First World Title in nearly a decade, first Female World Title in the City’s History
On Thurday evening, November 20, 2014, the young ladies competing in Friday’s Main Event at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Ana Arrazola (l) and Kenia Enriquez (r) held the WBO Female Light Flyweight World Championship belt while posing for photos with the show’s promoter, Bobby De Philippis. Photo: J. Wyatt
On Friday evening, San Diego’s Bobby D. Presents in association with Zanfer Promotions of Tijuana will be presenting a historic night of boxing at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Mission Valley. On that night, Kenia Enriquez, an amazing 21 year-old undefeated boxer (12-0, 6 KO’s) from Tijuana who calls San Diego her second home, will make history as she goes against her toughest opponent to date the veteran, 32 year-old Ana “La Bronca” Arrazola (21-10-2, 13 KO’s) in the city’s first ever Female Title Fight for the vacant WBO Female Flyweight title.
Arrazola, a southpaw, who has gone up against the best, ladies like Ji-Hyun Park of Japan and Susi Kentikian of Germany by way of Armenia, once held and then defended the WBF title. Earlier this year she fought Naoko Shibata in Japan for the IBF title. Even though the twenty-one year old will have an advantage in age, the more experienced Arrazola possess a ton of experience.
The doors have suddenly opened wide for Enriquez
This Main Event will mark the fifth fight this year for the undefeated Enriquez who in April stopped former world champion Jolene Blackshear in seven to capture the NABF light flyweight title. After winning this regional title plus her recent wins over Selene Lopez, Noemi Bosques and Mayela Perez, Enriquez moved up in the rankings to #5 on all the major ranking organizations. So in essence, that win over Blackshear led to this world title opportunity. A title that was vacated by Argentinean “Tutti” Bopp after she became pregnant. Bopp also vacated the WBO and WBA light flyweight titles.
The WBO Female Light Flyweight contenders, Ana Arrazola (l) and Kenia Enriquez (r) pose for photos after they have been weighed-in. Photos: J. Wyatt
After inspecting the gloves to be used, the ladies made their selections.
In the semi-main event, local favorite Prince “Tiger” Smalls (5-0-1) will put his undefeated record on the line in a four rounder versus Jose Iñiguez (7-18, 1KO) while “The African Mexican” Mulapi Enjani (1-0) of San Diego by way of the Congo returns to face Don Jose (0-3) of Stockton, CA, in a bantamweight eight rounder. To open the fight card, they have Coachella, CA’s Amateur sensation, super middleweight Alberto Fundora (2-0, 1 KO) facing Fernando “Pantera” Najera (1-4) of Tijuana. How tough is Fundora? Just ask Artemio Reyes (22-2, 18 KOs) his sparring partner at the Maywood Gym.
(photo, right) In Bout #1, it will be Alberto Fundora (r) of Coachella, CA (2-0, 1 KO) facing Fernando “Pantera” Najera (l) of Tijuana, B. C., Mexico (1-4).
Fernando “Pantera” Najera (l) of Tijuana, Alberto Fundora (r) of Coachella.
Boxing coach Priest Tiger Smalls (r) keeps a keen eye on the scale as his boxer’s opponent Don Jose weighs in for Bout #2. Photos: J. Wyatt
(bottom photos) After both Don Jose (l) and Mulapi Enjani (r) weigh-in, the two gentleman do the obligatory face off for the cameras. Photos: J. Wyatt
At the conclusion of their weigh-ins, it was discovered Don Jose (l) weighed 121 lbs while Mulapi “The African Mexican” Enjani (r) only weighed 118½ lbs.
(bottom, right) At the conclusion of their weigh-ins for Bout #3, Leon “3rd Generation” Spinks (l) tries in vain to work the intimidation factor on the shorter Ivan “Oso” Zavala of Tijuana. Photos: J. Wyatt
The intimidation factor didn’t work on his opponent but it did on the photographer.
At the weigh-in, Prince “Tiger” Smalls weighed the agreed upon weight of 126 pounds. His opponent, Jose Iniguez ignored the contracted weight.
In the end, they had Jose Iniguez remove every last stitch of clothing.
It will be interesting to see how this fight turns out with Jose “Panterita” Iniguez (l) possibly out-weighing Smalls by as much as 15 pounds on Friday night.
The heated controversy at Thursday’s weigh-ins:
First up on the scale, Prince “Tiger” Smalls and the consummate professional weighed 126 pounds, the agreed upon (contracted) weight. His opponent, Jose Iniguez pulled the same stunt he did a while back when facing Danny Roman in Corona. He disregarded the contracted weight and came to the weigh-ins weighing an egregiously abusive 139 pounds, 13 pounds heavier than his opponent. In order to have the fight on Friday, the promoter and gentleman from the California State Athletic Commission were then put in the unenviable, awkward position of asking Smalls to put on weight and see if Iniguez could lose some weight so they could reach a middle ground and the commission’s representative could then change the catch weight.
As a consequence, you had all these people waiting around for the two fighters to get their weight within six pounds of each other. In the end, Iniquez came down 2 pounds and Smalls came up almost four and the fight was approved. As a consequence, Iniquez now loses credibility with a second promoter plus 20% of his purse. 10% of his paycheck on Friday night will now go to the California State Athletic Commission while the other 10% goes to Smalls.
The site of Friday’s event, the ballroom of the Crowne Plaza Hotel located at 2270 Hotel Circle North in San Diego, is a great place to watch boxing. For further info or tickets, visit SanDiegoFights.com or call (619) 420-8866. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. with the first bell sounding at 7:30 p.m.
To test your boxing knowledge answer this question: When was the last championship fight waged in San Diego County?
Back on December 28, 2004, a month and 10 days shy of 10 years ago, the multi-divisional champion Israel “Magnifico” Vazquez defended his newly acquired IBF bantamweight title at the Sycuan Resort and Casino in El Cajon scoring a 5th round TKO victory over Artyom Simonyan.
