Evelin Bermudez and Yokasta Valle to Decide Who Is More Elite!
Two elite fighters in the lower-weight ranks will go to battle as unified women’s junior flyweight champ Evelin “La Princesita” Bermudez (17-0-1, 6 KOs) faces unified minimumweight champ Yokasta Valle (26-0, 9 KOs). The fight will occur on November 26 at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California, live on Fite TV. Starting time is set for 10 PM EST.
AN EVEN MATCHUP
Bermudez won her first world belt when she eked out a split decision win over Maria Guadalupe Bautista to win the IBF 108-pound strap in December 2018. She added the vacant WBO title with a fifth-round TKO over Deborah Renfigo in March 2022.
In studying her on film, Bermudez can fight in multiple styles. At times, the 27-year-old fights as a traditional boxer. But she will switch things up, fighting with her hands down by her side, popping her opponents with fast, flashy combinations.
An excellent mover with great punch distribution, La Princesita rarely throws the same combination twice in a row. But if there is a weakness, it’s on the defense side. She gets lazy with her head movement and does not always move off the center line.
She has to be on her P’s and Q’s to beat Valle, who is moving up from 105 pounds. The 30-year-old resident of San Jose, Costa Rica captured the IBF minimumweight title after defeating Joana Pastrana by a split decision in August 2019. She has since won the WBO 105 pound belt after scoring a dominant decision victory over Thi Thu Nhi Nguyen in September 2022.
Valle is also a well-rounded boxer with an outstanding jab. Offensively, she’s well-equipped. When facing an aggressive fighter like Nguyen, Valle will keep her distance and box. If facing more of a mover, the minimumweight champ can cut off the ring and slow down her opponent with body punches. But similar to her upcoming opponent, she can suffer from defensive lapses.
THE PREDICTION
Bermudez is arguably the best at 108. Valle is an elite fighter at 105. Style-wise, there is not much separating them. The key to this fight is who sets the pace and wins the battle of the jab. There will be plenty of ebbs and flows. Valle will have her moments. It’s hard to envision either lady dominating the action for large chunks of the contest.
When Bermudez stays disciplined, she’s quite difficult to hit. In the end, her ability to create angles from a distance will prove to be the difference by the slightest of margins. In what should be a close and competitive fight, Bermudez will retain her titles by decision.
By: Michael Wilson Jr.
