In front of an energetic crowd at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, California, a rising star of women’s boxing Ana Julaton defeated celebrated multi-division world champion Kelsey Jeffries to win the vacant IBA Super Bantamweight Championship by majority decision and stake her claim as one of the top females in the sport.
Julaton (5-1-1, 1 KO) of Daly City, California came out strong from the outset, displaying a new aggressive, power-based approach she honed under the tutelage of new trainer Nonito Donaire Sr. Jeffries (41-10-1, 4 KOs) of Gilroy, California got off to an unusually slow start, as she seemed to struggle adapting to Julaton’s style in the opening rounds.
Julaton, 120.2, did her best work when she was able to get at long range and land her devastating lead left hooks. Jeffries, 119.5, used her experience on the inside, holding Julaton’s arms when she could and finding spots to hit. Throughout the fight, the wily veteran Jeffries was just dirty enough not to get penalized even though she seemed to intentionally headbutt Julaton in the ninth and landed a punch as referee Marty Sammon broke them up.
After Julaton clearly won the first two rounds and much of the third, Jeffries began to find her stride late in the round as she landed a few telling blows before the bell. Jeffries’ head came into play to great effect in the fourth, a trend that would continue for much of the fight. For the most part, Julaton took Jeffries’ rough tactics well and did not let them throw her off of her rhythm. The prettier, more eye-catching shots were usually thrown and landed by Julaton.
Jeffries, making her tenth appearance at the HP Pavilion, had a solid sixth round and did well in the seventh, but may have lost the round as Julaton came on just before the bell. Jeffries’ roughhouse tactics continued in the eighth, but Julaton seemed to land more legal blows in the round than did her opponent. The tenth round capped an exciting fight in style, as both fighters laid it on the line with everything seemingly at stake. Several of the rounds were close and both camps seemed to believe they had won before the official decision was rendered.
In the end, one judge scored the bout even, 95-95. That score was overruled by scores of 96-94 and 98-92 for Julaton, the winner of her first world title in just her seventh professional bout. When her name was announced the pro-Julaton crowd went crazy, as did her corner. Julaton fought back tears as her hand was raised and she posed for photographers.
Julaton’s title-winning effort capped another edition of the long-running series “Fight Night at the Tank,” and was the first edition to feature women in the main event. This was the same venue where Cris Cyborg recently dispatched MMA media darling Gina Carano in the first round of their much-publicized fight. Much of the coverage in the lead-up to this rare female boxing main event discussed the place of women’s boxing, especially in the United States. Each female prizefighter seemed to have very differing views on the potential direction of the sport. “I am just thankful for the opportunity,” said Julaton in post-fight. “I am just a piece of women’s boxing. There will be more after me. This is only the beginning. A lot of people feel kind of jaded about the whole women’s boxing field. Today at the press conference, Kelsey stated that she feels the women’s level will never be at the same level as the male’s. I disagree with that. This is a start. For 2012 they are finally opening up a female division for the Olympics in boxing. It is going to take time. I probably won’t see it in my lifetime, maybe when I am sixty or seventy, but I’d like to put in my effort.”
Interestingly Jeffries, a ten-year professional perhaps disenchanted by the tough path she has taken as she climbed the boxing ladder, offers a bleaker outlook on her sport. “Women’s boxing is not doing good right now,” said Jeffries. “I don’t know if it is the timing, but I can’t get fights. I’ve had probably had five or six fights fall out since last November, it is discouraging.”
Julaton addressed Jeffries’ rough tactics, but was very complementary of her opponent. “In boxing, you have to expect everything,” said Julaton. “There is more than punches. There are headbutts and low blows and so forth. We were expecting a lot of things to happen. You just have to go in there prepared. She’s the “Road Warrior,” she’s tough.” In return, Jeffries gave praise to her conqueror. “She is a great fighter,” said Jeffries. “It is all about styles. It doesn’t have anything to do with records or how many fights you have. It is all about styles and how you train.”
While Jeffries and her team did not completely disagree with Julaton being declared the winner, they were very shocked by the 98-92 score handed in by one judge. “I felt she won the fight,” said Jeffries’ trainer Buddy McGirt. “I would have been happy with a draw. I would have been happy if the third judge had 96-95 for the other girl, I could live with that. But 98-92, that is an insult. How could you just give Kelsey two rounds in a fight like that? I mean it is disgusting.” Jeffries added that the one score was “Bizarre,” but that the fight could have gone either way. “I thought it was great fight and I thought it was a draw. I would have been happy with a draw. I don’t think one of us really overpowered the other. I thought I took the end of the fight, I thought she had the beginning of the fight. So I thought it was an even fight.”
Promoter Roy Englebrecht told Julaton he would like to have her back in December at the HP Pavilion. While Jeffries was not immediately asked if she would be interested in the rematch by Englebrecht, she did say she would welcome one if it were offered, something McGirt seconded. “Tomorrow,” said McGirt. “If they want to fight Kelsey in December, no problem. I am not even her manager and I say no problem, because I know Kelsey will want it.”
While she did not get the win, Jeffries was happy with her performance. “I was real happy [with my performance]. I pressured her, it was a good fight,” said Jeffries. “I thought it was an excellent fight for the fans and what fighter doesn’t think they won the fight? I thought I won the fight. It was a close fight. What are you going to say?” Jeffries, who has held several titles in three different weight classes, plans to be in action in March at the Seven Feathers Casino Resort in Canyonville, Oregon, but hopes to be back in the ring before that date.
The future looks bright for the new IBA Super Bantamweight Champion. There had been talks of offers contingent on Julaton winning the title that her team did not want to fully disclose before the fight that could come to fruition. At the very least an offer stands to fight back at the HP Pavilion in December. Understandably, Julaton may need a minute before making plans for a future that has suddenly drastically changed, as far as her boxing career is concerned. “I have this belt right now,” said Julaton. “As much hard work I had to give to get it, it could be all taken away. I really want to take this moment right now and see what I can do with it.”
Converted MMA fighter Tony Johnson (3-0, 1 KO) of San Jose scored a devastating first-round knockout of debuting Artis Walker (0-1) of Las Vegas to bring the hometown crowd alive in the final preliminary fight of the night. Johnson, 187.7, landed a picture perfect left hook to the chin of Walker, 189.5, who somehow got back up to his feet. Another clubbing left from Johnson soon followed which returned the Las Vegas native to the mat. When Walker unwisely got back to his feet, a short double left hook, followed by a right for good measure ended matters at 1:17 of the opening round. With the win Johnson claimed the “AMI Cup” and a cash bonus for being voted the fighter of the night by audience applause.
Making his pro debut, well regarded former amateur standout Oscar Godoy (1-0) of Watsonville, California took a less than popular four-round decision over Eduardo Herrera (0-3) of Bakersfield, California. It is not that Godoy, 142, was undeserving of the decision, but more that the tactical fight was sandwiched between several thrillers on the card. The fight was close as neither fighter displayed any dominance over the other. Herrera, 143, did seem to clearly win the third, but got the nod on only one judge’s scorecard at fight’s end with a 39-37 score. The other two judges scored it the other way for Godoy, 39-37 twice.
Avenging a close defeat from this past July, Jonathan Alcantara (1-1-1) of Novato, California scored a unanimous four-round decision over Juan Topoz (2-2) of Santa Rosa, California in their second exciting meeting of the year. In a fight that could have gone either way, Topoz, 121.5, seemed to hold an edge in output and effectiveness and bloodied Alcantara, 122, in the final round. However all three judges scored the bout for the Novato native, who had more than his fair share of moments in the fight as well, by the scores of 40-36 and 39-37 twice. In their first meeting it was Topoz that scored a razor-thin decision.
In a four-round war, San Jose’s Clint Coronel (2-0-1, 1 KO) topped Herman Scott (2-2, 1 KO) of Las Vegas with a four-round split decision. Their four-round encounter proved that it is not always the most skilled fighters that make the most exciting fights. Coronel, 153.5, seemed to have a slight edge in the first, as he outworked Scott, 154.2, for much of the three minutes. The action really heat up in the second, as the fight got rough and both fighters turned their mindset totally to offense. Coronel lost a point in the third after losing his mouthpiece for the second time in the round. In both the third and fourth rounds, each fighter planted their feet and traded punches with complete disregard for defense. In the end, Coronel took two cards 38-37, while Scott got the nod 38-37 on the third.
Jason Montgomery (1-0) of San Leandro, California pounded out a one-sided unanimous four-round decision over French import Hedi Bouaziz (1-1) now of Arina Del Rey, California. Throughout the four rounds, the local favorite Montgomery, 160, continually landed clean power shots through a guard of Bouaziz, 153.2. All three judges scored the bout a shutout for Montgomery by the score of 40-36.
Pedrio Rios (1-1) of Berkeley, California got into the win column with an action-filled four-round decision win over Mike Alexander (1-4-2) of Antioch, California. Rios, 156, dropped Alexander, 160, with a right hand to cap a back-and-forth opening round. Both fighters got their shots in over the course of the following three rounds, but it was Rios that got the unanimous nod by the scores of 39-36 and 40-35 twice.
The evening opened with a pairing of locally-based and nationally ranked amateur fighters. Andy Vences of San Jose won the three-round decision over Randy Guerrero of Gilroy. The naturally larger Vences, the #12 ranked light welterweight by USA Boxing, downed Guerrero, the #9 ranked featherweight by USA Boxing, in the second, but it was ruled a slip by the referee. Guerrero is the younger brother of IBF Super Featherweight Robert Guerrero, who was in attendance.
It was announced on Saturday that the next edition of the Fight Night at the Tank series, originally slated to take place on November 12th at the HP Pavilion, has been moved to December 4th. Tickets for the event, promoted by Roy Englebrecht Events, will be available online at Ticketmaster.com.
