Marcela Acuña

Marcela Eliana Acuña (born 16 October 1976) is an Argentine professional boxer and part-time politician. She has held multiple super bantamweight world titles, including the IBF title since 2018; the WBA title from 2006 to 2008; the WBC title twice between 2008 and 2010; the WBO title from 2013 to 2014; the IBF title from 2016 to 2018; and the WBA interim featherweight title in 2016. As of September 2020, she is ranked as the world's best active female super bantamweight by The Ring and BoxRec, and the third best active female, pound for pound, by BoxRec and tenth by The Ring. She won the Konex Award Merit Diploma in 2010 as one of the five best Boxers of the last decade in Argentina.

Marcela Eliana Acuña
Acuña in 2007
Born	(1976-10-16) 16 October 1976 Formosa, Argentina
Other names	La Tigresa
Statistics
Weight(s)	Super Bantamweight Featherweight Light welterweight
Height	5 ft 4+1⁄2 in (164 cm)
Stance	Orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights	62
Wins	51
Wins by KO	20
Losses	9
Draws	2

Early life

Acuña enjoyed boxing from a very early age. At the age of seven, she visited a boxing gym for the first time. Her first trainer, Ramon Chaparro, would many years later become her husband.

Marcela Acuña became an accomplished martial arts fighter before she decided to box for money. At the age of twelve, she had earned a black belt and she became South America's champion in her division by the age of fourteen. She made sixteen successful title defenses.

She had to retire from karate due to pregnancy. In 1995, she and Chaparro had their first son. After some time away from combat sports, Acuña decided that she would return, only this time, she would compete in boxing.

Professional boxing career

Acuña made her professional debut on 5 December 1997 against Christy Martin in Pompano Beach, Florida, on an undercard that was headlined by Johnny Tapia's world championship defense against Puerto Rico's Andy Agosto and which was shown nationally across the United States. Acuña was dropped in round ten, but she rose and finished the bout on her feet. Despite losing a unanimous decision by scores of 100-90 and 99-90 (twice), Acuña's performance was hailed by many fans and critics alike, considering that this was her first professional boxing bout.

In just her second professional fight she met Lucia Rijker on 25 September 1998, at Ledyard, Connecticut, for the vacant IBO super lightweight title. Acuña was knocked out in five rounds.

After losing her first two fights, Acuña stepped away from boxing.

Return to boxing

Acuña returned to boxing in 2001, and she and her rival, Jamillia Lawrence of New Jersey, made Argentine boxing history when they participated in the first ever women's boxing fight to be sanctioned by the Argentine boxing commission. Acuña got her first win, with a four-round split decision over the American at Buenos Aires, on 12 February of that year.

On 1 June, she obtained a six-round unanimous decision win over Luz Marina Sanabria Ledesma of Colombia, at Formosa.

Twenty eight days later, she got her first knockout win, when she defeated Uruguay's Andrea Pereyra in only two rounds.

On 11 August, she returned to Buenos Aires, to defeat Yolanda Marrugo, dropping her twice, on her way to a six-round unanimous decision.

On September 21, she fought at Carlos Monzón's birthplace, Santa Fe, when she was rematched with Pereyra. Acuña knocked out Pereyra in five rounds, and Pereyra required hospitalization after this fight. Acuña was awarded the "La Opinion's 80th anniversary" trophy that night.

On 12 October she knocked out Ana Dos Santos in two rounds, for her last appearance of 2001.

Her first fight of 2002 was preceded by much media hype. She was challenged by famous fitness instructor Patricia Quirico, who herself was making her professional debut when she boxed Acuña.

If for nothing else, the fight was widely expected because Quirico was a well known personality with developed body strength, who helped fan interest for the fight develop when she began to threaten Acuña through the media. Although she was 40 years old already, she seemed to feel an authentic dislike towards Acuña, and fans across Argentina spoke about the fight on the weeks prior to the event. The fact Quirico had participated in twenty three exhibition matches, as well as in karate and baseball also helped fan interest grow.

They met on 19 January 2002, at Buenos Aires. Acuña scored one of the quickest knockouts in boxing history, when she landed a right to Quirico's chin right after the first bell rang, and followed it with a left that sent Quirico to the floor. Quirico was counted out and Acuña officially won the fight at fourteen seconds of round one. The win earned her the Argentine Featherweight title.

On 1 March she had to fight one of her closest friends, Carmen Montiel, to defend her Argentina title. Acuña outpointed Montiel over ten rounds.

Next, she would have had her second world title try, on 6 April against Panama's Damaris Pinock Ortega, for the vacant WIBA title. The 2002 Argentine economic crisis, however, forced for the fight to be postponed.

On 29 June she and Montiel had a rematch, and Acuña again prevailed, by an eight-round unanimous decision.

World championships

Acuña then lost weight, going down all the way to the Super Bantamweight division to get her second try at becoming a world champion. In what was the first ever women's boxing world championship fight to be staged in Argentina, Acuña lost a split decision to champion Alicia Ashley.

Acuña then decided to take another two-year lay-off, but she had also decided to stay around the Super Bantamweight division's weight limit, because she wanted to fight in that division from there on. And when she returned for the second time, on 21 February 2003, she knocked out former Regina Halmich challenger Lourdes Gonzalez in two rounds to win the Argentine Super Bantamweight title.

On 10 May she fought in a place where boxing matches are rare: Tierra del Fuego, where she knocked out Ana Davila Ferreira in two rounds.

Then came a rematch with Ashley. On her third world title try, Acuña lost to Ashley for the second time, this time by a ten-round unanimous decision, on 14 June.

On 22 August she and her friend Carmen Montiel met for the third time, and Acuña again beat Montiel on points, this time in six rounds. This victory set up the stage for Acuña's fourth world title try.

On 6 December, she and Panamanian Pinock Ortega finally got to meet, and Acuña became world champion when she knocked out Ortega in the sixth round for the vacant WIBA Super Bantamweight title.

On 26 May 2004, she made her first world championship defense, knocking out Daysi Padilla in the first round. Padilla, who had former world champion Ricardo Cardona at her corner, also required a short stay at a hospital.

On 11 September 2004, Acuña knocked out Ana Camilla Santos in the third round of a non-title bout.

On 22 January 2005, she knocked out Maria Elena Miranda in three rounds to win the WIBA's vacant world Featherweight title, at Formosa.

Politics

In 2009 she was fourth on the Peronist list running for city council in Tres de Febrero Partido.

Championships and accomplishments

• 2013–2014 – WBO super bantamweight title (2 defenses)
• 2012 – WBC Silver super bantamweight title (1 defenses)
• 2012 – AOCA / Awakening Outstanding Contribution Award
• 2008–2010 – WBC super bantamweight title (4 defenses)
• 2006-2008 - WBA super bantamweight title (5 defenses)
• 2005 – WIBA featherweight title (1 defense)
• 2003 – WIBA super bantamweight title (1 defense)
• 2003 – Argentina (FAB) super bantamweight title
• 2002 – Argentina (FAB) featherweight title (1 defense)

Professional boxing record

51 Wins (20 knockouts), 9 Losses (1 knockout), 2 Drawn
Res.	Record	Opponent	Type	Round Time	Date	Location	Notes
Loss	51–9–2	Débora Dionicius	UD	10	2022-12-23	Club Sarmiento, Resistencia	For vacant WBO female super bantamweight title
Win	51–8–2	Laura Soledad Griffa	UD	10	2022-09-24	Club Ferro Carril Midland, Libertad	Won vacant Argentina female featherweight title
Loss	50–8–2	Débora Dionicius	UD	10	2021-11-20	Estadio Luna Park, Buenos Aires	For interim WBO female featherweight title
Win	50–7–2	Natalia Josefina Alderete	UD	6	2021-09-25	Complejo Termal Vertiente de la Concordia, Concordia
Draw	49–7–2	Jackie Nava	MD	10	2019-05-25	Estadio de Beisbol Agustin Flores Contreras, Puerto Vallarta
Win	49–7–1	Yenifer Rodriguez	KO	5 (10)	2018-12-14	Club Atletico Independiente, La Rioja	Won vacant IBF World female super bantamweight title
Win	48–7–1	Meyerlin Rivas	SD	10	2018-10-19	Estadio Delmi, Salta	Retained IBF World female super bantamweight title
Win	47–7–1	Laura Soledad Griffa	UD	10	2018-08-10	Polideportivo Fray Mamerto Esquiú, Catamarca	Won vacant IBF World female super bantamweight title
Loss	46–7–1	Daniela Romina Bermúdez	UD	10	2018-08-10	Microestadio Municipal, Hurlingham	Lost IBF World female super bantamweight title
Win	46–6–1	Shannon O'Connell	UD	10	2017-06-16	Ce.De.M. N° 2, Caseros, Buenos Aires	Defended IBF World female super bantamweight title
Win	45–6–1	Yesica Patricia Marcos	KO	10	2016-12-16	Parque Industrial, Moreno, Buenos Aires	Won vacant IBF World female super bantamweight title
Win	44–6–1	Brenda Karen Carabajal	UD	10	2016-09-09	Ce.De.M. N° 2, Caseros, Buenos Aires	Retain interim WBA World female featherweight title
Win	43–6–1	Mayra Alejandra Gomez	UD	10	2016-05-07	Estadio F.A.B., Buenos Aires, Distrito Federal	Won interim WBA World female featherweight title
Win	42–6–1	Edith Soledad Matthysse	UD	10	2014-08-23	Sociedad Alemana de Gimnasia, Buenos Aires	Retained WBO female super bantamweight title
Win	41–6–1	Estrella Valverde	TKO	6	2014–03–28	Anfiteatro Municipal, Villa María, Córdoba	Retained WBO female super bantamweight title
Win	40–6–1	Halanna Dos Santos	UD	10	2013–10–25	Club Salto Uruguayo, Salto	Won vacant WBO female super bantamweight title
Win	39–6–1	Melissa Hernandez	UD	10	2013–07–13	Club Defensores de Villa Luján, San Miguel de Tucumán
Win	38–6–1	Edith Soledad Matthysse	UD	10	2013–05–10	Auditorio Presidente Kirchner, Mercado Central, Tapiales, Buenos Aires
Draw	37–6–1	Yesica Marcos	SD	10	2013–01–25	Teatro Griego Juan Pablo II, San Martín, Mendoza	For WBA and WBO super bantamweight titles.
Loss	37–6	Carolina Duer	UD	10	2012–12–21	Club Universitario, La Plata, Buenos Aires
Win	37–5	Betiana Viñas	TD	9 (10)	2012–08–17	Club Caja Popular, San Miguel, Tucumán	Retained WBC Silver super bantamweight title.
Win	36–5	María Elena Villalobos	UD	10	2012–05–19	Salón de los Bomberos Voluntarios, General Villegas, Buenos Aires	Won vacant WBC Silver super bantamweight title.
Win	35–5	Rosilette dos Santos	TKO	10 (10), 1:19	2010–08–20	Estadio Polideportivo Cincuentenario, Formosa, Formosa	Retained WBC super bantamweight title.
Win	34–5	María Elena Villalobos	UD	10	2010–04–10	Ce. De. M. No. 2, Caseros, Buenos Aires	Retained WBC super bantamweight title.
Win	33–5	Alicia Ashley	MD	10	2009–08–20	Luna Park, Buenos Aires	Retained WBC super bantamweight title.
Win	32–5	Jackie Nava	UD	10	2009–04–30	Luna Park, Buenos Aires	Retained WBC super bantamweight title.
Win	31–5	Alejandra Oliveras	UD	10	2008–12–04	Luna Park, Buenos Aires	Retained WBA and won WBC super bantamweight titles.
Win	30–5	Paulina Cardona	RTD	5 (8), 0:01	2008–10–10	Ce. De. M. No. 2, Caseros, Buenos Aires
Win	29–5	Danielle Bouchard	UD	10	2008–07–03	Luna Park, Buenos Aires	Retained WBA super bantamweight title.
Win	28–5	Anays Gutierrez Carrillo	RTD	3 (10), 0:01	2008–05–15	Sociedad Española, San Luis, San Luis
Win	27–5	Adriana Salles	UD	8	2008–02–04	Conrad Hotel & Casino, Punta del Este, Maldonado
Win	26–5	Claudia Lopez	UD	8	2007–10–27	Ce. De. M. No. 2, Caseros, Buenos Aires
Win	25–5	María del Carmen Potenza	TD	6 (10)	2007–06–29	Club Sportivo America, Rosario, Santa Fe
Win	24–5	Yazmín Rivas	UD	10	2007–04–20	Andes Talleres Sport Club, Godoy Cruz, Mendoza	Retained WBA super bantamweight title.
Win	23–5	Maria del Carmen Potenza	MD	10	2007–01–27	Conrad Hotel & Casino, Punta del Este, Maldonado
Win	22–5	Maribel Santana	RTD	2 (10), 0:40	2006–12–15	Ce. De. M. No. 2, Caseros, Buenos Aires	Retained WBA super bantamweight title.
Win	21–5	Paola Herrera	TKO	1 (10)	2006–10–14	Luna Park, Buenos Aires	Retained WBA super bantamweight title.
Win	20–5	Anays Gutierrez Carrillo	UD	10	2006–08–12	Ce. De. M. No. 2, Caseros, Buenos Aires	Won vacant WBA super bantamweight title.
Loss	19–5	Sharon Anyos	UD	10	2005–10–22	Gold Coast Convention Centre, Broadbeach, Queensland	For vacant WBC featherweight title.
Win	19–4	Yolis Franco	UD	8	2005–06–24	Club Gimnasia y Esgrima, Ituzaingó, Buenos Aires
Win	18–4	Nerys Rincon	RTD	2 (10), 0:01	2005–05–14	Ce. De. M. No. 2, Caseros, Buenos Aires	Retained WIBA featherweight title.
Win	17–4	Maria Miranda	TKO	3 (10), 1:37	2005–01–22	Club Centenario, Formosa, Formosa	Won vacant WIBA featherweight title.
Win	16–4	Miura Ferreira	TKO	3 (4)	2004–09–11	Polideportivo Municipal Carlos Cerutti, Córdoba, Córdoba
Win	15–4	Monica Sabino Barbosa	TKO	4 (8)	2004–07–02	Club Caja Popular, San Miguel, Tucumán
Win	14–4	Daysi Padilla	TKO	1 (10), 0:43	2004–05–26	Luna Park, Buenos Aires	Retained WIBA super bantamweight title.
Win	13–4	Damaris Pinock Ortega	TKO	6 (10), 1:42	2003–12–06	Luna Park, Buenos Aires	Won vacant WIBA super bantamweight title.
Win	12–4	María del Carmen Montiel	UD	6	2003–08–22	Club Ciclista Juninense, Junín, Buenos Aires
Loss	11–4	Alicia Ashley	UD	10	2003–06–14	Estadio República de Venezuela, Bolívar, Buenos Aires	For vacant WIBF super bantamweight title.
Win	11–3	Miura Ferreira	TKO	5 (6)	2003–05–10	Polideportivo Carlos Margalot, Río Grande, Tierra del Fuego
Win	10–3	Lourdes Gonzalez	TKO	2 (10)	2003–02–20	Estadio República de Venezuela, Bolívar, Buenos Aires	Won vacant Argentine super bantamweight title.
Loss	9–3	Alicia Ashley	SD	10	2002–11–15	Orfeo Superdomo, Córdoba, Córdoba	For vacant WIBF super bantamweight title.
Win	9–2	Maria del Carmen Montiel	UD	8	2002–06–29	Río Gallegos, Santa Cruz
Win	8–2	Maria del Carmen Montiel	UD	10	2002–03–01	Club Olimpia, Paraná, Entre Ríos	Retained Argentine featherweight title.
Win	7–2	Patricia Quirico	KO	1 (10), 0:14	2002–01–19	Estadio F. A. B., Buenos Aires	Won vacant Argentine featherweight title.
Win	6–2	Ana dos Santos	KO	2 (6), 1:52	2001–10–12	Estadio Centenario, Formosa, Formosa
Win	5–2	Andrea Pereira Maciel	KO	5 (6), 1:30	2001–09–21	Club Sportivo Ben Hur, Rafaela, Santa Fe
Win	4–2	Yolis Marrugo Franco	UD	6	2001–08–11	Estadio Malvinas Argentinas, Mendoza, Mendoza
Win	3–2	Andrea Pereira Maciel	TKO	2 (4), 0:59	2001–06–30	Club Rivadavia, Necochea, Buenos Aires
Win	2–2	Luz Sarabia	UD	6	2001–06–02	Estadio Centenario, Formosa, Formosa
Win	1–2	Jamillia Lawrence	SD	4	2001–04–28	Estadio F. A. B., Buenos Aires
Loss	0–2	Lucia Rijker	KO	5 (10), 2:02	1998–09–25	Foxwoods Resort Casino, Ledyard, Connecticut	For vacant IBO Light welterweight title.
Loss	0–1	Christy Martin	UD	10	1997–12–05	Pompano Beach Amphitheater, Pompano Beach, Florida

See also

• List of female boxers

External links

• official site (in Spanish)
• Marcela Eliana Acuña at Awakening Fighters