(MAR 19) On March 17, undefeated Rita Figueroa put on a boxing clinic, as she systematically broke down and battered stubborn Eva Lidia Silva, stopping her at 55 seconds into round six. To her credit, Silva never stopped trying.  

The first round provided a strong hint of things to come, as a relaxed Figueroa dominated with the effective aggression, stepping deftly to the side and back, covering well when needed, and throwing crisp, pinpoint accurate blows throughout. Although both were equally busy, she was the one landing the punches. Silva snapped her head back with a lone right, but Figueroa shrugged it off.  

In the second, Figueroa snapped Silva’s head back with a right and hurt her with a right uppercut.  

Figueroa continued to outland from the third onward, while Silva swung back hard, occasionally landing the hard hook to the body. However, it was all Figueroa, who continued to land regularly.

In the fourth, a left hook dumped Silva onto the ropes. Figueroa began battering her seriously to the head on the ropes for the last minute of the round with rights over the top and down the middle, sending a mop of unruly hair flying.

In round five, Figueroa nearly doubled her over with a straight right to the solar plexus, as she broke down and battered her stubborn opponent. This battering continued into the sixth and final round, where a straight left snapped Silva’s head back violently.

Referee Pete Podgorski had seen enough, stopping the bout at 55 seconds into round six. Rita said afterwards, “It was a good fight. She’s a tough girl. She’s young! She’s my daughter’s age, for goodness sakes!” Full report, including many photos from Jorge Bravo:  fight report