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5'0" junior flyweight Yesica
"Tuti" Bopp was born on April 11, 1984 in Wilde,
Buenos Aires, Argentina. She began boxing at
age 16 in the Pascual Perez Gym in her neighborhood of Villa
Dominico.
From 2005 to 2007, Yesica had
a successful international career as an amateur boxer in the 48-kg
(106-lb) division.
At
the Pan-American Women's Championship in Buenos Aires in March 2005 she
defeated Edilene Da Hora of Brazil 14-5 in the 48-kg semifinal and
Marie Eve Fortier of Canada 19-9 in the final.
She won a bronze
medal at the World Championships in Podolk, Russia in September 2005.
She lost to Ri
Jong Hyang of North Korea in the semifinal by 27-18 after
defeating Kanaka Durga of India 27-10 in her quarterfinal.
At
the Pan-American Women's Championships in Buenos Aires in June 2006,
Yesica defeated Ediline da Hora of Brazil 19-4 in the 48-kg
semifinal and Valerie Bedard of Canada 12-1 in the final.
She
won a silver medal at the World Championships in New Delhi, India in
November 2006, losing to Ri Jong Hyang of North Korea in the
final by 14-10 . She had previously defeated Alice Kate of the
Philippines 16-9 in the semifinal, Chowdhury Kalpana of India
RSC-2 in the quarterfinal, and Camilia Negrea of Romania 12-4 in the
preliminary round.
At
the Pan-American Women's Championships in Duran, Ecuador in
October, 2007, Yesica defeated Amanda Serrano of Ecuador RSC-2 in the
48-kg semifinal and Marlen Esparza of the USA 19-4 in the final.
Yesica Bopp turned pro in
2008. At the
time, she confidently told
Andres Vasquez:
"None of the current professional Argentineans is above me.
I am
better than the Tigress Acuña
and Oliveras.
I have an amateur career that supports me, something they
never
had. I am the first member of the women's team that won medals who is
turning pro."
Yesica
made her pro debut on
January 5, 2008 at the Polideportivo Municipal, Villa Gesell, in Buenos
Aires, weighing in at 104¾ lbs and delivering a third-round TKO to
Soledad Macedo (106½ lbs) of Salto, Uruguay after knocking Macedo down
in
the opening round. Macedo suffered her first pro loss falling
to
1-1-1 (0 KO's).
On
January 26, 2008 at Estadio Socios Fundadores in Comodoro Rivadavia,
Chubut, Argentina, Yesica Bopp (105 lbs) TKO'd Verena Crespo (106½
lbs) of General Roca, Argentina at 1:44 in the second round of a
scheduled six-rounder. Crespo fell to 2-2-1 (1 KO) with this loss.
On March 8, 2008 at Gimnasio
Pedro Estremador in San Carlos de Bariloche, Rio Negro,
Argentina,
Yesica Bopp won a six-round unanimous decision over debut fighter
Adriana Herrera of Paysandu, Uruguay.
On April 19, 2008 at Ce.De.M.
N° 1 in Caseros, Buenos Aires, Yesica
Bopp
(107¾ lbs) won a four-round unanimous (59-56,60-54½,60-56) decision
over Natalia del Pilar Burga (110½ lbs) of San Luis, Argentina, who
fell to 1-1 (0 KO's) with the loss.
On
July 3, 2008 at Estadio Luna Park in Buenos Aires, Yesica Bopp (111¼
lbs) won a six-round unanimous decision over Adriana Herrera (114¾ lbs)
of Paysandu, Uruguay in a rematch of their bout from March
2008.
Herrera fell to 1-2 (0 KO's) with the loss.
On September 26, 2008 at
Ce.De.M. N° 2 in Caseros, Buenos Aires, Yesica Bopp (107½ lbs)
TKO'd Francia Bravo (107½
lbs) of Cerete, Colombia at 0:38 of the fourth round in a scheduled
eight-rounder for the vacant WBC International Junior Flyweight title.
Bravo fell to 9-3-2 (6 KO's) with the loss.
On
December 4, 2008 at Estadio Luna Park in Buenos Aires, Yesica Bopp
(107¾
lbs) won a ten-round unanimous (100-90,100-88,100-91) decision over Ana
Fernández (108 lbs) of Pelare, Venezuela for the interim WBA Junior
Flyweight title. Fernández was knocked down in the third round
but
she showed great resilience in going the full distance with
Bopp.
Fernández fell to 8-3 (5
KO's) with this loss.
On March 7, 2009 at Gimnasio
Municipal Nº 1 in Puerto Madryn, Chubut, Argentina, Yesica Bopp (108
lbs) won a ten-round unanimous (100-90 x 3) decision over Jessica
"Kika" Chavez (108 lbs) of Mexico City, Mexico defending the
interim WBA
Junior Flyweight title. Chavez fell to 6-2-2 (1 KO) with the
loss.
On
June 20, 2009 at Club
Deportivo Libertad in Sunchales, Santa Fe, Argentina, Yesica Bopp (107
lbs) won her first full world title when she TKO'd Paulina Cardona
(107¾
lbs) of Barranquilla, Colombia at 1:12 in the second round of a
scheduled ten-rounder for the WBA Junior Flyweight title.
Cardona
was unable to use her reach advantage to slow down the faster and
stronger Bopp. Cardona fell to 14-6-3 (6 KO's).
On
August 8, 2009 at Estadio
Cr. Gaston Guelfi/ Palacio Peñarol in Montevideo, Uruguay, Yesica Bopp
(106 lbs) defended the WBA Junior Flyweight title with a well-fought
ten-round unanimous (99-92,97-93,99-91)
decision over the durable and aggressive Ibeth Zamora Silva (107 lbs)
of San Cristóbal Huichochitlán, México.. Bopp needed all of
her
trademark speed and ring movement to avoid being
corralled by
the hard-charging but less technically sound Zamora Silva.
Bopp also showed her skill at fighting (and clinching) at
close quarters on the occasions when the slower-moving but persistently
aggressive Mexican fighter did mange to run her down. Zamora
Silva
fell to 5-2 (0 KO's) with the loss.
On
November 6, 2009 at Estadio
Delmi in Salta, Argentina Yesica Bopp won a ten-round
unanimous
(100-90 x 3) decision over Ana Fabiola Arrazola
of Tlalnepantla,
México, defending the WBA Junior Flyweight title and adding the vacant
WBO Junior Flyweight title to her trophy case. Arrazola fell to 15-3-3
(13 KO's).
On
March 13, 2010 at the Gimnasio José María Gatica in Villa Dominico,
Wilde, Buenos Aires, Yesica Bopp (106½ lbs) thrilled her home fans when
she spectacularly knocked out Diana Gonzalez (108 lbs)
of Toluca,
México at 0:20 of the second round of a scheduled ten-rounder. Bopp
was defending the WBA and WBO Junior Flyweight titles.
(Photo at right was taken by "Indigo"
- Juan Francisco Burastero
On
August 14, 2010 at Club Deportivo Libertad in Sunchales, Santa Fe,
Argentina, Yesica Bopp (106¼ lbs) won a ten-round unanimous decision
over Ana
Fabiola Arrazola of Tlalnepantla, México, defending the WBA
and
WBO Junior Flyweight titles. Arrazola who lacked the speed or
technique to match evenly with Bopp, was knocked down in the
sixth
round but she frustrated Bopp's effort to finish the fight inside the
distance. Arrazola fell to 17-5-3 (15 KO's) in this rematch.
On
January 29, 2011 at Polideportivo Municipal in Monte Hermoso, Buenos
Aires, Yesica Bopp (106 lbs) won a ten-round
unanimous (100-91,99-91,98-92) decision
over Carina Moreno (106¾
lbs) of Watsonville, California, USA for the WBA and WBO Junior
Flyweight titles.
The bout, which featured excellent skills and in-and-out
movement
by both boxers, was more closely fought than was indicated by the
scoring. Bopp was adept at blocking and countering Moreno's attacks and
also in picking when and where to throw her own punches in bunches.
Bopp's well-timed overhand rights also raised a swelling under Moreno's
left eye after the fifth round. “Yesica
Bopp is a great champion and she won the fight,” Moreno
said in a post-fight press
release. “It’s
very difficult to travel thousands of miles away from home and get the
victory. When I get back, I’ll look at the fight and see where I can
improve.” Moreno fell to 21-3 (6 KO's).
Yesica was named WBAN's
"Fighter of the Month" in February 2011 for her win over Carina Moreno.
On
April 2, 2011 at Estadio Socios Fundadores in Comodoro Rivadavia,
Chubut, Argentina, Yesica (109½ lbs) TKO'd Romina Alcantara (106½
lbs) of Cordoba, Argentina at 0:14 in the eighth round of a scheduled
eight-rounder. Bopp wore the aggressive and game Alcantara down
throughout the fight with her faster and more precise
punching. Alcantara was dropped by a right to the head at 1:24
in
the seventh round and took a hard left to the head as the round ended.
The fight was stopped by the referee when Bopp drove
Alcantara
into a corner early in the eighth. Alcantara fell to 3-3-1 (0
KO's) as Bopp improved to a perfect 15-0 (6 KO's).
On
June 11, 2011 at Estadio Luna Park in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Yesica
Bopp won by TKO over Yesenia Martinez Castrejon of Palenque,
Chiapas, Mexico at
1:48 in the ninth round of a 10-rounder for the WBO and WBA Junior
Flyweight titles. After some early feeling-out Bopp
began to
close the distance in the first round to land bursts of punches. Bopp
was then relentless in keeping pressure on the Mexican fighter
whose best defense was to tie her up in clinches.
Bopp's
superior technique and movement were too much for a game but clearly
outfought Castrejon for most of the match, scoring well with her
straight right. While Castrejon had little hope of turning the action
around, she showed tenacity and heart against a much superior
boxer as shefell to
9-7 (8 KO's).
On September 24, 2011 at Polideportivo
Posta del Retamo in Junin, Mendoza, Argentina,
Yesica (107 lbs) won a ten-round unanimous (96-94,97-94,100-90)
decision over 22-year-old Daniela Bermudez
(107¾
lbs) of Rosario, Santa Fe, Argentina defending the WBA Junior Flyweight
title. Bermudez, who usually fights at bantamweight or junior
featherweight, had a significant size advantage and
looked more
than 3/4 lb heavier than Bopp. Bopp's balance, movement and speed kept
her out of any serious danger in the fight. Bermudez showed willingness
to come forward and mix
it up
with her more experienced opponent and appeared to have Bopp worried at
times, but she did not vary her attack much
or wear
Bopp down. When the fight got to close quarters, Bopp displayed hand
speed and infighting skills that often led to warnings to Bermudez for
holding. Bermudez fell to 5-2-2 (1 KO) with a loss that
was less one-sided than the lone 100-90 score
suggested, while Bopp advanced to 17-0 (7 KO's).
On
October 29, 2011 at Coliseo Mario 'Quijote' Morales in
Guaynabo, Puerto Rico, Yesica (107½ lbs) TKO'd Suszannah Warner (105½
lbs) of New York City, USA at 1:21 of the first round defending the WBO
Junior Flyweight title. The referee waved the bout off after
Warner's second trip to the canvas. Warner fell to 9-11-1 (2
KO's).
On
December 9, 2011 at Salón de los Bomberos Voluntarios in General
Villegas, Buenos Aires, Yesica Bopp (106¾ lbs) won by a second round KO
over Olga Julio (5'4", 107¾ lbs) defending the WBA and WBO Junior
Flyweight titles. Bopp used her quickness and a sneaky lead right to
control the action
against the southpaw Julio despite Julio's height and reach
advantage. The Colombian was dropped to her knees by a quick
flurry from Bopp in the second round and showed no interest in
continuing at the end of an eight count. Julio fell to
10-12-1 (6 KO's).
On
May 24, 2012 at Estadio F.A.B. in Buenos
Aires, Argentina, Yesica Bopp107¼ lbs) remained
undefeated at 20-0-0- (9 KO's) when she won a
10-round unanimous (97-92,100-90,99-90) decision over Anabel Ortiz (107¼
lbs) of Tepic, Mexico defending the WBA
and WBO Junior Flyweight titles. Ortiz, a
former WBC World Strawweight champion, dropped to 10-3-0 (2 KO's).
On August
4, 2012 at Foro Polanco in Mexico City, Mexico, Yesica Bopp (107½
lbs) won a ten-round unanimous decision over
Yesenia Martinez Castrejon (106¾
lbs) of
Palenque, Chiapas, Mexico defending her
WBO Junior Flyweight title. Martinez Castrejon fell to 11-10-0 (9
KO's).
On September 27, 2012 at Hotel San Juan in
Isla Verde, Puerto Rico, Yesica Bopp (106 lbs) TKO'd Marisol Miranda
(5'2", 108 lbs) of Hollywood, Florida at 1:22 in the seventh round of a
ten-rounder defending the WBO Junior Flyweight title. The referee
stopped the bout
because of a cut over Miranda's left eye. Bopp negated
Miranda's height and reach advantages by moving quickly in and out and
being the aggressor for most of the fight, scoring with countless
overhand
rights to the head of Miranda. Miranda, with former world champion Bonnie Canino
in her corner, was game, but could not match Bopp's speed or boxing
skills and appeared to be overwhelmed at
times. Miranda fell to
5-5-0 (1 KO). Bopp had
brought
the TyC Sports camera crew with her to the arena and the network aired
the fight live.
On January 26, 2013 at Polideportivo
Municipal in Buenos Aires, Yesica
Bopp (107 lbs) won by a technical decision over Marisa Johanna Portillo
(108 lbs) of Rosario, Santa Fe, Argentina in a ten-rounder for
the WBA and WBO Junior Flyweight titles. The fight was stopped
when Portillo was badly cut by an accidental head butt in the
ninth round. Bopp improved to 23-0-0 (10 KO's) while
Portillo fell to 13-7-2 (2 KO's).
On
June 1, 2013 at Estadio Morelos in Ecatepec, México Yesica (108 lbs)
was unable to take the WBC Silver Junior Flyweight title
from Jessica "Kika" Chavez (108 lbs) of Mexico City, Mexico who won a
10-round unanimous (97-93,96-95,97-93) decision in a well-fought
battle. Neither boxer was knocked down or apparently hurt in ten
closely matched rounds, but Chavez landed the harder punches and seemed
unfazed by Bopp's speed and ring movement while Bopp was
uncharacteristically off-balance at times and had trouble with Chavez's
style at close range. Chavez's was able to drive Bopp into the ropes on
several occasions, forcing Bopp to defend more than usual. Chavez
improved her record to 18-3-2 (4 KO's)
with the win while Bopp suffered her first pro loss and dropped to
24-1-0 (11 KO's).
On July 19 2013
at the Racing Club in Avellaneda, Buenos Aires, Argentina,
Yesica (107½ lbs) defended her WBA and WBO Junior Flyweight titles with
a convincing ten-round unanimous (100-90x3) decision over Anastasia Toktaulova (107½ lbs) of Russia,
a veteran of many world title fights who lives in Florida. Both boxers
showed good hand speed, form and ring movement in the early
going but Bopp became the aggressor and scored well with hard
combinations. Toktaulova withstood a fast paced finish by Bopp who was
seeking to impress her home fans following the first loss of her pro
career. Toktaulova fell to 14-12 (2 KO's) with the loss.
On December 6 2013 at Club Los Padres
Capuchinos in Concordia, Entre Rios, Argentina, Yesica (107¾ lbs)
barely got warmed up while winning by a TKO at 0:47 of the second round
over an overmatched Ana Fernandez (107¾
lbs) of Caracas Venezuela. Bopp, who was defending her WBA and
WBO Junior Flyweight titles, mostly used her left to probe Ferndandez's
defense in the opener. When Bopp began to follow her jabs with her
right in the second round, Fernandez was overwhelmed, driven into a
corner and dropped to the canvas. Fernandez showed no sign of wanting
to continue so the referee stopped the bout. Bopp improved to
26-1 (12 KO's) with this win while Fernandez fell to 14-7 (10
KO's). Most of Fernandez's wins were against relatively
inexperienced opponents while her ventures into title fights all
produced losses.
Yesica
Bopp is one of the best technicians in women's boxing today.
In most fights she controls the action with her quick
in-and-out
and lateral movement, showing excellent footwork and balance and the
ability to deliver fast, straight combinations from the perfect
distance. Many of her fights are boxing clinics after which
the
superbly conditioned Bopp looks ready to go more rounds. Her
ability to come back after being hit hard is rarely tested because few
of her opponents bring the skills to cut off the ring on her
and
force her to trade for more than a brief flurry.
"I like to
prove I can fight the
best. These fights make me grow," says Bopp, who
has the goal of meeting the
undefeated Armenian-German WIBF champion Susianna
Kentikian for
the WBA and WBO Flyweight title.
Page
last updated: Tuesday, December 10 2013
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