporting her in every fight. In
this match, her supporters will have to travel more than 2,500 miles to
see her attempt to win her first world title.
“I’ve very lucky to have so many good fans,” Luna said while training in
the Duarte Boxing Club.
Most of Luna’s boxing contests have been held at the Irvine Marriott. It
doesn’t bother the former college softball star at UC Santa Barbara.
“I’ve always been competitive,” she said. “When I was a young girl I
played on boy’s baseball teams. But when I got to high school, I wasn’t
as strong as the boys so I switched to softball.”
Boxing serves as Luna’s conduit to release her competitive juices.
“I really like boxing,” said Luna. “I’m an aggressive athlete.”
Fights on television
Thurs. HBO Latino, 10 p.m. Marco Rubio (31-2-1) vs. Aslanbek Kodzoev
(16-1-1)
Fri. Telefutura, 9 p.m., Johnny Tapia (55-5-2) vs. Alberto Ontiveros
(21-11-5).
Fri. Telemundo, 11:30 p.m., Felix Flores (21-4) vs. Mauro Lucero
(41-11-1).
Sat. HBO, 6:45 p.m., Winky Wright (49-3) vs. Sam Soliman (31-7)
Sat. pay-per-view, 2 p.m., Audley Harrison (19-0) vs. Danny Williams
(33-4).
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