INGLEWOOD — Golden Boy Promotions showcased two women's fights Saturday at The Forum, a historic American boxing venue, near Los Angeles.
Gabriela Fundora stole the show with her IBF flyweight world title win over Arely Mucino, a few fights after a well-supported local boxer called Iyana Verduzco — who has links to Wildcard Boxing Club — also made great impressions on the night.
Gabriel Fundora is a problem
In her first world title fight, Fundora showed she's a handful at the highest level of women's boxing as she landed 35 punches from 87 shots thrown in the opening two-minute round alone.
Fundora peppered Mucino with punches and flurries in the second and third rounds, planting her feet a step from her opponent, sometimes waiting for her to throw, before countering with a one-two, every now and then a three.
In the fourth, Fundora rocked Mucino's skull back with a southpaw left straight, and didn't even let her get her head back into position before pummeling her further with a well-placed combo to the bones.
Mucino was game but ultimately outclassed as Fundora dropped her in the fifth after a succession of left-rights and then a right-left.
Though she made it to her feet, Mucino looked off-balance. Regardless, the referee allowed her to continue, only for Fundora to close the show with a corner stoppage later in the round.
Victory advanced Fundora's flawless pro record to 12-0-0 (5 KOs), and claims Mucino's IBF title in the process. And the new!
The corner waves it off!! And GABRIELA FUNDORA wins!!#RochaSantillan | LIVE on DAZN pic.twitter.com/p8hHubGTPI
— Golden Boy (@GoldenBoyBoxing) October 22, 2023
'Right Hook Roxy' wins her pro debut
The Inglewood crowd already has an awesome chant for hometown favorite Verduzco, who shook off first fight nerves to score a unanimous decision (40-36 and 39-37 x 2) over Clarice Morales in the opening fight of the night, after boxing to rallying calls of "Rocky! Rocky! Rocky!"
Victory pushed Verduzco into a winning start with a pro record of 1-0-0. Morales, meanwhile, fell to 0-3-1.
