TIJUANA Mexican boxers have divided their countrymen when they have fought each other, think Érik "Terrible" Morales vs. Marco Antonio Barrera during their epic trilogy. Never before, however, have Mexican female boxers done that.
That's the passion inspired by the 10-round fight between Tijuana boxer Jackie Nava and Mexico City's Ana María Torres this Saturday in Veracruz, a match that will be televised across Mexico.
Both have received special attention from the main Mexican television networks, Televisa and TV Azteca, whose reporters have called the boxers the best in the country.
But only the fight itself will show who is the best, pound for pound, because, surprisingly, their opponents, style, records, age, height, international experience and fame are nearly identical.
Nava, 30, known as "La princesa azteca," currently holds the WBC's junior featherweight title (122 pounds); while Torres, 31, nicknamed "La guerrera" (the warrior), holds the super flyweight title (115 pounds) .
Both have won 24 fights, lost three, and have tied twice in 29 professional fights. Where they differ is in knockouts: Tijuana's boxer has 11 and Torres has 14; with the latter being slightly taller at 5-foot-4 to Nava's 5-foot-3.
Both share a history of having overcome a hostile boxing environment that continually scorned their skills.
In Mexico, female boxers are generally not welcome by boxing commissions and gyms. But Nava and Torres followed the path blazed by Laura Serrano, a Mexico City fighter who moved to Las Vegas in 1994 after that city's boxing commission denied her a license to fight.
In an interview, Nava said that her fight with Torres perhaps could be the start of saga.
"They tell us that there could be a rematch because of our styles. For my part, I won't go looking for one," alluding to her intention to try to knock out Torres.
Nava has been studying her rival through videos to establish her strategy.
"I'm memorizing her movements, but, like in my other fights, my strategy is based on my preparation. This time I'm strengthening my muscles, working hard on my physical fitness."
There's no doubt that this is the most important match she's had in her ten-year career, which includes fights against Marcela Acuña, Alejandra Oliveiras, Jennifer Salinas and Kelsey Jeffris.
"I survived many situations to reach a fight of this level. I'm happy," said Nava, who has successfully defended her junior featherweight title four times, the last in January.
For Ana María Torres this fight is a personal challenge in her nearly 13-year boxing career which has included matches against boxers such as Alesia Graf, Hollie Dunaway, Mariana Juárez, Kwang Ok Kim, Myung Ok Ryu, among others.
In a press conference, Torres praised Nava, referring to her as "a great boxer."
"We both want to win. I think fans deserve great fights and I want us women to make history," Torres said, who has successfully defended her super flyweight title eight times, the last time also in January.
The promoters have labeled Saturday's fight "Reinas en guerra," loosely "Queens at War," a match that not only will define who is the best, pound per pound in Mexico, but also among the best in the world.
Omar.millan@sandiegored.com
[sidebar]Battle of the Queens
The championship fight between Tijuana's Jackie Nava, of Tijuana, and Ana María Torres, of Mexico City, is Saturday night at the World Trade Center de Boca del Río, Veracruz.
In Mexico, it will be aired by Televisa, starting at 8 p.m.
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