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 Rhonda Luna, Golden Boy Promotions’ Female Warrior
By David A. Avila (October 30, 2003)
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SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA — Rhonda Luna’s taking the fast road to prize fighting. The 25-year-old featherweight teaches English at a Southern California high school during the day and fights for Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions at night.
No time for suburban dreams of a cushy life and a house with 2.1 children.
Luna (3-0) appears at the Irvine Marriott tomorrow (Thursday) for her fourth professional fight in a year. Though new to the professional side of boxing she put in her time at the amateur level and is ready to prove her talent.
“I think I paid my dues in the amateur level,” said Luna, 25, while training at the Azusa boxing gym. “Before I would travel to L.A., East L.A., Chino and South El Monte to spar, now people come over here.”
Yes they do.
On one particular Sunday marquee fighters Mia St. John-Rosales, Fredia Gibbs and another female fighter dropped by the compact Azusa gym and staged sparring sessions worthy of paid admission.
“I really like Rhonda Luna,” said St. John-Rosales, one of the female pros who sparred with Luna. “She’s a good tough fighter.”
The two Latinas battled away as if their family honor was at stake for four rounds. St. John, who is taller and slightly heavier, exchanged nonstop combinations with the heavy-handed Luna as onlookers watched the confrontation.
Each round was different as St. John fired uppercuts on the inside while Luna waited to unleash her powerful right counters. The action was intense.
“Mia has a lot of experience,” said Luna, who always calls St. John when she is preparing for a big fight. “She knows what to do in the ring. With other girls I end up hurting them. They’re too easy to hit.”
Luna, who teaches at Nogales High in Walnut, feels ready to challenge the best in her weight class.
“I know I have to learn more,” said Luna, who is a former softball standout and saw boxing as something to keep the competitive juices flowing. “I’d love to fight someone like Laura Serrano.”
Serrano, a native Mexican and one of the top lightweights in the world, has only lost twice in her career. But Luna loves the challenge of fighting the best.
The Bishop Amat High graduate Luna has steamrolled through three opponents with her aggressive style that some liken to Christy Martin.
“She looks real good. We have to get experienced fighters for her because she’s too tough for most girls,” said Victor Valenzuela who was the trainer of former WBO junior welterweight champion Zack Padilla. “She has her own style.”
Luna is anxious to fight the best but her team wants her to learn the finer points of boxing before moving forward.
“We don’t want to just throw her in with anybody, not at this point,” said Jacob Luna, Rhonda’s brother and manager. “We’re taking our time. She’s young.”
Valenzuela, who knows some thing about talented fighters, spots something special in Luna.
“I can tell she has it,” said Valenzuela. “She hurts other girls who come to spar with her. Not many women do that.”
OTHER PRO WOMEN FIGHTS COMING UP
After Luna’s appearance at Irvine, four weeks of sterling female prizefights will take place beginning on Nov. 4, in Washington D.C.
Vaia Zaganas (12-3), the IFBA strawweight world champion, was scheduled to face Stephanie Dobbs (9-11-2) in a rematch in Washington D.C. But Dobbs fought last week and will not be able to fight for another week due to boxing regulations from the District of Colombia. Another opponent is being sought for the petite beauty who has been busy with eight fights this year. Zaganas is managed by Casey Dansicker.
“I wish I could fight more,” said Zaganas, who fights more often than any other female fighter.
On Nov. 6, in Phoenix, at the Celebrity Theater, Fredia Gibbs (9-2-1) will be jumping back in the ring after suffering fractures to both of her thumbs. The Pennsylvania native who now lives in North Hollywood will be facing Sunshine Fettkether (8-3-2) the welterweight world champion.
Fettkether recently suffered a decision loss to middleweight champion Ann Wolfe – who is scheduled to face Laila Ali in February – but is jumping back in the ring in less than a month’s time.
Despite having only two weeks notice, Gibbs says she can’t lose time and welcomes fighting someone of Fettkether’s caliber.
“I’m not going to let it be a mental block for me,” said Gibbs who likes at least 30 days to prepare for a bout. “It’s all good fun.”
Elena “Baby Doll” Reid (14-1-3) will be fighting in Tucson on Nov. 7 at the Desert Diamond Casino. Reid, 21, is ranked number one in the junior bantamweight division and is looking for a title fight. A match against world champion Para Draine was canceled because she did not pass the physical. Now Reid is waiting to find out who her opponent will be.
“I wish I could have fought Para Draine,” said Reid, who turns 22 on Nov. 1. “Oh well, That’s boxing.”
Reid wants to fight Bridgett “Baby Doll” Reilly in a battle of the Baby Dolls. That would be a great match for female boxing fans. Both are hard-hitting junior bantamweight fighters. Reilly fights out of the Wild Card Gym in Hollywood. Reid fights out of Las Vegas.
“It’s been hard trying to find opponents this year,” said Reid, who earlier sought a rematch against Mariana Juarez whom she drew against. But Juarez’s management is looking for more money. Juarez doesn’t care.
“I want to fight Elena Reid again,” said Juarez. “That’s the fight I really want.”
Marilyn Salcido (10-4-3) will be making her first home appearance in three years when she headlines the fight card at the Doubletree Hotel in Ontario on Nov. 10. Her brother Dominic Salcido will also be on the card.
Marilyn, 23, was supposed to fight for the flyweight title in August but the Big Bear fight card fizzled. Though usually busy, Salcido has only fought once this year and is anxious for a fight.
On Nov. 14, St. John-Rosales (29-3-2) jumps back in the ring. It’s been a busy year for the popular brunette fighter who is looking for a rematch with Christy Martin early next year. St. John’s next opponent has not been named.
FIGHTS ON TELEVISION
Fri., ESPN2, 7:30 p.m. PT/ 10:30 p.m. ET, Gary Balletto (28-1-2) vs. Goyo Vargas (43-7-1).
Fri. Telefutura, 9 p.m., Orlando Salido (18-8) vs. Alfred Kotey (24-8).
Sat. HBO, 6:30 p.m. PT/9:30 p.m. ET, Floyd Mayweather Jr. (30-0) vs. Phillip N’Dou for WBC lightweight world title; Juan Manuel Marquez (41-2) vs. Derrick Gainer (39-5) for IBF and WBA featherweight world titles.
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