Jennifer Barber Fights Gloria Ramirez; Other Women Bouts

It’s been almost a year since Jennifer Barber has stepped in a ring and she’s not getting an easy fight.

On Thursday, former U.S. National amateur champion Barber meets rugged Gloria Ramirez in a six round featherweight bout at Irvine Marriott Hotel. The fight card is promoted by Roy Englebrecht Events.

Barber recently lost her first fight as a pro against France’s Myriam Chomaz for the junior lightweight world title. The clash took place almost a year ago in that country and Barber lost by split decision. It’s never big news when an American travels to Europe or Asia and loses. Unless you knock your opponent out in sudden fashion, you’re not going to get the win. Believe me.

The tall featherweight boxer has that blend of boxing skills and aggressiveness that makes for a fast-moving fight. She’ll need all her skills against the vastly under-rated Ramirez.

Despite a mediocre looking record, Ramirez is one of those fighters who has truly learned her craft inside the ring. Most of her losses came early in her career. Now she’s a handful. Recently she fought to a draw against talented Rhonda Luna. That should say it all. It should be a great fight. Too bad it’s only six rounds.

Other female fights coming up

Carina Moreno (21-1) of Northern California defends her WBC and WIBA strawweight titles against Mexico’s Anabel Ortiz (3-1) in Toluca, Mexico on Saturday Oct. 31. The quick-fisted Moreno fights out of Watsonville and has not lost a fight since losing to L.A.’s Wendy Rodriguez three years ago.  Ortiz only four pro fights, but that’s the way female boxing goes.

Pound for Pound battle

Melissa “I am Women’s Boxing” Hernandez (11-1-2) agreed to fight New Mexico’s Holly Holm (25-1-3)  in a battle between two female fighters considered by many as the two best fighters pound for pound. The fight will take place on Dec. 4, in New Mexico.

Hernandez is comfortable fighting as a 122-pound super bantamweight but has fought as high as 135-pound lightweight. She beat Layla McCarter for the GBU lightweight world title in April 2007 after losing to her a year earlier.

Holm has fought as low as a 140-pound junior welterweight and as high as a 154-pound junior middleweight. She has a six-inch height advantage against Hernandez and has not suffered a loss in five years.

West vs. South

Kaliesha West (11-1) of Moreno Valley has consented to fight Louisiana’s Kasha Chamblin (11-4) in a super bantamweight clash on Dec. 12 at Agua Caliente Casino. It will be on the undercard of Timothy Bradley’s WBO junior welterweight world title defense against Lamont Peterson.

West has been rocketing toward the bantamweight division and is eager for a world title fight. Chamblin is not afraid to step in the ring with anybody. It’s a good test for both female fighters.

During the press conference on Tuesday, promoter Gary Shaw said that West would be included on each fight card Bradley appears on in Palm Springs. Hopefully Showtime gets a hint and televises West versus Chamblin. It should be good.

Fights on television

Fri. pay-per-view, 7 p.m., Hector Camacho Jr. (49-3-1) vs. Yory Boy Campas (92-14-1).

Sat. Showtime, 9 p.m., Joseph Agbeko (27-1) vs. Yonnhy Perez (19-0).