Yokasta Galeth Valle Álvarez vs. Marlen Esparza Puentes

March twenty-ninth, featured on the main undercard of Zepeda vs. Farmer II live on DAZN. Ten rounds of two minutes apiece scheduled at flyweight.

Both are coming off mixed results in 2024. Last year each women lost world championship bouts - Valle to Seniesa Estrada for her WBO & IBF minimumweight (105lb) straps as well as the WBC, Ring Magazine and WBA titles. She would capture the vacant green belt eight months later in a second chance against Elizabeth López Corzo. Esparza was dethroned as WBC & WBO champ at 112lbs in a rematch with Gabriela Celeste Alaníz, then won her rebound fight against Arely Muciño.

Both the Nicaraguan-Costa Rican and the Mexican-American former world titlists are in their mid thirties. Valle is giving up 1½″ of reach to her opponent but stands one inch taller.

Common opponents:

• Anabel Ortiz Morales - lost a UD to Esparza in 2021 and to Valle in 2023.
• Naoka Fujioka - defeated Valle by UD in 2017; lost via UD to Esparza in 2022.
• Seniesa Carmen Estrada - defeated Esparza via UTD9 in 2019 and Valle by UD last year.

Betting odds:
Valle -250
Esparza +178

 

Valle vs. López:

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Can't find so much as highlights of Esparza vs. Muciño anywhere, so here's Esparza vs. Alaníz:

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Esparza vs. Fujioka, btw, isn't exactly what you'd call a robbery but the pair of judges that handed in scorecards of a hundred to ninety should never judge again. That wasn't a shutout...more like a draw or 96-94 either way.