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5'3" Chantel Cordova
was born in Pueblo, Colorado, USA, on 23 December 1986. She began boxing at age
9 and her brother Marvin Cordova Jr is
also a pro boxer.
“My dad, Marvin Cordova Sr.,
who is my trainer, didn’t think women should box. So, my mom (manager Sherry
Cordova) was taking a few boxers out to Ignacio, Colorado, for an amateur show.
She asked me if I wanted to weigh in and see if there were any females to box,”
Chantel recalled.
“Just my luck, there was a
female in my weight class. I was a bit nervous, but was anxious to get in the
ring. With a two-round stoppage, I had a victory over the hometown boxer! My
dad was out of town for work, but I called him and told him the news. Ever
since, he has been in my corner, training and supporting me!”
The Cordova family team helped Chantel to a storied amateur
career that included being the US national women’s champion in 2005 (defeating
Stephanie Gonzalez by RSCO-2 in the 101-lb semifinal and Adri Harding by RSCO-2
in the final) and 2006 (defeating Colleen Loo 32-12 in the 101-lb final). She
also took second place at the 2005 Pan Am Games in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
losing to Nancy Fortin of Canada by a 20-8 score. She was also a three-time
Golden Gloves champion, including outstanding boxer of the tournament in 2004,
won two Junior Olympic championships and three Silver Gloves titles. She was the
first Colorado woman on the US women’s national amateur team.
“In
2006 I fought for my last time in the U.S. Championships, winning in the
pinweight division,” she said of her decision to go pro.
“I was hoping that in 2008 there would be a few women’s weight classes in the
Olympics, but the committee did not approve, so I turned pro March 24, 2006.”
On March 24, 2006 at the Arkansas Valley Arena in Rocky Ford,
Colorado, Chantel (101 lbs) TKO'd pro debuter Unity Young (5'0", 99 lbs) of
Denver, Colorado in the first round of a scheduled four-rounder.
On April 15, 2006 at Geary County Convention Center in Junction
City, Kansas, USA, Chantel (102 lbs) TKO'd Gina Abel (105 lbs) of Chicakasa,
Oklahoma at 1:02 in the fourth round of a scheduled four-rounder. Abel fell to
0-11-1.
On May 27, 2006 at USA Arena in Rocky Ford, Colorado, Chantel
(103 lbs) won a four-round unanimous decision over Dawn Parker (103 lbs) of
Winter Park, Florida, who fell to 0-4.
On July 5, 2006 at the City Auditorium in Colorado Springs,
Colorado, Chantel (102½ lbs) again fought Unity Young (98¼ lbs), this time
TKO'ing the Denver resident at 1:06 in the first round of a scheduled four. This
bout was unexpectedly carried on ESPN to fill otherwise vacant air time because
the rest of the poorly-matched card ran short in their time slot. ESPN's airing
of this flagrant mismatch between the technically skilled Cordova and the
evidently untutored Young was noted by commentator Teddy Atlas as
"not helping the sport of women's boxing". Atlas also blamed Young's
manager and trainer for "not having the good
sense to see that she does not belong in the ring" and many questioned
why someone so unprepared could obtain a pro boxing license in Colorado.
(Similar sentiments were echoed
by WBAN's readers).
On August 26, 2006 at the Convention Center in Junction City,
Kansas, the level of opposition stepped up several notches as Chantel (102 lbs)
battled Valarie Rix (105 lbs) of Sanford, Florida to a six-round draw. Rix, who
also had national level experience as an amateur, moved her record to 4-0-1 (1
KO).
On October 8, 2006 at the Marriott Arena in Junction City,
Kansas, Chantel (103 lbs) won a four-round unanimous (40-36 x 3) decision over
the durable Natasha Wilburn (112 lbs) of Atlanta, Georgia, who fell to 1-14 (0
KO's).
On January 4, 2007 at Harrah's Casino and Resort in Mayetta,
Kansas, Chantel (101 lbs) won a four-round unainimous decision over Jodi
Esquibel (104 lbs) of Albuquerque, New Mexico who fell to 4-2-0 (2 KO's).
On April 14, 2007 at Harrah's Casino and Resort in Mayetta,
Kansas, Chantel won a six-round unanimous decision over
Melissa Shaffer of Van Buren, Arkansas who fell to 9-5 (5 KO's).
Chantel then left competitive boxing for a time to give birth to
her son Elijah and to be a mother. Unafraid of a challenge, when she returned to
the ring after 32 months she immediately took on a former world champion.
On January 28, 2010 at the Coca-Cola Center in Oklahoma City,
Oklahoma, Hollie Dunaway (107 lbs) won a six-round
split (58-56,60-54,55-59) decision over Chantel (107 lbs). There were no
knockdowns but Cordova's nose was bloodied. The former world champion
Dunaway improved to 23-8-1 (10 KOs) with the win.
Chantel came away encouraged, despite the split decision loss.
On
April 22, 2010 at the
19th annual Tulsa Charity Fight Night at the
Crowne Plaza Hotel in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Chantel was originally scheduled to
meet Becky Garcia (5-1) of Mesa, Arizona, but Garcia withdrew. The
always-game Melissa Shaffer
(104 lbs), then based in Pensacola, Florida, stepped in for a chance at avenging
her earlier loss to Chantel, but Cordova (106 lbs) rolled to a unanimous
59-55,59-55,60-54 decision. Shaffer dropped to 10-8-0 (5 KOs) with the
loss. Among the celebrities attending the charity event were former world
champion Sugar Ray Leonard, former heavyweight contenders Earnie Shavers and
James "Quick" Tillis, former middleweight contender and the figure behind the
Denzel Washington movie "Hurricane", Rubin "Hurricane" Carter, comedian Eddie
Griffin and boxing historian Bert Sugar.
“I felt real good. I went in there and gave it my all,” Cordova
said of the win. “It felt like I landed everything I threw! It was good to be
back in the ring after a long layover.”
“My goal now is to get a world
title,” she said emphatically. She said she is comfortable fighting at
either 106 or 112 pounds. “I can lose weight
pretty easily, if necessary, and don’t mind gaining, if needed!” she
laughed. “I want to fight and stay active,”
she said. “I want to keep working toward that
world title!”
On January 22, 2011 at Arena Neza in Ciudad Nezahualcoyotl,
México, undefeated Arely Muciño
(111¾ lbs) of Monterrey, Mexico won the IBF Flyweight title by TKO when Chantel (111¾
lbs) retired at the end of the third round. Cordova had no answer for Muciño's
high pressure attack and her pro record fell to 8-2-1 (3 KO's) while Muciño's
improved to 11-0-1 (7 KO's).
The attractive "Gorgeous Babe" Cordova has her own style, but
does have ring role models.
“My female role model would have to be
Holly Holm. She is a good fighter and a
great person!” Cordova said. “My male
role model is Manny Pacquiao. He is a great fighter and a very humble person.”
“To my fans, thanks for all
the support, and stay tuned … because I’m going to do big things this year! Keep
your eyes out for me going all the way to the top!” she added.
To schedule a fight with Chantel, potential opponents’ managers
should contact her at, or call her father,
Marvin, at 1-719-821-9756.
Page last updated: Saturday, April 2, 2011
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