Mayerlin Rivas Slices Up Karina Fernandez in Four to Retain WBA Title!
At the Domo Alcalde in Guadalajara, Mexico, Mayerlin Rivas (17-4-2, 11 KOs) made the first defense of the WBA women’s junior featherweight title against Isis Karina Fernandez (17-7-1, 3 KOs). The defending champ captured the 122-pound title in her last outing; a unanimous decision win over Laura Ledezma in February 2020.
Rivas has been a mainstay and a fighter of genuine substance in the lower-weight divisions for years. The 34-year-old from Maracaibo, Venezuela previously held the WBA strap at bantamweight. She made three defenses of that title before moving up in weight and becoming a two-division champ.
However, she is fighting on enemy territory against the Mexican in Fernandez. The challenger is one tough cookie and has fought some of the best ladies in the division. Her resume includes losses to current WBC champion Yamileth Mercado, and to multiple-time world champion and fistic fighting legend, Jackie Nava.
Fernandez came up on the losing end in two prior attempts fighting for a world title. The 31-year-old is hell-bent on making this third time a charm.
PUTTING ON A SHOW
Rivas is a versatile fighter who can punch. Her power came to the fore when she put Fernandez on her backside with a counter left hook with seventy seconds to go in the opening round. As early as the second round, the challenger was streaming blood from what looked to be a broken nose.
The champion continued to put on what was a boxing display. Fernandez was a willing warrior, but she paid heavily for her aggression as Rivas was tattooing with every punch in the book during the second and third rounds. At the beginning of round four with Fernandez’s nose still bleeding heavily, the referee wisely called a halt to the contest.
This was a terrific performance by Rivas. On the big stage fighting on DAZN, she shined. Recently signing a multi-fight deal with Matchroom, there’s now the support she’s wanted throughout her career. Look for the promotional company to try to match her in against the likes of Mercado and Nava.
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By: Michael Wilson Jr.
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