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Marcela Acuña

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Marcela Acuña
Acuña in 2007
Born
Marcela Eliana Acuña

(1976-10-16) 16 October 1976 (age 48)
Formosa, Formosa, Argentina
Other namesLa Tigresa
Statistics
Weight(s)
Height5 ft 4+12 in (164 cm)
StanceOrthodox
Boxing record
Total fights66
Wins53
Wins by KO20
Losses10
Draws3

Marcela Eliana Acuña (born 16 October 1976) is an Argentine professional boxer and part-time politician. She has held multiple super bantamweight world titles, including the IBF title since 2018; the WBA title from 2006 to 2008; the WBC title twice between 2008 and 2010; the WBO title from 2013 to 2014; the IBF title from 2016 to 2018; and the WBA interim featherweight title in 2016.

Early life

[edit]

Acuña enjoyed boxing from a very early age. At the age of seven, she visited a boxing gym for the first time. Her first trainer, Ramon Chaparro, would many years later become her husband.

Marcela Acuña became an accomplished martial arts fighter before she decided to box for money. At the age of twelve, she had earned a black belt and she became South America's champion in her division by the age of fourteen. She made sixteen successful title defenses.

She had to retire from karate due to pregnancy. In 1995, she and Chaparro had their first son. After some time away from combat sports, Acuña decided that she would return, only this time, she would compete in boxing.

Professional boxing career

[edit]

Acuña made her professional debut on 5 December 1997 against Christy Martin in Pompano Beach, Florida, on an undercard that was headlined by Johnny Tapia's world championship defense against Puerto Rico's Andy Agosto and which was shown nationally across the United States. Acuña was dropped in round ten, but she rose and finished the bout on her feet. Despite losing a unanimous decision by scores of 100-90 and 99-90 (twice), Acuña's performance was hailed by many fans and critics alike, considering that this was her first professional boxing bout.

In just her second professional fight she met Lucia Rijker on 25 September 1998, at Ledyard, Connecticut, for the vacant IBO super lightweight title. Acuña was knocked out in five rounds.

After losing her first two fights, Acuña stepped away from boxing.

Return to boxing

[edit]

Acuña returned to boxing in 2001, and she and her rival, Jamillia Lawrence of New Jersey, made Argentine boxing history when they participated in the first ever women's boxing fight to be sanctioned by the Argentine boxing commission. Acuña got her first win, with a four-round split decision over the American at Buenos Aires, on 12 February of that year.

On 1 June, she obtained a six-round unanimous decision win over Luz Marina Sanabria Ledesma of Colombia, at Formosa.

Twenty eight days later, she got her first knockout win, when she defeated Uruguay's Andrea Pereyra in only two rounds.

On 11 August, she returned to Buenos Aires, to defeat Yolanda Marrugo, dropping her twice, on her way to a six-round unanimous decision.

On September 21, she fought at Carlos Monzón's birthplace, Santa Fe, when she was rematched with Pereyra. Acuña knocked out Pereyra in five rounds, and Pereyra required hospitalization after this fight. Acuña was awarded the "La Opinion's 80th anniversary" trophy that night.

On 12 October she knocked out Ana Dos Santos in two rounds, for her last appearance of 2001.

Her first fight of 2002 was preceded by much media hype. She was challenged by famous fitness instructor Patricia Quirico, who herself was making her professional debut when she boxed Acuña.

If for nothing else, the fight was widely expected because Quirico was a well known personality with developed body strength, who helped fan interest for the fight develop when she began to threaten Acuña through the media. Although she was 40 years old already, she seemed to feel an authentic dislike towards Acuña, and fans across Argentina spoke about the fight on the weeks prior to the event. The fact Quirico had participated in twenty three exhibition matches, as well as in karate and baseball also helped fan interest grow.

They met on 19 January 2002, at Buenos Aires. Acuña scored one of the quickest knockouts in boxing history, when she landed a right to Quirico's chin right after the first bell rang, and followed it with a left that sent Quirico to the floor. Quirico was counted out and Acuña officially won the fight at fourteen seconds of round one. The win earned her the Argentine Featherweight title.

On 1 March she had to fight one of her closest friends, Carmen Montiel, to defend her Argentina title. Acuña outpointed Montiel over ten rounds.

Next, she would have had her second world title try, on 6 April against Panama's Damaris Pinock Ortega, for the vacant WIBA title. The 2002 Argentine economic crisis, however, forced for the fight to be postponed.

On 29 June she and Montiel had a rematch, and Acuña again prevailed, by an eight-round unanimous decision.

World championships

[edit]

Acuña then lost weight, going down all the way to the Super Bantamweight division to get her second try at becoming a world champion. In what was the first ever women's boxing world championship fight to be staged in Argentina, Acuña lost a split decision to champion Alicia Ashley.

Acuña then decided to take another two-year lay-off, but she had also decided to stay around the Super Bantamweight division's weight limit, because she wanted to fight in that division from there on. And when she returned for the second time, on 21 February 2003, she knocked out former Regina Halmich challenger Lourdes Gonzalez in two rounds to win the Argentine Super Bantamweight title.

On 10 May she fought in a place where boxing matches are rare: Tierra del Fuego, where she knocked out Ana Davila Ferreira in two rounds.

Then came a rematch with Ashley. On her third world title try, Acuña lost to Ashley for the second time, this time by a ten-round unanimous decision, on 14 June.

On 22 August she and her friend Carmen Montiel met for the third time, and Acuña again beat Montiel on points, this time in six rounds. This victory set up the stage for Acuña's fourth world title try.

On 6 December, she and Panamanian Pinock Ortega finally got to meet, and Acuña became world champion when she knocked out Ortega in the sixth round for the vacant WIBA Super Bantamweight title.

On 26 May 2004, she made her first world championship defense, knocking out Daysi Padilla in the first round. Padilla, who had former world champion Ricardo Cardona at her corner, also required a short stay at a hospital.

On 11 September 2004, Acuña knocked out Ana Camilla Santos in the third round of a non-title bout.

On 22 January 2005, she knocked out Maria Elena Miranda in three rounds to win the WIBA's vacant world Featherweight title, at Formosa.

In May 2019 she fought former world champion Jackie Nava to a draw.[1]

In October 2023 she lost to former world champion Sarah Mahfoud, via unanimous decision.[2]

Professional boxing record

[edit]
66 fights 53 wins 10 losses
By knockout 20 1
By decision 33 9
Draws 3
No. Result Record Opponent Type Round, time Date Location Notes
66 Draw 53–10–3 Natalia Josefina Alderete SD 8 (8) 2024-04-12 Club Defensores de Villa Lujan, San Miguel de Tucumán, Argentina
65 Loss 53–10–2 Sarah Mahfoud UD 10 (10) 2023-10-07 Royal Arena, Copenhagen, Denmark For WBC Silver featherweight title
64 Win 53–9–2 Lucrecia Belen Arrieta UD 10 (10) 2023-07-21 Amerian Hotel Casino Gala, Resistencia, Argentina
63 Win 52–9–2 Natalia Josefina Alderete UD 8 (8) 2023-03-10 Estadio Pedro Estremador, Bariloche, Argentina
62 Loss 51–9–2 Débora Dionicius UD 10 (10) 2022-12-23 Club Sarmiento, Resistencia, Argentina For vacant WBO super-bantamweight title
61 Win 51–8–2 Laura Soledad Griffa UD 10 (10) 2022-09-24 Club Ferrocarril Midland, Libertad, Argentina Won vacant Argentine featherweight title
60 Loss 50–8–2 Débora Dionicius UD 10 (10) 2021-11-20 Estadio Luna Park, Buenos Aires, Argentina For interim WBO featherweight title
59 Win 50–7–2 Natalia Josefina Alderete UD 6 (6) 2021-09-25 Complejo Termal Vertiente de la Concordia, Concordia, Argentina
58 Draw 49–7–2 Jackie Nava MD 10 (10) 2019-05-25 Estadio de Beisbol Agustin Flores Contreras, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
57 Win 49–7–1 Yenifer Rodriguez KO 5 (10) 2018-12-14 Club Atletico Independiente, La Rioja, Argentina Retained IBF super-bantamweight title
56 Win 48–7–1 Mayerlin Rivas SD 10 (10) 2018-10-19 Polideportivo Delmi, Salta, Argentina Retained IBF super-bantamweight title
55 Win 47–7–1 Laura Soledad Griffa UD 10 (10) 2018-08-10 Polideportivo Fray Mamerto Esquiú, Catamarca, Argentina Won vacant IBF super-bantamweight title
54 Loss 46–7–1 Daniela Romina Bermúdez UD 10 (10) 2018-04-13 Microestadio Municipal, Hurlingham, Argentina Lost IBF super-bantamweight title
53 Win 46–6–1 Shannon O'Connell UD 10 (10) 2017-06-16 Ce.De.M. N° 2, Caseros, Argentina Retained IBF super-bantamweight title
52 Win 45–6–1 Yésica Marcos KO 10 (10) 2016-12-16 Parque Industrial de Desarrollo Productivo, Cuartel V, Argentina Won vacant IBF super-bantamweight title
51 Win 44–6–1 Brenda Karen Carabajal UD 10 (10) 2016-09-09 Ce.De.M. N° 2, Caseros, Argentina Retained WBA featherweight title
50 Win 43–6–1 Mayra Alejandra Gomez UD 10 (10) 2016-05-07 Estadio F.A.B., Buenos Aires, Argentina Won interim WBA featherweight title
49 Win 42–6–1 Edith Soledad Matthysse UD 10 (10) 2014-08-23 Sociedad Alemana de Gimnasia, José León Suárez, Argentina Retained WBO super-bantamweight title
48 Win 41–6–1 Estrella Valverde TKO 6 (10) 2014-03-28 Anfiteatro Municipal, Villa María, Argentina Retained WBO super-bantamweight title
47 Win 40–6–1 Halanna Dos Santos UD 10 (10) 2013-10-25 Club Salto Uruguayo, Salto, Uruguay Won vacant WBO super-bantamweight title
46 Win 39–6–1 Melissa Hernández UD 10 (10) 2013-07-13 Club Defensores de Villa Lujan, San Miguel de Tucumán, Argentina
45 Win 38–6–1 Edith Soledad Matthysse UD 10 (10) 2013-05-10 Auditorio Presidente Néstor Kirchner, Tapiales, Argentina
44 Draw 37–6–1 Yésica Marcos SD 10 (10) 2013-01-25 Teatro Griego Juan Pablo Segundo, San Martín, Argentina For WBA & WBO super-bantamweight titles
43 Loss 37–6 Carolina Duer UD 10 (10) 2012-12-21 Club Universitario, La Plata, Argentina
42 Win 37–5 Betiana Patricia Vinas TD 9 (10) 2012-08-17 Club Caja Popular, San Miguel de Tucumán, Argentina Retained WBC Silver super-bantamweight title
41 Win 36–5 Maria Elena Villalobos UD 10 (10) 2012-05-19 Salón de los Bomberos Voluntarios, General Villegas, Argentina Won vacant WBC Silver super-bantamweight title
40 Win 35–5 Rosilete Dos Santos TKO 10 (10) 2010-08-20 Estadio Cincuentenario, Formosa, Argentina Retained WBC super-bantamweight title
39 Win 34–5 Maria Elena Villalobos UD 10 (10) 2010-04-10 Ce.De.M. N° 2, Caseros, Argentina Retained WBC super-bantamweight title
38 Win 33–5 Alicia Ashley MD 10 (10) 2009-08-20 Estadio Luna Park, Buenos Aires, Argentina Retained WBC super-bantamweight title
37 Win 32–5 Jackie Nava UD 10 (10) 2009-04-30 Estadio Luna Park, Buenos Aires, Argentina Retained WBC super-bantamweight title
36 Win 31–5 Alejandra Oliveras UD 10 (10) 2008-12-04 Estadio Luna Park, Buenos Aires, Argentina Retained WBA super-bantamweight title;
Won WBC super-bantamweight title
35 Win 30–5 Paulina Cardona RTD 5 (8) 2008-10-10 Ce.De.M. N° 2, Caseros, Argentina
34 Win 29–5 Danielle Bouchard UD 10 (10) 2008-07-03 Estadio Luna Park, Buenos Aires, Argentina Retained WBA super-bantamweight title
33 Win 28–5 Anays Cecilia Gutierrez RTD 3 (10) 2008-05-15 Sociedad Española, San Luis, Argentina
32 Win 27–5 Adriana Salles UD 8 (8) 2008-02-04 Hotel & Casino Conrad, Punta del Este, Uruguay
31 Win 26–5 Claudia Andrea Lopez UD 8 (8) 2007-10-27 Ce.De.M. N° 2, Caseros, Argentina
30 Win 25–5 Maria del Carmen Potenza TD 6 (10) 2007-06-29 Club Sportivo America, Rosario, Argentina
29 Win 24–5 Yazmín Rivas UD 10 (10) 2007-04-20 Andes Talleres Sport Club, Godoy Cruz, Argentina Retained WBA super-bantamweight title
28 Win 23–5 Maria del Carmen Potenza MD 10 (10) 2007-01-27 Hotel & Casino Conrad, Punta del Este, Uruguay
27 Win 22–5 Maribel Santana RTD 2 (10) 2006-12-15 Ce.De.M. N° 2, Caseros, Argentina Retained WBA super-bantamweight title
26 Win 21–5 Paola Esther Herrera TKO 1 (10) 2006-10-14 Estadio Luna Park, Buenos Aires, Argentina Retained WBA super-bantamweight title
25 Win 20–5 Anays Cecilia Gutierrez UD 10 (10) 2006-08-12 Ce.De.M. N° 2, Caseros, Argentina Won inaugural WBA super-bantamweight title
24 Loss 19–5 Sharon Anyos UD 10 (10) 2005-10-22 Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre, Broadbeach, Australia For inaugural WBC featherweight title
23 Win 19–4 Yolis Marrugo Franco UD 8 (8) 2005-06-24 Club Gimnasia y Esgrima, Ituzaingó, Argentina
22 Win 18–4 Nerys Rincon RTD 2 (10) 2005-05-14 Ce.De.M. N° 2, Caseros, Argentina Retained WIBA featherweight title
21 Win 17–4 Maria Andrea Miranda TKO 3 (10) 2005-01-22 Estadio Cincuentenario, Formosa, Argentina Won vacant WIBA featherweight title
20 Win 16–4 Miura Davila Ferreira TKO 3 (4) 2004-09-11 Polideportivo Municipal Carlos Cerutti, Córdoba, Argentina
19 Win 15–4 Monica Sabino Barbosa TKO 4 (8) 2004-07-02 Club Caja Popular, San Miguel de Tucumán, Argentina
18 Win 14–4 Daysi Padilla TKO 1 (10) 2004-05-26 Estadio Luna Park, Buenos Aires, Argentina Retained WIBA super-bantamweight title
17 Win 13–4 Damaris Pinock Ortega TKO 6 (10) 2003-12-06 Estadio Luna Park, Buenos Aires, Argentina Won vacant WIBA super-bantamweight title
16 Win 12–4 Maria del Carmen Montiel UD 6 (6) 2003-08-22 Ciclista Juninense, Junín, Argentina
15 Loss 11–4 Alicia Ashley UD 10 (10) 2003-06-14 Estadio Republica de Venezuela, Bolívar, Argentina For WIBF super-bantamweight title
14 Win 11–3 Miura Davila Ferreira TKO 5 (6) 2003-05-10 Polideportivo Carlos Magalot, Río Grande, Argentina
13 Win 10–3 Lourdes Noemi Gonzalez TKO 2 (10) 2003-02-20 Estadio Republica de Venezuela, Bolívar, Argentina Won vacant Argentine super-bantamweight title
12 Loss 9–3 Alicia Ashley SD 10 (10) 2002-11-15 Orfeo Superdomo, Córdoba, Argentina For vacant WIBF super-bantamweight title
11 Win 9–2 Maria del Carmen Montiel UD 8 (8) 2002-06-29 Río Gallegos, Argentina
10 Win 8–2 Maria del Carmen Montiel UD 10 (10) 2002-03-01 Club Olimpia, Paraná, Argentina Retained Argentine featherweight title
9 Win 7–2 Patricia Alejandra Quirico KO 1 (10) 2002-01-19 Estadio F.A.B., Buenos Aires, Argentina Won vacant Argentine featherweight title
8 Win 6–2 Ana Dos Santos KO 2 (6) 2001-10-12 Estadio Cincuentenario, Formosa, Argentina
7 Win 5–2 Andrea Venecia Pereira KO 5 (6) 2001-09-21 Club Sportivo Ben Hur, Rafaela, Argentina
6 Win 4–2 Yolis Marrugo Franco UD 6 (6) 2001-08-11 Estadio Malvinas Argentinas, Mendoza, Argentina
5 Win 3–2 Andrea Venecia Pereira TKO 2 (4) 2001-06-30 Club Rivadavia, Necochea, Argentina
4 Win 2–2 Luz Mariana Sarabia UD 6 (6) 2001-06-02 Estadio Cincuentenario, Formosa, Argentina
3 Win 1–2 Jamillia Lawrence SD 4 (4) 2001-04-28 Estadio F.A.B., Buenos Aires, Argentina
2 Loss 0–2 Lucia Rijker KO 5 (10) 1998-09-25 Foxwoods Resort Casino, Ledyard, Connecticut, U.S. For vacant IBO light-welterweight title
1 Loss 0–1 Christy Martin UD 10 (10) 1997-12-05 Amphitheater, Pompano Beach, Florida, U.S.

Politics

[edit]

In 2009 she was fourth on the Peronist list running for city council in Tres de Febrero Partido.[3]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Nava and Acuña battle to a draw". Fightnews. 26 May 2019. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
  2. ^ "Enock Poulsen, Sarah Mahfoud, Oliver Meng Secure Wins in Copenhagen". Boxing Scene. 7 October 2023. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
  3. ^ "In Argentine Election, a Peronist Is Trying to Deliver a Knockout Punch". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
[edit]
Sporting positions
Regional boxing titles
New title Argentine female
featherweight champion

January 19, 2002 – December 6, 2003
Won WIBA title
Vacant
Title next held by
Betina Gabriela Garino
Argentine female
super-bantamweight champion

February 20, 2003 – December 6, 2003
Won WIBA title
Vacant
Title next held by
Yésica Marcos
Vacant
Title last held by
Maria Elena Villalobos
WBC Silver female
super-bantamweight champion

May 19, 2012 – October 25, 2013
Won world title
Vacant
Title next held by
Yazmín Rivas
Vacant
Title last held by
Edith Soledad Matthysse
Argentine female
featherweight champion

September 24, 2022 – 2023
Vacated
Vacant
Title next held by
Daniela Romina Bermúdez
Minor World boxing titles
Vacant
Title last held by
Melissa Del Valle
WIBA female
super-bantamweight champion

December 6, 2003 – 2005
Vacated
Vacant
Title next held by
Lisa Brown
Vacant
Title last held by
Fujin Raika
WIBA female
featherweight champion

January 22, 2005 – 2005
Vacated
Vacant
Title next held by
Jeannine Garside
Major World boxing titles
Inaugural champion WBA female
super-bantamweight champion

August 12, 2006 – 2010
Vacated
Vacant
Title next held by
Jeannine Garside
Preceded by WBC female
super-bantamweight champion

December 4, 2008 – 2010
Vacated
Vacant
Title next held by
Lisa Brown
Inaugural champion Undisputed female
super-bantamweight champion

December 4, 2008 – December 4, 2009
WBO title inaugurated
Vacant
Vacant
Title last held by
Yésica Marcos
WBO female
super-bantamweight champion

October 25, 2013 – 2016
Vacated
Vacant
Title next held by
Sabrina Maribel Pérez
promoted from interim status
Vacant
Title last held by
Anahí Ester Sánchez
WBA female
featherweight champion
Interim title

May 7, 2016 – December 16, 2016
Won world title
Vacant
Vacant
Title last held by
Yulihan Luna
IBF female
super-bantamweight champion

December 16, 2016 – April 13, 2018
Succeeded by
Vacant
Title last held by
Daniela Romina Bermúdez
IBF female
super-bantamweight champion

August 10, 2018 – 2019
Vacated
Vacant
Title next held by
Daniela Romina Bermúdez