Julaton dares Nava to duel
Ana (Hurricane) Julaton has issued a public challenge for WBA female superbantamweight queen Jackie (La Princesa Azteca) Nava to stake her crown in a showdown anytime, anywhere but according to trainer Angelo Reyes, it’s eerily quiet on the Mexican front.
Instead of accepting Julaton’s dare, Nava has agreed to defend her title against WIBA champion Lisa Brown of Trinidad and Tobago at La Cetto Vineyard, Valle de Guadalupe, Baja California on Aug. 18. Reyes said Nava’s promoter Fernando Beltran is avoiding even talking about a possible duel against the Fil-Am stylist, a two-time WBO/IBA 122-pound titleholder.
Reyes said Julaton’s promoter Allan Tremblay of Canada is open to negotiate a title fight in the Philippines, preferably in Pangasinan where the Fil-Am traces her roots, but no champion is willing to step up to the plate. Reyes said he has tried to reach out to Beltran but the Nava camp has kept mum. A rematch with WBO champion Yesica Patricia Marcos would be a promoter’s dream, he noted.
Last March, Julaton went to Marcos’ hometown in Mendoza, Argentina, to put her WBO title on the line and despite scoring a second round knockdown, lost a unanimous decision that showed wide margins on every scorecard. While Marcos has not seen action since the fight, Julaton went on to outpoint Mexico’s Yolanda Segura in Kanasin, Yucatan, last May. Reyes said Marcos should give Julaton the chance to regain the throne.
There’s also the option of Julaton battling the Nava-Brown winner. It will be recalled that in 2010, Brown bloodied Julaton en route to a clear win on points. Julaton has since called out Brown for a rematch. Brown, 41, is a veteran southpaw with a 19-5-3 record, including 6 KOs. Nava, 32, has a 27-4-3 mark, with 11 KOs while Julaton, 31, totes a record of 11-3-1, with 1 KO.
Reyes lashed out at the WBO for failing to protect Filipino fighters from prejudiced judges. He cited the case of Nonito Donaire who convincingly beat Puerto Rico’s Wilfredo Vazquez but settled only for a split decision to win the WBO superbantamweight title in San Antonio last February. Judges Levi Martinez and Don Trella saw it 117-110 for Donaire but judge Dr. Ruben Garcia had it 115-112 for Vazquez. Reyes also pointed out the disputed split decision that took away the WBO welterweight crown from Manny Pacquiao and awarded it to Timothy Bradley Jr. in Las Vegas recently. He mentioned in Julaton’s fight against Marcos, a Florida judge Roark Young was replaced at the last minute and three Hispanics were assigned to score the bout.
“Manny clearly won,” said Reyes referring to the Bradley stink. “Both Ana and I scored it 119-109 for Manny. With the split decision involving Donaire last February, the controversy of officiating in Argentina where they got rid of an American judge at the last minute and the poor refereeing of Ana’s fight against Marcos and now with Manny’s clear victory and being robbed in the worst way, someone should question the WBO’s motives and choice of officials sanctioned by the president Paco Valcarcel. With these recent events being WBO title matches involving Filipinos, it makes you wonder who’s next? Will Brian Viloria be robbed? Will Donnie Nietes? I think Filipino champions should refuse to pay sanction fees to the WBO if they don’t do anything to correct this terrible injustice to Manny.” Reyes said Julaton is appealing for a rematch with Marcos but it must be a fair fight. “The WBO title fights involving Ana, Manny and Nonito have been compromised,” he continued. “Luckily for Nonito, he is also fighting for the IBF title (against Jeffrey Mathebula) so I don’t believe he will get robbed in July. If the WBO does nothing to correct the injustice to Manny, it doesn’t deserve to be a part of any of our Filipino champions. There are still the WBC, WBA and IBF among other belts our champions can fight for. Why should our Filipino champions fight for the WBO if the WBO is not willing to do justice to Manny?”
Reyes said Julaton wouldn’t mind facing WBC superbantamweight queen Marcela Eliana Acuna of Argentina if the deal could be arranged. Acuna, 35, has beaten Nava and twice defeated Maria Villalobos, a Julaton victim. Villalobos, the Mexican champion, recently said Julaton would trounce Acuna in a faceoff.
“Ana would be happy to fight anywhere in the world,” said Reyes. “After all, that is what being a world champion is all about. That is a lesson I hope Yesica Marcos understands. There are fighters who have a world championship belt and then there are true world champions like Ana.”