June 13th, Isleta Casino in Albuquerque, New Mexico: In a tough fight Holly Holm won a unanimous decision over undefeated Mary Jo Sanders. The fight billedas “Finally" put together Mary Jo Sanders 25-0, 8 Ko’s the Daughter of NFL Hall of Fame Detroit Lions tight end Charlie Sanders and Holly “Hottie” Holm 22-1-2 6 Ko’s for the IFBA junior middleweight title and the WBAN Womens Boxing Pound for Pound title.

Holm a southpaw fighting in front of her hometown crowd mixed moving and punching in spurts to control the first three rounds. Sanders began to turn the tide in the fourth round cutting off the ring and landing clean right hands. Holms would close the space and outwork Sanders on the inside.

In the fifth round Sanders had clearly changed the momentum catching Holm coming in with her head down with lead right hands.
The action slowed in the sixth with holms going back to what worked in the first three. In round seven Sanders was running after Holms reaching throwing her right as the hometown girl moved away.

In the eight Sanders began to change the momentum back landing solidly with her right and now throwing her newly discovered uppercut.

The fight continued this way through the final round but the absence of infighting by Sanders was mysterious. Not as mysterious as the judges scoring with two judges scoring it 98-92 and the other closer 97-93. Holms kept her IFBA belt but added the WBAN, Womens boxing’s best fighter Pound for Pound title. We scored it 96-94 Holms. 

                             

In a brawl 36 year old Chevelle “Fist of Steel” Hallback 27-5-2, 11 Ko’s threw those fists of steel for ten rounds holding off power the power punching Canadian Jeannine Garside 7-1-1, 3 Ko’s winning the vacant IFBA International Female Boxing Association lightweight title.

Garside started slow and Hallback landed her right hand early. Rounds two and three Garside began to land with her straight left behind a good right jab.
In the fourth round Hallback landed a heavy right hand putting Garside on queer street but the tough Canadian held on to finish the round. Hallback threw heavy wide shots with both hands that Garside porous defense could not stop.
Garside was hurt on several occasions and never landed the heavy left she was looking for. Hallback took control down the stretch winning rounds eight , nine and ten although Garside tried to turn it around in the ninth throwing her double jab but Hallback landed some crushing uppercuts and banged the Canadians body stopping comeback. A great fight but another one where I am not sure what judge who scored it 99-91 watching. Here at SBB had it closer 96-94 along with the other two judges.

Carina “La Reina” Moreno 18-1, 5Ko’s used her huge experience differential and incredible work rate to beat 39 year old former NY Knick dancer Eileen Olszewski 5-1-1, 0Ko’s winning the vacant the IFBA junior flyweight title. Moreno fighting like a runaway machine used her whole arsenal to dominate the bigger Olszewski who never established her jab. Moreno used pressure a good jab and an overhand right thrown over Olszewski’s slow and low left jab taking control early. Olszewski appeared too slow down as Moreno rolled on. Olszewski turned it on way to late finding the hook and landed some heavy uppercuts in the closing round. The judges scores were announced 100-90 twice and 97-93 all for Moreno. Here at SBB we agreed with the first two scores 100-90.

                                

In mini-flyweight action Wendy Rodriguez 19-4-3, 3 Ko’s revenged her 2007 loss to Holly “Hot Stuff” Dunaway 21-7, 10 Ko’s winning a controversial split decision. The fight started slow with Dunaway moving using her jab and Rodriguez looking to counter with her right hand

The second round was even with Rodriguez was coming forward looping her right and Dunaway moving right then comeback left. In the third Dunaway continued her circling throwing nice tight punches with Rodriguez the aggressor. In round four “Hot Stuff” began changing her height and tick-tocking her upper body fighting the fight at a space good for her.

In the middle rounds Rodriguez kept the pressure on while Dunaway used a double and triple jab behind some fainting to change it up.

Round seven was a lose one with Dunaway controlling the space with her
jab but Rodriguez was now throwing in combination when the round ended.

Rodriguez outworked Dunaway in the eighth who appeared to take the round off

The ninth saw Dunaway come out hard but Rodriguez fired back picking up the pace.

The closing round had Rodriguez fighting putting it all on the line while Dunaway appeared distracted by the strap on her Indian styled dress.

The judges scores were announced 96-94 Dunaway, and 98-92 and 96-94 Rodriguez giving her a split decision win and the IFBA and IBA straw weight titles. We had it 96-4 Dunaway.
CONTACTS:
Bob Trieger, Full Court Press, 978.207.0165, 978.590.0470, bobtfcp@hotmail.com
Doris Gabaldon, Fresquez Productions, 505.884.7484, dorisgabaldon@qwestoffice.net
Doug Jacobs, Integrated Sports, 201.610.1500, doug@integratedsportsnet.com
Jaci Marx, Isleta Casino, 505.724.3800, jacim@isleta-casino.com