Five WBA title fights will take place at Centro de Convenciones in El Cifco, San Salvador, on Friday, January 15.
Robert Barrera will face Julio Mendoza over a scheduled nine rounds for the vacant WBA Fedebol light flyweight title.
Born in San Jose de Canalete, Colombia, Barrera is a three-year ring vet (12-1, 7 KOs) who won the vacant WBA Fedelatin light flyweight title by stopping Gilberto Pedroza via fifth-round TKO in October 2014, a title he lost to Carlos Canizales by split decision in October 2015.
His 22-year-old opponent, fighting out of Jinotega, Nicaragua, is a four-year pro (10-3, 3 KOs) who last fought in October 2015, stopping Byron Castellon by seventh-round TKO.
Roberto Arriaza will take on Aristides Quintero over a scheduled nine rounds for the vacant WBA Fedecentro welterweight title.
A resident of Masaya, Nicaragua, 25-year-old “Dinamita” is a three-year pro (10-0, 9 KOs). The undefeated power-puncher won Nicaragua’s welterweight title by stopping Edwin Palacios via first-round TKO in September 2014. Arriaza most recently fought in January 2015, knocking out David Bency in the fifth.
His 24-year-old opponent from Bugaba, Panama, is an eight-year ring vet (20-5-1, 17 KOs) who won the interim WBC FECARBOX welterweight title in March 2013 by beating Rossemberth Gomez via unanimous decision. “El Fusil” failed to score the vacant WBA Fedebol welterweight title in April 2015, knocked out in the first by Azael Cosio. Quintero most recently fought two months ago, stopping Jose Miranda by sixth-round TKO.
In another nine-rounder, Nehomar Cermeno and Lester Medrano will compete for the vacant WBA Fedecentro featherweight title.
Originally from Barcelona, Venezuela, 36-year-old Cermeno now fights out of Panama City, Panama. A 12-year vet (22-5-1, 13 KOs, 1 no contest), the Panamanian won the vacant WBA Fedecaribe bantamweight title by stopping Leopoldo Arrocha via seventh-round TKO in March 2006 and the vacant WBA Fedelatin bantamweight title by beating Leonardo Vicente Fernandez via unanimous decision two months later. He also won the WBC FECARBOX bantamweight title in September 2007 by stopping Abraham Irias via third-round TKO. Although Cermeno scored the interim WBA World bantamweight title by beating Cristian Mijares via split decision in March 2009, he twice lost in his quest for the WBA World bantamweight title, both times to Anselmo Moreno and both times by split decision, first in March 2010, then five months later. He did, however, win the vacant WBA Fedelatin super bantamweight title in April 2013 by knocking out Eduardo Garcia in the second and the interim WBA World super bantamweight title by beating Oscar Escandon via split decision four months later. Cermeno’s most recent bout, in October 2015, resulted in a no contest due to an accidental headbutt in the second, his opponent, Fredy Pengally, suffering an injury.
His Nicaraguan rival, 28-year-old Medrano, is a four-year pro (15-7-3, 9 KOs) who won the vacant Nicaraguan featherweight title in August 2013 by stopping Jimmy Aburto via eighth-round TKO, a title he lost to Eusebio Osejo by unanimous decision in December 2014. He drew against Daniel Diaz in his most recent fight, in December 2015.
In a women’s match, Sayda Mosquera will face Dayana Cordero for the interim WBA World female bantamweight title.
A resident of Darien, Panama, 25-year-old “La Bomba,” a four-year pro (8-2-1, 6 KOs), has already fought Cordero once, drawing against her for the vacant IBO World female super bantamweight title in October 2013. She did, however, win the vacant WBC Latino female bantamweight title in June 2014, beating Carolina Arias by unanimous decision. She lost in her quest for the WBA and WBC World female super bantamweight titles to Jackie Nava, who won by unanimous decision six months later. Mosquera also failed to win the WBA World female bantamweight title in June 2015, stopped via fourth-round TKO by Mayerlin Rivas. Fifth-ranked by the WBA, she most recently fought this past December, winning the WBA Fedelatin female super bantamweight title by stopping Neisi Torres via first-round TKO.
Her 20-year-old opponent from Colombia has been fighting pro for six years (13-5-2, 9 KOs). “El Diamante” failed to win the WBA and WBC World female super lightweight titles in May 2012, stopped by Monica Silvina Acosta via fifth-round TKO, and the vacant WBA and WBO World female super bantamweight titles that October, stopped by Yesica Patricia Marcos via sixth-round TKO. Cordero also lost in her bid for the WBO World female featherweight title in February 2013, beaten by Alejandra Marina Oliveras via unanimous decision. Although she won the vacant WBC Latino female super bantamweight title four months later by beating Glenis Cardona via unanimous decision, she failed to gain the IBF World female bantamweight title in her bout with Carolina Rodriguez, who won by split decision in August 2014. Second-ranked by the WBA, Cordero most recently fought last November, drawing against Shannon O’Connell, at stake the vacant WBC Silver female featherweight title.
Carlos Adames is scheduled to fight for the vacant WBA Fedecaribe welterweight title, though an opponent has yet to be named. Born in the Dominican Republic, Adames has been fighting out of New York since last year (6-0, 5 KOs). He most recently fought two months ago, stopping Devis Caceres by second-round TKO.
This article was penned by the author who is not related to the WBA and the statements, expressions or opinions referenced herein are that of the author alone and not the WBA.
