When Gabriela Celeste Alaniz She gave birth to her first-born daughter, Jazmín, in 2011, two weeks before turning her long-awaited fifteen years in Merlo, one of the hottest spots in the Buenos Aires suburbs, very far from there, in Houston, Texas, a rebellious and wayward girl about payment. , Marlen Esparza, daughter of Mexicans, refused to speak Spanish, at 22 years old and with a hundred amateur fights, began to strengthen her participation in the 2012 London Olympic Games. She would be, months later, the first American woman to ascend to a ringed ring. , and that would make her a pioneer of this profession. Although her compatriot Claressa Shields would win the gold medal and all the accolades in that competition, she was never able to match the success achieved by Marlen: giving the baptism to women’s boxing in the Olympics.
However, fate and the twists and turns of life put them on an equal footing. Both became world champions. AND They faced each other in a controversial fight, with a local and unfair ruling that deprived Argentina of a reasonable victory. Esparza won on points in ten rounds, on August 7, 2023, and added the WBA, WBC and WBO flyweight titles. Weeks later, both organizations decreed an immediate and mandatory revenge. Today they will be face to face again. There was a surprise at the last minute: Marlen couldn’t make the weight. She exceeded the scale by weighing 51,700 kg, and she was automatically dethroned from her crown. Alaníz accused 50,400 kg and she must win the match to take possession of them. They will compete tonight in 10 rounds, 2 minutes each, starting at 9 p.m. in Fresno, California, with TyC Sports televising. Despite this unexpected situation, the fight does not give up interest or expectations.
Alaniz’s growth as a woman and boxer was not easy. Nicknamed Chucky, because of her tendency to fight at school and in the street since she was a child, the issues in her home intertwined jobs in factories and time delays on the Sarmiento railroad. However, she reached the world crown (WBO) after a lot of effort after beating Tamara Demarco, in 2022, with the support of her entire family and her mentor: Juan Carlos Ledesma. She divided her time between training and caring for her daughter, who aspires to follow in her footsteps. She has a record of 14 wins (6 by KO) and one loss.
Alaniz has striking offensive strength at 50.802 kg. He will need to impose them without pause to leave no doubt in this rematch.
Esparza is a character with more history than present. That 2012 Olympic experience led her to be promoted by Nike and Coca Cola. Until the magazine Vogue, of high feminine caliber, placed it on its cover at that time. Despite this, the memory of his bloody fight with Seniesa Estrada and his World Cup consecration against Ibeth Zamora, both in 2021, was never able to impose an attractive image in his fights. Above all, for the lack of physical support. He likes the bohemian life and it shows in the ring in the “high-flying” contests. He has 14 wins (1 KO) and one loss. As an amateur, he lost to Argentina’s Yésica Bopp in 2007.
Mission Impossible?
Winning in fights promoted by Golden Boy Promotions (Oscar de la Hoya and Bernard Hopkins’ company) in the United States was an unwavering mission for Argentine boxers. They all deserved to succeed and finally lost. Leonela Yudica from San Juan relegated her World Cup verdicts to Arely Muciño, in San Diego, in 2022, and Seniesa Estrada, in 2023. Evelyn Bermúdez, from Santa Fe, was condemned to defeat in an even fight with Yokasta Valle, in Carson, California, in 2022, and the recent precedent was marked by Chucky with an incomprehensible decision against Marlen, last August in Texas territory.
Alaniz is once again the guest at the party in a Golden Boy promotion. She knows to the letter what she should do in the ring. Don’t waste time or waste blows. Every unproductive second will be fertile ground for the girl of the house.