Monica Nunez
Encyclopedia
Mónica Núñez is a female boxer who is, as of 2005, one of the world's top ranked fighters in the Super Middleweight division.
Much like Rain Mako
, Marcela Acuna
and Laura Serrano
, to name a few, Nunez is one of the few women's boxing
participants from her home country who are relatively well known by her countrymen and women; this may be partly due to the general public's view of boxing
as a male only sport.
Núñez nevertheless has had a successful career as a professional boxer. She began her career by knocking out
Claribel Ferreira in three rounds, on June 9, 2000, at Santo Domingo.
Three decision wins followed, including one over previously undefeated Marylin Hernandez, before she fought for the first time at the "Teo Cruz" coliseum, also in Santo Domingo. She knocked out Damaris Vizcaino in three rounds there, on September 20, 2002. Her next fight was also held there, as she beat Diana Garcia
by a four round decision on December 19 of the same year.
Following that victory, Núñez took the decision of leaving the Dominican Republic, probably looking for better fights and payoffs against better known opponents. She moved to the United States
, settling in Irvington, New Jersey
. New Jersey was a logical choice for Nunez when it came down to choosing a state where to live in the United States for her: both New Jersey and New York
have a large group of Dominican people, which would mean good crowd backing for Nunez whenever she fought in the States, particularly around the New England
area.
In her American debut, she lost, however, being handled her first professional defeat at the hands of Roselin Morales, who defeated Nunez by a four round split decision on October 23, 2003, in Allentown, Pennsylvania
. The Morales fight was, of course, Núñez's first fight abroad.
On December 4, she knocked out Shadina Pennybaker in two rounds, also in Allentown.
Núñez travelled to Bermuda
for her first fight of 2004, defeating Teresa Perozzi there by a six round majority decision on June 12.
After one more victory, Núñez was given her first world championship try, for the WIBF
's world Super Middleweight championship. On July 30, she fought Laila Ali
in Louisville, Kentucky
, being defeated by a ninth round knockout by the world champion.
Offered a world title try at the Middleweight division, Núñez immediately accepted and she went down in weight to face the WIBA world champion Leatitia Robinson
, on February 11, 2005. She lost by knockout in the first round, in a fight held at Atlanta, Georgia
.
Núñez announced her plans to keep boxing in the Super Middleweight division soon after the fight with Robinson was over.
On July 17, Nunez lost to Ann Wolfe
by a seventh round knockout in Lula, Mississippi
.
Nunez currently has a record of 9 wins and 4 losses, with 4 knockout wins.
Much like Rain Mako
Rain Mako
Rain Mako is a former female boxer who currently lives in Melbourne, Australia.Mako helped popularize women's boxing in Oceania: while boxing is still considered by most to be a male sport, women's boxing has enjoyed a rise in popularity since 1996, and Mako boxed from 2000 to 2001.Mako's career...
, Marcela Acuna
Marcela Acuña
Marcela Eliana Acuña is an Argentine female boxer, who is nicknamed La Tigresa. Her mother wished for Acuña to become a ballerina, but that was never Acuña's dream....
and Laura Serrano
Laura Serrano
Laura Serrano Garcia is a Mexican boxer.Serrano began boxing at the Universidad Nacional Autónoma Nacional in Mexico City, where she was studying to become a lawyer. She wanted to lose weight and stay in shape. She applied for a professional boxer's license in Mexico...
, to name a few, Nunez is one of the few women's boxing
Women's boxing
Women's boxing first appeared in the Olympic Games at a demonstration bout in 1902. For most of the 20th century, however, it was banned in most nations. Its revival was pioneered by the Swedish Amateur Boxing Association, which sanctioned events for women in 1988. The British Amateur Boxing...
participants from her home country who are relatively well known by her countrymen and women; this may be partly due to the general public's view of boxing
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
as a male only sport.
Núñez nevertheless has had a successful career as a professional boxer. She began her career by knocking out
Knockout
A knockout is a fight-ending, winning criterion in several full-contact combat sports, such as boxing, kickboxing, Muay Thai, mixed martial arts, Karate and others sports involving striking...
Claribel Ferreira in three rounds, on June 9, 2000, at Santo Domingo.
Three decision wins followed, including one over previously undefeated Marylin Hernandez, before she fought for the first time at the "Teo Cruz" coliseum, also in Santo Domingo. She knocked out Damaris Vizcaino in three rounds there, on September 20, 2002. Her next fight was also held there, as she beat Diana Garcia
Diana Garcia
-Life:She was raised in Merced, California and is the oldest of three children. Her parents were migrant field workers who lived in a farm labor camp, California Packing Company Camp #15, when she was born...
by a four round decision on December 19 of the same year.
Following that victory, Núñez took the decision of leaving the Dominican Republic, probably looking for better fights and payoffs against better known opponents. She moved to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, settling in Irvington, New Jersey
Irvington, New Jersey
Irvington is a township in Essex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township had a total population of 53,926, a decline of 11.2% from the 60,695 residents enumerated in the 2000 Census.-Geography:...
. New Jersey was a logical choice for Nunez when it came down to choosing a state where to live in the United States for her: both New Jersey and New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
have a large group of Dominican people, which would mean good crowd backing for Nunez whenever she fought in the States, particularly around the New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
area.
In her American debut, she lost, however, being handled her first professional defeat at the hands of Roselin Morales, who defeated Nunez by a four round split decision on October 23, 2003, in Allentown, Pennsylvania
Allentown, Pennsylvania
Allentown is a city located in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is Pennsylvania's third most populous city, after Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, and the 215th largest city in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 118,032 and is currently...
. The Morales fight was, of course, Núñez's first fight abroad.
On December 4, she knocked out Shadina Pennybaker in two rounds, also in Allentown.
Núñez travelled to Bermuda
Bermuda
Bermuda is a British overseas territory in the North Atlantic Ocean. Located off the east coast of the United States, its nearest landmass is Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, about to the west-northwest. It is about south of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, and northeast of Miami, Florida...
for her first fight of 2004, defeating Teresa Perozzi there by a six round majority decision on June 12.
After one more victory, Núñez was given her first world championship try, for the WIBF
Women's International Boxing Federation
The WIBF is, along with the WIBA, IWBF and others, one of the more recognized world championship fight sanctioning organizations in women's boxing. The organization is based in Miami, Florida, and is not associated with male boxing's IBF.The WIBF was formed in the middle 1990s. It is presided by...
's world Super Middleweight championship. On July 30, she fought Laila Ali
Laila Ali
Laila Amaria Ali is a retired American professional boxer. She is the daughter of boxing legend Muhammad Ali from his third wife Veronica Porsche Ali.-Boxing career:...
in Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...
, being defeated by a ninth round knockout by the world champion.
Offered a world title try at the Middleweight division, Núñez immediately accepted and she went down in weight to face the WIBA world champion Leatitia Robinson
Leatitia Robinson
Leatitia "Baby Girl" Robinson is the undefeated WIBA Middleweight Champion of the World in women's boxing.-Amateur career:...
, on February 11, 2005. She lost by knockout in the first round, in a fight held at Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
.
Núñez announced her plans to keep boxing in the Super Middleweight division soon after the fight with Robinson was over.
On July 17, Nunez lost to Ann Wolfe
Ann Wolfe
Ann Wolfe is a female boxer who held world titles in four different weight classes simultaneously. Wolfe is regarded by many within the sport as the hardest puncher and best fighter in the history of women's boxing...
by a seventh round knockout in Lula, Mississippi
Lula, Mississippi
Lula is a town in Coahoma County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 370 at the 2000 census.Lula was the birthplace of Dr. Ransom Myers , a renowned Canadian-based marine biologist/conservationist who published a seminal study on overfishing revealing the dramatic loss of nearly 90% of...
.
Nunez currently has a record of 9 wins and 4 losses, with 4 knockout wins.