(AUG 17) On Thursday night at the Orange County Fairgrounds Events
Center, in Costa Mesa, California, I had the opportunity to be
present at the IFBA World Lightweight championship bout between
Rhonda Luna vs. Crystal Morales. The fight was a rematch from
their first meeting on June 6, 2013, where Luna won that fight
by a six-round unanimous decision. This was the first fight for
Morales to fight a 10-round bout.
The house was packed with 1482 fans, standing room only, with
the event promoted by Roy Engelbrecht who just seems to have the
knack to have cards that includes men's boxing, female boxing
and MMA.
Roy Engelbrecht continues to show strong support for the female
boxers in the sport, and WBAN would only hope that some of the
ole' coots, ah... "ole" promoters would be more progressive in
featuring many more of the top elite female pro boxers on their
cards.
Rhonda Luna and team waiting for the
decision of fight
If some of the
"set-in-their-ways" promoters would give these female boxers a
"fighting chance" to be on their cards, they just may be
pleasantly surprised what the women can bring to the ring.
Morales drops to the floor upon the
announcement of her
winning by a split for the vacant IFBA World Lightweight title.
Last night was a classic example
of that with boxing fans, literally
standing on their feet, screaming with excitement, and wads of money into the ring for
what was considered, the "Fight of the Night."
From the beginning until the end, both Luna and Morales fought
toe-to-toe, non-stop action. Morales won by a close 10-round
split decision. In the only knockdown of the fight, Morales
threw a left hook that took Luna down, although Luna was able to
quickly recover from it and continue.
Final judges scores were 98-91, 95-94 for Morales, and 96-93 for
Luna.
Behind the scenes in
California.....
I had the pleasure to meet up
with Rhonda Luna, Crystal Morales, her family, her coach,
Shannon Torres Gilman, Kaliesha "Wild Wild" West, Okalys Camacho, amateur boxer with 34
amateur fights, Judy Kulis of the IFBA, Krysti Rosario, WBC/WBAN
Super Featherweight champion Diana Prazak, Lissette Medel,
former pro boxer Gloria Ramirez, along with all of her amateur
boxers, Grampas and Grandma of the "Grampas Boxing Gym, located
in Westminster, , and many, MANY more of the boxing community at
the fight!
Krysti Rosario (left) LIssette
Medel, World champion Kaliesha "Wild Wild" West, WBC/WBAN
champion Diana Prazak
Shannon Torres Gilman, Team Morales
- worked the corner
The Lil' boxing stars of the
night....
Female Boxings' "Future" little
star....
West, Sue Fox, Rosario
O. Camacho, amateur boxer with 34
fights already!
Luna with dad (Team Luna) at the
weigh-in
Judy Kulis of IFBA poses with
Morales and Luna
At the
Grampas Boxing Gym in Westminster
Gloria Ramirez with amateur boxers and Grampa/Grandma
Gloria Ramirez - Former top female boxer
Jessica Rangel - 22 year old amateur boxer
Sydney Trilla - Amateur boxer
Related Story:
At the Scales in Costa Mesa!
Photos/Story By Sue TL Fox-August 15, 2013
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