It was just a numbers game for Gabriela Fundora and despite Mexico’s Marilyn Badillo’s
elusive tactics it took the champion one punch to end the fight and retain her undisputed
flyweight world title by knockout on Saturday.
Will it be her last flyweight defense?
Though Fundora (16-0, 8 KOs) fired dozens of misses, a single punch found Badillo (19-
1-1, 3 KOs) and ended her undefeated career and first attempt at a world title at the
Frontwave Arena in Oceanside, California.
Fundora, however, proves unbeatable at flyweight.
The champion entered the arena as the headliner for the Golden Boy Promotion show
and stepped through the ropes with every physical advantage possible, including power.
Mexico’s Badillo was a midget compared to Fundora but proved to be as elusive as a
butterfly in a menagerie for the first six rounds. As the six-inch taller Fundora connected
on one punch for every dozen thrown, that single punch was a deadly reminder.
Badillo tried ducking low and slipping to the left while countering with slashing
uppercuts, she found little success. She did find the body a solid target but the blows
proved to be useless. And when Badillo clinched, that proved more erroneous as
Fundora belted her rapidly during the tie-ups.
“She was kind of doing her ducking thing,” said Fundora describing Badillo’s defensive
tactics. “I just put the pressure on. It was just like a train. We didn’t give her that break.”
The Mexican fighter tried valiantly with various maneuvers. None proved even slightly
successful.
Fundora remained poised and under control as she stalked the challenger.
In the seventh round Badillo seemed to take a stand and try to slug it out with Fundora.
She quickly was lit up by rapid left crosses and down she went at 1:44 of the seventh
round. The Mexican fighter’s corner wisely waved off the fight and referee Rudy
Barragan stopped the fight and held the dazed Badillo upright.
Once again Fundora remained champion by knockout. The only question now is will she
move up to super flyweight or bantamweight to challenge the bigger girls.
Perez Beats Conwell.
Mexico’s Jorge “Chino” Perez (33-4, 26 KOs) upset Charles Conwell (21-1, 15 KOs) to
win by split decision after 12 rounds in their super welterweight showdown.
It was a match that paired two hard-hitting fighters whose ledgers brimmed with knockouts,
but neither was able to score a knockdown against each other.
Neither fighter moved backward. It was full steam ahead with Conwell proving
successful to the body and head with left hooks and Perez connecting with rights to the
head and body. It was difficult to differentiate the winner.
Though Conwell seemed to be the superior defensive fighter and more accurate, two
judges preferred Perez’s busier style. They had it 115-113 for Perez with the dissenter
favoring Conwell by the same margin.
It was Conwell’s first pro loss. Maybe it will open doors for more opportunities.
Other Bouts
Tristan Kalkreuth (15-1) managed to pass a serious heat check by unanimous decision
against former contender Felix Valera (24-8) after a 10-round back-and-forth
heavyweight fight.
It was very close.
Kalkreuth is one of those fighters that possess all the physical tools including youth and
size but never seems to be able to show it. Once again he edged past another foe but
at least this time he faced an experienced fighter in Valera.
Valera had his moments especially in the middle of the 10-round fight but slowed down
during the last three rounds.
One major asset for Kalkreuth was his chin. He got caught but still motored past the
clever Valera. After 10 rounds two judges saw it 99-91 and one other judge 97-93 all for
Kalkreuth.
Highly-rated prospect Ruslan Abdullaev (2-0) blasted past dangerous Jino Rodrigo (13-
5-2) in an eight round super lightweight fight. He nearly stopped the very tough Rodrigo
in the last two rounds and won by unanimous decision.
Abdullaev is trained by Joel and Antonio Diaz in Indio.
Bakersfield prospect Joel Iriarte (7-0, 7 KOs) needed only 1:44 to knock out Puerto
Rico’s Marcos Jimenez (25-12) in a welterweight bout.
elusive tactics it took the champion one punch to end the fight and retain her undisputed
flyweight world title by knockout on Saturday.
Will it be her last flyweight defense?
Though Fundora (16-0, 8 KOs) fired dozens of misses, a single punch found Badillo (19-
1-1, 3 KOs) and ended her undefeated career and first attempt at a world title at the
Frontwave Arena in Oceanside, California.
Fundora, however, proves unbeatable at flyweight.
The champion entered the arena as the headliner for the Golden Boy Promotion show
and stepped through the ropes with every physical advantage possible, including power.
Mexico’s Badillo was a midget compared to Fundora but proved to be as elusive as a
butterfly in a menagerie for the first six rounds. As the six-inch taller Fundora connected
on one punch for every dozen thrown, that single punch was a deadly reminder.
Badillo tried ducking low and slipping to the left while countering with slashing
uppercuts, she found little success. She did find the body a solid target but the blows
proved to be useless. And when Badillo clinched, that proved more erroneous as
Fundora belted her rapidly during the tie-ups.
“She was kind of doing her ducking thing,” said Fundora describing Badillo’s defensive
tactics. “I just put the pressure on. It was just like a train. We didn’t give her that break.”
The Mexican fighter tried valiantly with various maneuvers. None proved even slightly
successful.
Fundora remained poised and under control as she stalked the challenger.
In the seventh round Badillo seemed to take a stand and try to slug it out with Fundora.
She quickly was lit up by rapid left crosses and down she went at 1:44 of the seventh
round. The Mexican fighter’s corner wisely waved off the fight and referee Rudy
Barragan stopped the fight and held the dazed Badillo upright.
Once again Fundora remained champion by knockout. The only question now is will she
move up to super flyweight or bantamweight to challenge the bigger girls.
Perez Beats Conwell.
Mexico’s Jorge “Chino” Perez (33-4, 26 KOs) upset Charles Conwell (21-1, 15 KOs) to
win by split decision after 12 rounds in their super welterweight showdown.
It was a match that paired two hard-hitting fighters whose ledgers brimmed with knockouts,
but neither was able to score a knockdown against each other.
Neither fighter moved backward. It was full steam ahead with Conwell proving
successful to the body and head with left hooks and Perez connecting with rights to the
head and body. It was difficult to differentiate the winner.
Though Conwell seemed to be the superior defensive fighter and more accurate, two
judges preferred Perez’s busier style. They had it 115-113 for Perez with the dissenter
favoring Conwell by the same margin.
It was Conwell’s first pro loss. Maybe it will open doors for more opportunities.
Other Bouts
Tristan Kalkreuth (15-1) managed to pass a serious heat check by unanimous decision
against former contender Felix Valera (24-8) after a 10-round back-and-forth
heavyweight fight.
It was very close.
Kalkreuth is one of those fighters that possess all the physical tools including youth and
size but never seems to be able to show it. Once again he edged past another foe but
at least this time he faced an experienced fighter in Valera.
Valera had his moments especially in the middle of the 10-round fight but slowed down
during the last three rounds.
One major asset for Kalkreuth was his chin. He got caught but still motored past the
clever Valera. After 10 rounds two judges saw it 99-91 and one other judge 97-93 all for
Kalkreuth.
Highly-rated prospect Ruslan Abdullaev (2-0) blasted past dangerous Jino Rodrigo (13-
5-2) in an eight round super lightweight fight. He nearly stopped the very tough Rodrigo
in the last two rounds and won by unanimous decision.
Abdullaev is trained by Joel and Antonio Diaz in Indio.
Bakersfield prospect Joel Iriarte (7-0, 7 KOs) needed only 1:44 to knock out Puerto
Rico’s Marcos Jimenez (25-12) in a welterweight bout.