Mayeli Flores dominates Mariana Juarez over eight rounds on Munguia-Derevyanchenko undercard

Mayeli Flores. Photo / WBC

ONTARIO, Calif. – Mayeli Flores knocked out two birds with one stone Saturday night.

Flores defeated a former world titleholder and put the junior featherweight division on notice.

The once-beaten Flores defeated veteran Mariana Juarez by unanimous decision before a raucous crowd at the Toyota Arena. Scores were 79-73, 79-73, and 80-72 for Flores, who improved to 10-1-1, 3 knockouts.

Both fighters fought in close quarters throughout much of the fight, but Flores was relentless, putting Juarez on the defensive and landing the more-effective punches.

Flores continued to walk down Juarez, forcing her back against the ropes and digging left hooks to the body. Juarez attempted to connect with overhand rights to the head behind a jab but was again forced to fight off her back foot.

As the fight progressed, Flores began to clearly win rounds. She found success landing counter and lead left hooks to the head of Juarez, whose face began to show worse for wear.

By the middle rounds, Juarez attempted to create space between her and Flores, at times, finding success, including landing lead hooks or crosses. That tactic would briefly work as Flores was able to close the distance, letting her hands go and connecting with several combinations to the head.

Towards the end of seventh round, Flores punished Juarez with combinations to the head. Flores could not miss as Juarez attempted to utilize lateral movement or try to fight her way off the ropes.

Flores punctuated her win towards the end of the eighth round, landing a right cross to the head of Juarez. After the bell sounded to end the round, both fighters embraced.

The 31-year-old Flores, who stands 4-foot-11, was victorious in her previous fight on September 23, defeating Guadalupe Martinez Guzman by unanimous decision.

The 43-year-old Juarez dropped to 55-13-4, 19 KOs. She has now lost four of her last five bouts, dating back to October 2020. In that fight, she lost the WBC world junior featherweight title to Yuliahn Luna Avila.

Juarez is still ranked No. 5 by The Ring at 118 pounds.

Both fighters reside in Mexico City.

Other Munguia-Derevyanchenko undercard results (reported by Miguel Maravilla):

In the opening bout from the Toyota Arena in Ontario, California local middleweight Anthony Saldivar (4-0, 2 KO) of Ontario, California scored a second-round knockout over Jerome Clayton (2-2-1, 2 KO’s) of Louisiana. It was a fast-paced opening round as Saldivar and Clayton displayed some flash. Exchanging in the second, a short right hand by Saldivar dropped Clayton, later in the round Clayton hit the canvas a second time as he got up again. Saldivar finished Clayton knocking him down for a third time as referee Jack Reiss waived the bout at 2:01.

San Diego’s featherweight prospect Jorge Chavez (7-0, 5 KO’s) by way of Tijuana, Mexico won a six round unanimous decision over Christian Lorenzo (3-5, 1 KO) of Los Angeles. Chavez attacked from the opening bell landing heavily on Lorenzo. Continuing to land heavy, Chavez controlled the pace as he closed the round aggressively, unloading a series of punches on Lorenzo. Coming out aggressive to begin the third, Chavez cornered Lorenzo and attacked as he dictated the pace.

In the fourth, Chavez continued to outwork Lorenzo and dictate the fight. Coming out for the fifth, Chavez kept bringing the pressure as Lorenzo valiantly mixed it up. The sixth and final round, saw Chavez finish strong outworking the fading Lorenzo in route to a decision win.

After completing six rounds, all three judges scored the bout 60-54.

Francisco A. Salazar has written for The Ring since October 2013 and has covered boxing in Southern California and abroad since 2000. Francisco also covers boxing for the Ventura County (California) Star newspaper. He can be reached at [email protected]