Ibeth Zamora Silva is overcome by Marlen Esparza and loses WBC title
In her latest contest, WBC World Flyweight champion Ibeth Zamora “La Roca” Silva (32-7, 12 KO’s) lost to Marlen Esparza (10-1, 1 KO’s) by way of unanimous decision. The two-division champion had first captured the title back in 2018 and, had she prevailed, it would have been her third title defense.
As the WBC Light Flyweight champion, Silva defended her title ten consecutive times. Then after first beating her in September of 2015, La Roca lost her title in her second bout with Esmeralda Moreno in 2017. Immediately after losing her title, Silva moved up to the flyweight division. Two fights in, La Roca fought Melissa McMorrow for the WBC Flyweight title that was vacated by Yessica Chavez.
The win extended a two-fight win streak to three for Esparza. Back on November 2, 2019, Esparza lost by technical decision to Seneisa Estrada in a personal grudge match. The two had a dislike for one another dating back to their amateur days. Even their pre-fight buildup was cantankerous and full of venom. Many, especially Estrada, felt the bout should have been a TKO seeing as how Estrada used the cut to get out of the fight. Since the Estrada setback, Esparza picked up two wins and, after a year layoff, has remained rather busy. Now Esparza is a world champion in her second attempt for a world title.
HEAVY WORK RATE WINS THE DAY
Esparza opened the fight by literally running out of her corner and meeting Silva in hers. For the first minute and a half of the round, Esparza controlled the fight with her faster hands and high work rate. Then, while throwing a jab, Esparza was dropped with a straight right to the face. Despite going down, she immediately popped back and fought without issue and battled on to the conclusion of the round.
Esparza would go on to dominate the second through the fourth rounds. She accomplished this by outworking, bullying, controlling distance and sharp shooting the champion. At the end of the fourth however, Esparza was clipped and buzzed with a solid left hook.
From the fifth round to the ninth, the champion was unable to hurt Esparza again or seriously change the complexion of the bout. Esparza was just too fast on her feet and quick with her hands for Silva to catch up. La Roca never stopped coming forward and she threw a ton of punches. The trouble was Esparza was more accurate and clearly slipped and dodged more blows. After prematurely celebrating in the ninth, Esparza continued to fight with zeal but was notably fatiguing in the tenth. Yet, the money she put in the bank paid off when the scorecards were read and Esparza was awarded the title.
By: Bakari Simpson
