Sunday, June 30, 2024
News and Notes
Friday, January 26, 2024
Stefi Cohen to Fight in March
Dr. Stefanie Cohen is scheduled on fight on March 1 at Tropical Park Equestrian Center in Miami, Florida, USA. The card is promoted by Mundo Boxing.
The are a few interesting notes surrounding this bout. Cohen has been training with her old coach Dr. Pedro Diaz. She had linked up with Pedro Santiago when she moved to Southern California. Both are good trainers although Diaz is more known in the sport.
Under Diaz's tutelage, Cohen mostly boxed behind her jab at range. Because of her short stature, impressive strength as a world record-holding powerlifter, and late start in boxing, it probably makes more sense for her to be a mauler who roughs up her opponents on the inside. It's a credit to Cohen and her coaches that she has made so much progress with her technique, but it feels like trying to reinvent the wheel.
This fight is scheduled to take place in the super bantamweight division (122 pounds), which seems like a good fit for Cohen. She cut all the way down to flyweight (112 pounds) for her last fight, which couldn't have been easy.
She is scheduled to take part in a six-rounder, which would be her longest bout. She has struggled with stamina issues in several four-rounders throughout her career, so the jump up in rounds before showing she can sustain an attack for four rounds could be presumptuous. Cohen's stamina issues have come in fights where she has been 118 pounds or below, so the higher weight could serve to rectify concerns about her endurance.
This bout marks Cohen's seventh career fight. She last fought in June and has been in the ring twice each year since she turned pro in 2021. The 31 year old started boxing in her late twenties, so more activity in the ring is the best way to overcome her late start. Of course, it must be understood it isn't easy for fighters to get on a card regularly these days. Last fall, Cohen trained with legends Carolina Duer and Yesica Bopp as well as prospect Lupita Medina. Stefi has been getting good work, but sparring isn't the same as fighting.
Cohen is managed by her significant other Tristan Hamm, which might be the most treif name there is. Hamm, an outdoor influencer from Canada, knocked out a Logan Paul lookalike last Saturday on a Misfits card. Incidentally, Boxrec lists Misfits boxing as something distinct from professional boxing. Hopefully, Cohen's opponent on March 1 is a fighter the caliber she has faced thus far and not a lookalike.
No opponent has been announce for Cohen as of yet.
Saturday, December 30, 2023
Year in Review: 2023
This year has been a great one for Jewish boxing! We got more fights and thankfully, fewer cancellations.
Some of the best:
Focused for Battle looks at several boxers' mindset during the referee's final instructions at center-ring right before the opening bell.
Sagiv Ismailov Wins Under Difficult Circumstances explores the trials an Israeli boxer faced just to take part in a fight in Germany in the wake of the Hamas attacks on October 7.
David Alaverdian Discusses His Last Fight shows what the talented fighter experienced during his gritty bout in April. The article also broke news of a virus that has kept David out of action ever since.
The Promoters' Screwjob is a behind-the-scenes look at Shawn Sarembock's personal introduction to the dirty side of boxing.
The Lasting Legacy of Boxing Historian Mike Silver is a retrospective on the man who wrote one of the most important books about Jewish boxing history, Stars in the Ring.
Odelia Ben Ephraim Wins French Featherweight Title recaps the fight with great analysis from the fighter herself.
The Flying Hammer is a profile of Cletus Seldin: professional power puncher and part-time skydiver.
CSAC Cancelled Cohen-Bradley Due to "Large Weight Disparity" features reporting on why Stefi Cohen's January fight against Kedra Bradley was nixed at the last minute.
Recap of the fights:
Cletus Seldin ended a two-year hiatus with a win in a rough fight in October. Carolina Duer dropped a disputed split decision in April. Undefeated prospect Sagiv Ismailov fought four times in 2023. The recap of his last fight has links to the other three. Dr. Stefi Cohen went 2-0 with a win in February and another in June. David Alaverdian needed to make adjustments to win his bout in April. Odelia Ben Ephraim went 2-1 this year including a dominant victory in March. Mor Oknin grabbed a "W" in September. Three Jewish fighters won in Israel in February.
This year The Jewish Boxing Blog began covering the pro careers of Ben Ephraim, Josh Feldman, Alex Karchevski, Lev Jackson, and Sahar Meir.
History:
The Top 5 series continues to look at the best 5 Jewish boxers in a particular area or category. Expect more Top 5s in 2024.
This year featured profiles of Alf Mansfield (a tough flyweight who fought Jimmy Wilde), Harry "Kid" Brown (an intelligent pioneer), Jack Silver (a popular Cali lightweight in the '20s), Frankie Fink (the "Yiddisher Cowboy"), Benny Pascal (a tough Philly fighter), Willie Buff (a pro star who embellished his amateur creds), and Ovadia Hochman (an amateur boxer who reinvented himself after scandal).
Sadly, Kenny "Bang Bang" Bogner passed away this year. Here is his obituary.
Book Reviews:
The Fighter of Auschwitz by Erik Brouwer
Stars and Scars by Jeff Jones
Matthew Saad Muhammad by William Dettloff
Family, Gangsters & Champions by Ramon Antonio Vargas
Tony Canzoneri by Mark Allen Baker
Baseball, Nazis & Nedick's Hot Dogs by Jerry Izenberg
Thank you all for reading this year! You can support The Jewish Boxing Blog by following on X/Twitter, Instagram, and Threads; subscribing to the Jewish Boxing newsletter at Buy Me a Coffee for a one-time payment of $3; and using Amazon affiliate links on The JBB's Featured Books page. Your support is greatly appreciated!
Thursday, November 9, 2023
Stefi Cohen in Camp, No Fight This Week
In September, Cohen traveled to Miami and briefly worked with her old trainer Dr. Pedro Diaz. She currently trains with Pedro Santiago. Stefi made the change when she moved from Miami, where Diaz is based, to Southern California.
Cohen is 4-1-1 as a boxer. She is a popular social media figure, powerlifting world record-holder, and entrepreneur.
Monday, October 30, 2023
Stefi Cohen Back in Action November 11
Dr. Stefanie Cohen is scheduled to fight on November 11 at Thunder Studios in Long Beach, California, USA. This will be the 31 year old's first fight since a unanimous decision victory over Esli Cervantes in June.
Cohen, a native of Venezuela, sports a record of 4-1-1 with one KO. She came to boxing late after a world record-breaking powerlifting career. For this bout, Cohen has sparred with undefeated prospect Lupita Medina and the legend Yesica Bopp.
Cohen's bout is scheduled for four two-minute rounds in the super flyweight division. No opponent has yet been named,
Monday, August 14, 2023
News and Notes
David Alaverdian is targeting a late September or early October date for his next fight. The 8-0-1 flyweight is back in Las Vegas training. He last fought on April 10.
Stefi Cohen (4-1-1) was recently asked who she would most like to fight. She answered that taking on Ring flyweight champion Marlen Esparza down the road would be fun.
Cletus Seldin worked with former foe, Eddie Gomez. Gomez posted a career record of 23-4 and last fought in 2019. Seldin and Gomez battled each other in the New York Golden Gloves over ten years ago.
Mikhael Ostroumov was seen working out in the Nakash Gym in Tel Aviv a couple of weeks ago. His career has been set back by a series of injuries and he's currently recovering from shoulder surgery. Ostroumov was able to use both arms effectively, which is good news for a possible return.
Friday, June 9, 2023
Stefi Cohen Wins By Decision
Cohen, a 31 year old world record-setting powerlifter, and Cervantes, an 18 year old from Mexico, raced out to the middle of the ring after the opening bell and instantly got into an exchange. In an effort to pace herself and find her rhythm, Cohen was reluctant to throw the rest of the round. Cervantes capitalized by landing a nice one-two and attacking Stefi's body. Though shorter, Cervantes connected with a flush left hook and an overhand right from the outside.
At the end of the first, Cohen pushed Cervantes back to the ropes which seemed to change the momentum. Cohen dominated the second round landing combinations off her counters. She also showed a new wrinkle in her game. Cohen has mostly boxed on the outside and clinched in close during her career, but tonight she showed improved in-fighting skills. When on the outside, she moved fluidly.
Cohen continued to find success in the third round. She hadn't gone to the body much in her previous fights. The body assault tonight slowed down Cervantes. When Cervantes came forward, Cohen used her five-inch reach advantage to sneak in the jab. After absorbing a right to the body, Cohen finished the third round with a big right and left hook that shook up Cervantes.
Cohen mauled Cervantes early in the fourth, but her fatigue issues, which first surfaced in her loss last year to Devany Cuevas and continued in her February win against Leanne Caledron, reappeared. Cervantes didn't take advantage too much, connecting several clean rights along the way, but she couldn't put her punches together.
The three judges scored the bout 39-37 for Cohen. The Jewish Boxing Blog had the same score. The ring announcer and the broadcast team claimed Cohen was undefeated, probably at the behest of the promoter. She is actually now 4-1-1 with one KO. Her fights have been well-documented, and the results are on BoxRec. Too often promoters lie to fans about fighters' records. Cervantes is now 1-4.
Thursday, June 8, 2023
Stefi Cohen and Esli Cervantes Make Weight
Stefi Cohen and Esli Cervantes both made the flyweight limit ahead of their clash tomorrow at Commerce Casino in Commerce, California, USA. Both fighters weighed in right at the 112-pound flyweight limit.
Cohen (3-1-1, one KO) is a 31 year old from Caracas, Venezuela who is now based in southern California. She came in the lightest of her career by four and a half pounds. She was 116.5 in her last fight back in February. The heaviest she has weigh in was 125.3 pounds for a fight in September of 2021.
Cervantes (1-3) is an 18 year old from Aguascalientes, Mexico. This will be her second fight at flyweight. On October 22 last year, she weighed 109.5 pounds. Three of her fights have been at super flyweight. The heaviest she came in was 114.5 pounds on April 1.
Cohen is the naturally bigger woman and will have a height advantage. This bout is slated for four two-minute rounds. It will air on UFC Fight Pass. For a preview of the fight, click here.
Sunday, May 28, 2023
Stefi Cohen to Face Esli Cervantes on June 9
Dr. Stefanie Cohen is scheduled to face Esli "La China" Cervantes at Commerce Casino in Commerce, California, USA on June 9. Cohen was originally scheduled to face Nikkia Williams.
Cohen (3-1-1, one KO) is a 31 year old from Caracas, Venezuela. She is now based in southern California. Cohen is coming off a close victory over Leanne Calderon in February in which she scored an impressive second round knockdown. For most of her career, Cohen has perhaps boxed too much instead of using her strength advantage to maul opponents in close.
Cervantes (1-3) is an 18 year old from Aguascalientes, Mexico. She has quick feet and throws hard looping shots to the body. Listed at 4'11", Cervantes bounces on her toes and has a wiggly upper-body. The problem is she must set her feet to throw, which is a clear tell for her opponent. In her first two pro fights against Stephanie Chavez and Agnesa Kirakosian, Esli's opponents were able to jab her from the outside as soon as she set those feet.
Because her punches are wide, the shorter Cervantes isn't that effective on the inside either. Chavez mostly kept the fight at distance in winning a convincing unanimous decision last July, but Kirakosian connected with many flush shots in close during her October fight against Cervantes. Kirakosian scored a first round knockdown during an exchange and won by fourth round TKO.
Cervantes had two bouts in her hometown in April. She won a split decision against an opponent with a losing record before dropping a UD to an 0-2 fighter.
Though Cohen should try to maul most of her opponents, she can box herself to a comfortable win over the shorter Cervantes. Because of her strength advantage, Cohen can win an in-fight too, but that will give Cervantes her best chance. The toughest aspect of this fight for Cohen might be the weight.
This bout is scheduled for the flyweight division. Cohen said she started her camp at 129 pounds and is now down to 119. The flyweight limit is 112 pounds, but Cohen has mentioned a couple of times on social media her target is 113, which might mean the fight is contracted for a catchweight. Cohen says she feels great cutting the weight, but the lightest she has weighed for a fight was 116.5 pounds. Time will tell if making 113 leaves her weight-drained.
This bout is scheduled to air on UFC Fight Pass and is slated for four two-minute rounds.
Wednesday, April 26, 2023
Stefi Cohen to Face Nikkia Williams
Dr. Stefanie Cohen is scheduled to face Nikkia Williams on June 9 at Commerce Casino in Commerce, California, USA. Williams will be a good test for Cohen.
Cohen is a 31 year old native of Venezuela with a record of 3-1-1 (one KO). She is now based in southern California and trains under the tutelage of Pedro Santiago Jr. In her last bout, Stefi got back in the win column against Leanna Calderon this past February, but she has suffered from stamina issues in her last two fight.
The exhaustion was evident against Devanny Cuevas last July. Cohen lost that fight by unanimous decision. Against Calderon, Cohen landed a gorgeous counter straight right in the second round to score a knockdown. When Calderon rose, Cohen wisely jumped on her, knocking her back with a right. But then Stefi curiously backed off. Either the stamina issues resurfaced or she suffered an undisclosed injury, but Calderon controlled the rest of the four-round affair.
Williams will test Cohen's stamina issues. She is a 29 year old from Los Angeles with a record of 0-1. She trains out of the Wild Card gym. Eric Brown, who worked with the late Zachary Wohlman, joined Eric Tucker in Williams's corner for her debut on April 14 against Gloria Munguilla.
In her debut, Williams showed she is an effective offense fighter but has serious defense liabilities. Williams couldn't handle Munguilla's pressure and punch volume in the first two rounds. Nikkia's neck must be made of the same stuff as bobblehead dolls, because Munguilla kept snapping Williams's head back only for Williams to keep coming forward. Munguilla seemed a bit tired in the third, and Williams took advantage. She backed up Munguilla, trapped her on the ropes, and won the round.
If Cohen lets her hands go, her punches will find the target. Williams's paid zero attention to defense in her debut. If Cohen spends much of the fight waiting on the outside, Williams is going win. She will let her hands go if allowed to and will be in fighting shape. Nikkia is extremely tough, and Cohen shouldn't go for the knockout. Staying in close and using lateral movement to pivot around Williams will lead to a wide victory.
Fortunately, Stefi hasn't had to show just how tough she it because she hasn't taken too much punishment in the ring. But she has shown tremendous courage to go from the pinnacle of the powerlifting game to the bottom rung of the boxing world.
This bout is scheduled for four two-minute rounds. Currently, BoxRec has the bout in the flyweight division. Williams fought as a flyweight in her debut, but Cohen has never weighed in below 116.5 pounds. The event will be televised on UFC Fight Pass.
Friday, April 14, 2023
Dr. Stefi Cohen to Fight on June 9
Dr. Stefanie Cohen is scheduled to fight at The Commerce Casino & Hotel in Commerce, California, USA on Friday, June 9. The card will be run by 360 Promotions.
Cohen is a 31 year old with a record of 3-1-1 (one KO). A native of Venezuela, she began her career based in Miami, Florida, but has since moved out to California. She is now trained by Pedro Santiago Jr. and fights out of the Churchill Boxing Club.
In February, Cohen won a close unanimous decision against Leanna Calderon thanks to a huge knockdown in the second round. Cohen countered Calderon with a perfectly timed right, her best punch as a pro.
In recent months, Stefi's boxing career has been hampered by fight cancellations. Though she has shown consistent and impressive improvement throughout her career, she does need to improve her stamina. She has been winded in her last two fights.
This bout is scheduled for four two-minute rounds and will air on UFC Fight Pass. No opponent has yet been named.
Update: Here's the recap of her fight June 9 fight.
Wednesday, March 15, 2023
Exciting Month For Fans of Jewish Boxing
From February 9 to March 3, six Jewish boxers fought in what amounts to a great few weeks for fans of Jewish boxing. The fighters went 5-0-1, and the draw should've have been a win.
Even going back a bit earlier, there was plenty of Jewish boxing news. On January 27, Stefi Cohen was supposed to fight, but an unusual issue with her opponent's weight forced a cancellation of the contest at the last moment.
The next week were the Israeli amateur championships. On February 4, Odelia Ben Ephraim fought Anaelle Angerville for the French featherweight title but lost by split decision.
The great run for Jewish boxers started on February 9th when Sagiv Ismailov, Igor Lazarev, and Alex Karchevski all won their fights in Ashdod, Israel.
On February 17, Shawn Michael Sarembock fought in an all-action affair in Mexico. The judges called it a majority draw, but Sarembock deserved to win.
On February 23, Stefi Cohen faced a game opponent to come away with a unanimous decision.
Finally, Ben Ephraim was back in action on March 3. This time she won a convincing unanimous decision in France.
Check out highlights from these fights:
Thursday, February 23, 2023
Stefi Cohen Earns Close Decision with Big Knockdown
Dr. Stefi Cohen beat Leanne Calderon Smith by close unanimous decision tonight at the Fantasy Sports Resort in Indio, California, USA. A big second round knockdown proved to be the difference between a win for Cohen and a draw.
Both Cohen, a 30 year old native of Venezuela, and Calderon, a 35 year old Texan, came out firing. When the fight settled down, Cohen landed several pretty jabs while responsibly keeping her right hand up to guard against the counter. Calderon connected with a good left hook and a couple of rights from the outside. It was a swing round.
In the second, Cohen showed a jab and came with an explosive right behind it. Calderon took it flush and fell to the canvas. She rose quickly with a sheepish smile across her lips and reddening around her left eye. Stefi shrewdly followed up with another big right that forced Calderon back. The powerlifting record-holder then took her foot off the gas and began boxing the rest of the round. Perhaps she sensed Calderon was still strong, but perhaps throwing those big shots had winded her.
Calderon showed tremendous fortitude and smacked Cohen with a couple of punishing rights of her own to finish the second. Calderon continued to connect with crunching rights in the third. Cohen boxed and countered, but her face quickly turned red amidst Leanne's onslaught. A tired Stefi did enough to stay in the fight, but by the end of the third, her condition appeared dire.
Mustering up both courage and grit, Cohen fought her way back in the fourth. She ate a jab and then landed her own. She scored with a big right, but Calderon came back to finish the final round strong. The final punch numbers showed that Calderon had thrown more, Cohen had landed slightly more, and Cohen had landed a greater percentage of her attempts.
All three judges scored the bout 38-37 for Cohen. The Jewish Boxing Blog scored it 38-37 for Calderon, but the fight could have gone either way. Cohen's record moves to 3-1-1 with one KO; Calderon is now 1-3-1.
Wednesday, February 22, 2023
Stefi Cohen and Leanne Calderon Make Weight
Dr. Stefanie Cohen and her opponent, Leanne Calderon Smith, both made the bantamweight limit ahead of their four round affair tomorrow at the Fantasy Springs Resort in Indio, California, USA. The event will be broadcast on DAZN.
Cohen (2-1-1, one KO) weighed in at 116.6 pounds, the lightest of her career. This is actually the fourth time Stefi has made the bantamweight limit as a pro. She came in under the 118-pound limit in January, but that fight was called off when her opponent lost weight after the weigh-in creating a gap that CSAC deemed too wide. Cohen's heaviest weight was 125.3 pounds in September of 2021.
Stefi is now fighting out of the Churchill Boing Club in Santa Monica, California. Her new coach is Pedro Santiago Jr. Her old coach, Pedro Diaz, is a masterful teacher of the sweet science, but in retrospect, probably wasn't the best fit for Cohen. As a short and strong newcomer to the sport, a mauling, in-fighting style seems to best suit her physical attributes. She fought that way in her debut; the only time she earned a KO victory. Under Diaz, Cohen's boxing ability improved tremendously, but the results didn't correlate with her new skills.
Ahead of tomorrow's bout, Cohen sparred with undefeated prospect Bree Howling of Canada. A 24 year old with lofty ambitions, Howling is getting ready for fight a next month. In 2021, she told Jamie Rebner of The Fight City, "I do plan to bring a world title to Canada. I don’t want my career to be easy. I don’t want a padded record." Like Howling, Cohen had no amateur boxing experience, but has not had an easy road as a professional.
Leanne Calderon Smith's 1-2-1 record is not impressive on paper, but she beat the only woman to beat Cohen. Calderon is in better shape than she has ever been as a pro boxer. She weighed in at 117.2 pounds, the lightest of her career. Her heaviest weight came in her last fight back in November when she was 121 pounds. This is the first time Calderon has made the bantamweight limit.
If tomorrow's fight is a boxing match, Calderon has a good shot, but if it's a brawl, bet on Cohen.
Sunday, February 19, 2023
Dr. Stefi Cohen to Face Leanne Calderon on Thursday
Dr. Stefanie Cohen is scheduled to face Leanne Calderon Smith on Thursday, February 23 at Fantasy Springs Casino in Indio, California, USA. Calderon Smith will pose a tough test for Cohen.
Cohen (2-1-1, one KO) is a world record-breaking powerlifter, entrepreneur, and social media star. The 30 year old native of Venezuela earned a PhD and has been a professional boxer for just under two years. She's only had four fights because of bad luck. Quite a few of her scheduled bouts have fallen through. Most recently, two potential fights with Kedra Bradley were cancelled. The latest one, scheduled for late last month, was scrapped because of a bizarre weight issue.
As a result of the cancellations, Cohen last fought eight and half months ago when she lost a unanimous decision to Devany Cuevas Torres.
Calderon Smith (1-2-1) is a 35 year old from Texas. On paper she doesn't look like much of a match for Cohen, but Calderon Smith's lone win came over Cuevas Torres, the woman responsible for Cohen's lone loss. Calderon is 1-1 against Cuevas, and both fights resulted in majority decisions last summer. Calderon drew with an experienced fighter with an even record in her debut and lost her last fight to Shurretta Metcalf, a solid boxer with a winning record. Leanne also has amateur MMA experience.
BoxRec lists Cohen and Calderon as an inch apart in height, but in reality, Calderon will enjoy a wider advantage. Cuevas towered over Cohen while Calderon wasn't that much shorter than their common opponent. Calderon has a good jab, pretty quick hands, and solid fundamentals. She has no knockouts, so Cohen will want to jab her way inside and then use her strength. Cohen has improved tremendously in a short period of time, but perhaps she tries to box too much instead of finding her way in close and mauling her opponents.
This bout is scheduled for four two-minute rounds. The event will be shown on DAZN.
Monday, January 30, 2023
CSAC Cancelled Cohen-Bradley Due to "Large Weight Disparity"
The Jewish Boxing Blog has learned that the Stefi Cohen/Kedra Bradley fight scheduled for this past Friday "was canceled due to a large weight disparity between the two fighters on the night of the event," according to a California State Athletic Commission (CSAC) official.
The CSAC official told The JBB that Cohen officially weighed 129.4 pounds on Friday, a gain of 11.8 pounds from Thursday's weigh-in. Bradley officially weighed 109.8 pounds on fight day, a loss of 4.2 pounds. The weight disparity on the day of the event was 19.6 pounds, or 17.9% of Bradley's bodyweight. Both had made the bantamweight limit at the weigh-in. The official confirmed, "Losing weight after the weigh-in isn’t very common," and there are no CSAC regulations on losing weight, only on gaining too much.
Bradley was four pounds below the contracted weight of 118 pounds during the weigh-in on Thursday and dropped to 8.2 pounds below the limit on the day of the fight. CSAC only has regulations in place to prevent too much weight gain because, with few exceptions, fighters add weight after the weigh-in. Being heavier is considered an advantage in boxing. Thus, they rarely lose weight.
Together, they decided the fight should be cancelled. While a frustrating decision for the fighters and the fans, it was the right decision for the safety of the lighter fighter.
After the cancellation, Cohen got into the ring to announce her next fight is scheduled for February 23.
Saturday, January 28, 2023
More Information on Cohen-Bradley Cancellation
The Stefi Cohen-Kedra Bradley fight, scheduled for last night in Montebello, California, was cancelled a short while before the fight was set to begin. Both fighters claim a large difference in weight on the day of the fight was the cause for the cancellation. Both Cohen and Bradley say their hands had been wrapped when they heard the California State Athletic Commission (CSAC) had cancelled the bout. Both boxers are frustrated.
Cohen and Bradley both made the 118-pound bantamweight limit during Thursday's weigh-in. Bradley claims Cohen weighed 131 pounds during the day-of weigh-in. CSAC automatically cancels any bout in which a fighter is 15% above the contracted weight on the day of the fight. For bantamweights, a fighter would need to weigh 17.7 pounds more than the limit or 135.7 pounds. Even by Bradley's number, Cohen's weight-gain was within rules.
If Bradley's claim is correct, Cohen put on 13 pounds overnight which is within a normal range for bantamweights, albeit on the higher side of that range. Boxing is so decentralized that there is no sport-wide regulation for weigh-ins. California typically has a day-before weigh-in and then re-weighs the fighters the day of the fight. This is to prevent dramatic weight-cuts and mismatches based on weight differences.
Both fighters claim Bradley lost weight overnight. Cohen says Bradley weighed 109, or five pounds lighter than at Thursday's weigh-in. Bradley says she dropped to 110.8 pounds after losing 3.5 pounds. Dropping weight isn't against the rules or a breach of conduct, but it doesn't make much sense. Fighters lose weight for the weigh-in and then put on weight to give them the best chance to win.
A fighter losing weight after the weigh-in is highly unusual and can be a cause for concern. There's a reason for different weight classes: more weight is viewed as an advantage in boxing. So losing weight after the weigh-in can be an indication of a potentially dangerous issue.
Ultimately, the 20.2 pound difference, or 18% of Bradley's bodyweight, was reason enough to nix the fight. That a fighter was four pounds under the limit and then lost three and half more pounds, should be viewed as a red flag and cause to cancel the fight regardless of the opponent's weight gain.
Cohen announced that she is now scheduled to fight on February 23.
Update: CSAC's explanation of the cancellation with the fighter's official event-day weights.
Friday, January 27, 2023
Stefi Cohen's Fight against Kedra Bradley Cancelled
Dr. Stefi Cohen was scheduled to face Kedra Bradley tonight at the Quiet Cannon Country Club in Montebello, California, USA. That fight was cancelled today.
Ring announcer Joe Martinez described the reason for the cancellation as "an unforeseen weight issue." Cohen came in the lightest of her career while Bradley was the second lightest. Both made the bantamweight limit yesterday.
Cohen got into the ring to thank her fans for supporting her. "I was excited to put on an amazing performance for you guys," she told the crowd. A native of Venezuela, Stefi recently relocated to Los Angeles, California from Miami, Florida.
Cohen had been scheduled to face Bradley in October, but that fight was cancelled the day before. At the time, Cohen said Bradley backed out.
The California State Athletic Commission passed a law in 2019 that automatically cancelled any bout in which one competitor weighed 15% or more above the contracted weight at the time of the fight. For a bantamweight match, that's 17.7 pounds. This law was designed to prevent dramatic weight cutting. The exact "unforeseen weight issue" is unknown at this time though.
Stefi Cohen last fought in July. A world record holding powerlifted, she is 2-1-1 as a pro boxer and has shown tremendous improvement in a short period of time.
Update: fighter's takes on cancellation
Update: CSAC's explanation of cancellation
Thursday, January 26, 2023
Weights for Stefi Cohen-Kedra Bradley
Dr. Stefi Cohen (2-1-1, one KO) and Kedra Bradley (1-5-1) weighed in for their four-rounder tomorrow at Quiet Canyon Country Club in Montebello, California, USA. Cohen came in at 117.6 pounds while Bradley was 114.
By a fraction of a pound, this is the lightest weight of Cohen's career. She weighed 117.8 pounds against Karla Valenzuela last February. This is the third time Cohen has made the bantamweight limit of 118. Her heaviest weight happened in her second fight when she was 125.3 pounds.
Bradley came in the second lightest of her career. She weighed 112.5 pounds in her last fight back in November, which was called a split draw. It was an impressive showing against an undefeated fighter who outweighed Bradley by nearly five pounds. This is the sixth time she has made the bantamweight limit and the third time she has come under the super flyweight limit of 115. Bradley's heaviest weight was 122.5 pounds in her debut over two years ago.
Both women played other sports at a high level before becoming boxers. Cohen was a college soccer player and then a world record setting powerlifter while Bradley was a college basketball player. There have been a few basketball players to make the transition to boxing because a long lean frame can be an advantage in both sports. Soccer can help with boxing's footwork. For those new to following boxing, they might be surprised to learn that powerlifting experience doesn't translate particularly well to boxing except to learn how to cut weight. Boxers typically want fast-twitch muscular development, not bulky muscles.
As for her transition to boxing, Cohen wrote a few months back, "I never imagined I'd be doing this at 30 years old. At this rate I won't be surprised if I become like... a 52 year old carpenter living in Arkansas with 3 kids that aren't mine."
This fight is on the undercard of Bohachuck-Gallimore and will be aired on UFCFightPass. A preview of the fight can be found here.
Saturday, December 31, 2022
2022: Year in Review
David Alaverdian went 2-0-1 with 2 KOs in the pro ranks. He deserved to win the draw. Shawn Sarembock improved his record to 8-0 with 8 KOs. Stefi Cohen and Isaac Chilemba each went 1-1 this year. Igor Lazarev lost both of his fights but deserved to win one of them.
On September 15, four Jewish boxers took part in three bouts in Ashdod, Israel. Kickboxing star Itay Gershon won his pro boxing debut. Prospect Sagiv Ismailov won his third fight, and Aki Mishaev scored a knockout in his second fight. Ismailov, Mishaev, and Lazarev are among the Jewish boxers scheduled to fight on a card in Bnei Ayish, Israel on February 9. The resurgence of pro boxing in Israel is a big development.
There were quite a few boxing exhibition events in Israel this year, a great way to grow the sport in the country. Former world champion Hagar Finer put on a couple of them. Mor Oknin, Mikhael Ostroumov, and Nikita Basin were among the Jewish pro boxers to take part in such shows.
Former world champion Robert Cohen Z"L and heavyweight contender Tim Puller Z"L passed away this year.
The JBB reviewed Holocaust Histories, a podcast about boxers victimized during the Shoah. The reviews of books published this year or late last year include Boxing in Atlantic City, Gangsters vs Nazis, and The Unexpected Danny Green.
Some noteworthy profiles of past Jewish boxers were of Charley Phil Rosenberg, Henry Nissen, Ray Miller, Jack "Kid" Berg, and Izzy Zerling. Then, there was a look back at the wild Israeli amateur boxing scandal in 1988 and the night in 1929 when five Jewish boxing stars fought to raise money for the Jews of British Palestine. Two articles examined the different brands of boxing gloves and the importance of pad work.
The JBB conducted interviews with a few Jewish boxers this year. The interview with Yuri Foreman became two articles, one on his ambitions and another on his reflections. There were two separate interviews with David Alaverdian, one in article form, and a different one in video form. Shawn Michael Sarembock told The JBB his inspiring story. And the two articles about Dmitriy Salita concentrated on his career as a boxer and his work as a promoter.
As for The Jewish Boxing Blog, this year was amazing! Two of the last four months have seen the most traffic in the nearly 13-year history of this site. The other two months were not far behind. The number of followers of the Jewish Boxing Instagram page has more than tripled in the past year, and Twitter followers have doubled in the past two years. A special shoutout to supporters of the Jewish Boxing BuyMeACoffee page ($3 for all newsletters). You are truly appreciated!
Next year looks like there will be a few pro debuts, which is exciting. And hopefully, there will be many more fights. All the best to you and yours.