Tag Archives: Olivia Gerula

boxing, women's boxing

Gionta Management brings Pittsburgh area its first women’s world title fight Mary Casamassa preparing to become only the second women’s world boxing champion from Western Pennsylvania @ “Brawl at the Hall” this Saturday in Harmony, PA

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PITTSBURGH (March 26, 2022) – Gionta Management will present the first women’s world boxing championship match in Western Pennsylvania history this Saturday night (March 30) as Mary Casamassa battles Olivia Gerula in the 10-round main event for the vacant Women’s International Boxing Association (WIBA) Super Middleweight World title at Steamfitters 449 Union Hall in Harmony, Pennsylvania.

“Brawl at the Hall,” presented by Gionta Management, will be streamed live on www.CombatSportsNow.com for $19.99.

“I’m excited to hold a fight of this magnitude here in Pittsburgh for the first time,” promoter Derek Gionta said. “Female boxing is gaining popularity and there are a number of phenomenal female fighters out there to thank for that.

“Olivia Gerula is battle tested and she recently went eight rounds with a very solid boxer, Olivia Curry. Mary will be at her best and we expect the same from Olivia.”

Casamassa (4-0, 1 KO), a 24-year-old southpaw from Pittsburgh, plans to join Jill Emery as the only female world boxing champions in Pittsburgh’s rich boxing history. Emery captured the International Boxing Association (IBA) Welterweight World Championship on June 12, 2008, with a dominant 10-round decision over Angelica Martinez at Mohegan Sun Casino in Uncasville, Connecticut.

“I am very excited to be headlining this card, and I am looking forward to the challenge of fighting someone with as much experience as Olivia,” Casamassa commented. “It’s a great opportunity for me and I can’t wait.”

Gerula (19-20-3, 3 KOs) is a veteran Canadian boxer who is a former World Boxing Council Super Featherweight World Champion. She has fought in nine world championship matches and her opponents’ list is a virtual Who’s Who of women’s boxing: Amanda Serrano, Mia. St. John, Kathy Collins, Jaime Clampitt, Jennifer Han, Maureen Shea, and Jelena Mrdjenovich, who Gerula defeated to capture her world title.

“Training camp is running smoothly,” Gerula noted. “I am focused on fighting a southpaw for the first time in my 26+ years. I’m so excited for this fight. I moved from Winnipeg to Las Vegas in 2020 with the singular goal of winning my next World Title – March 30th is THE DAY! All talk aside, I will let my hands do the talking from the first bell to the very last.”

Past WIBA world champions include Laila Ali, Holly Holm, Jacqui Frazier-Lyde, Ann Wolfe, Sumya Anani, Chevelle Hallback, Melida Cooper, Jeannine Garside and Mary Jo Sanders.

In the co-featured event, Pittsburgh’s unbeaten, popular super middleweight “Pretty” Richie Cantolina (7-0-1, 3 KOs) faces Jonathan Ryan Burrs (4-8-1, 1 KO) in a six-round bout.

Another undefeated local fighter, Aliquippa (PA) super welterweight Paul Palombo (6-0, 1 KO), throws-down with Devonte Jones (3-1, 3 KOs) in a six-rounder.

Also scheduled to fight on the undercard in four-round bouts is West Virginia super middleweight Tyler Aincough (2-1, 1 KO) vs. TBD,  Pittsburgh featherweight Michaelangelo Turner (0-5) vs. Tyquan Johnson (0-1), and Ambridge. PA junior middleweight Tre Craycraft (6-0, 1 KO) vs. TBD.

Card subject to change.

Priced at $50.00 (general admission), $75.00 (reserved) and $125.00 (ringside), tickets are available to purchase online at www.eventbrite.com (“Brawl at the Hall”) or by calling 1.412.759.0407.

INFORMATION:

Facebook: /DerekGionta

Twitter:  @DGionta

Instagram: @d_p_g1

LinkedIn: DerekGionta-GiontaManagement

boxing, Russia, women's boxing

Russia’s Elena Gradinar Gunning for The World’s Best Female Featherweights

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#1-rated IBF Inter-Continental Female Featherweight Champion Elena Gradinar is calling out the rest of her division’s best.

 

 

 

The undefeated 27-year-old, from Saint Petersburg, Russia, was last seen dominating former world champion Olivia Gerula in March. She has now set her sights on IBF Champion Jennifer Han and the top-rated female fighters in the featherweight division.

 

 

 

“I am very honored to have the Inter-Continental Title and be their number-one featherweight contender,” said Gradinar. “I want to demonstrate the true definition of a top contender and, soon, I believe a world champion by fighting the very best in every fight. This is a great time and space for women’s boxing and I am happy to be making my mark in this day and age.”

 

 

 

Based on her heavily decorated amateur career, Gradinar attained the designation of Sport Master of Russia in her homeland and has made quite a name for herself overseas. The goal, however, is for her to begin to make an impact in the US.

 

 

 

Her co-promoter, Dmitriy Salita, says Gradinar’s time has come. “Elena Gradinar has shown consistent improvement in her game and is one of the best fighters in the featherweight division. With woman’s boxing making huge strides, I believe that Elena will win a world title in the near future and make her US debut on a platform for boxing fans to see the high level of her talents.

 

 

 

Salita says his phone is always on if representatives of any of the world’s top female featherweights are interested in stepping up.

 

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boxing, women's boxing

Rising Russian Star Elena Gradinar Wins IBF Inter-Continental Female Featherweight Championship with Unanimous Decision Over Former WBC World Champ Olivia Gerula

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Saturday night at the Sport Hall Energia in Narva, Estonia, rising and undefeated Russian female star Elena Gradinar picked up her first professional title, the IBF Inter-Continental Female Featherweight Championship, with a unanimous decision over Canadian former WBC world champion Olivia Gerula.
 
Gradinar (9-0, 2 KOs) dominated the more experienced Gerula over the 10-round distance, winning by scores of 99-91, 98-92 and 99-91.
 
“I am very happy with the win and my IBF belt,” said Gradinar, post-fight. “I want to fight Jennifer Han for the IBF world title. I want to do my part in lifting women’s boxing to the next level and fight the best.”
 
Her co-promoter, Dmitriy Salita (along with Alexander Nevsky Promotion Group), has made a firm commitment to women’s boxing by signing several current and upcoming female superstars including world champions Claressa Shields and Christina Hammer, as well as top prospects Franchon Crews Dezurn, Elena Savelyeva and Gradinar.
 
Salita says this is just the start of a terrific 2018 for Gradinar. “With the win Elena has cemented herself as one of the best female featherweights in the world. This is going to be a big year for Elena and women’s boxing.”
boxing, women's boxing

Women’s Elena Gradinar vs. Olivia Gerula Title Fight to be Streamed Live for Free on YouTube This Saturday at Noon EST

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Saturday’s (March 24) women’s fight between undefeated Russian prospect Elena Gradinarand Canada’s former world champion Olivia Gerula will be streamed live on YouTube at noon (12 pm ET) for free.
 
Click HERE to watch Salita Promotions’ latest female star, Gradinar (8-0, 2 KOs) take on Gerula (18-17-2, 3 KOs) in a 10-round battle for the IBF Inter-Continental Female Featherweight Championship at the Sport Hall Energia in Narva, Estonia.
 
Gradinar says her performance will be designed to continue the wave of female boxing’s resurgence currently sweeping through the sporting world. “I am in the best shape of my life and look forward to putting on a great performance for boxing fans as well as supporters of women sports all over the world.”
 
Her co-promoter, Dmitriy Salita, the former fighter turned promoter known for his ever-growing stable of female talent, says widely used media outlets like YouTube are incredibly useful platforms to showcase top talent to fans, globally.
 
“I am delighted that boxing fans around the world will get a chance to see this high-quality match-up, featuring two top-rated ladies for the prestigious IBF Intercontinental title,” he said. “We are constantly working on platforms to bring attention and visibility to the talented female boxers around the world. I am grateful that we have a great promotional partner in Alexander Nevsky Promotion Group, who share the same vision to keeping finding new and exciting ways to bring high-quality boxing content to fans.”
boxing, women's boxing

Rising Star Elena Gradinar to Face Olivia Gerula for IBF Intercontinental Championship in Narva, Estonia, on March 24

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Rising female star, Elena Gradinar of Saint Petersburg, Russia, will compete for the first championship belt of her professional career when she takes on former world champion Olivia “The Predator” Gerula for the IBF Intercontinental Featherweight Championship.
The 10-round Gradinar vs. Gerula battle will take place on Saturday, March 24, at the Energia Sport Hall in Narva, Estonia.
The undefeated 27-year-old Gradinar (8-0, 2 KOs) went 73-8 as an amateur, winning numerous national and international amateur tournaments. Gradinar has also attained the designation of Sport Master of Russia.
A well-respected and accomplished professional, Gerula, from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, is the former WBC World Female Super Featherweight Champion and made two successful defenses. She has also held the well-respected WIBA World Championship.
“I am very glad to fight for IBF Intercontinental belt against former WBC World Champion Olivia Gerula,” said Gradinar. “We will bring for boxing fans a dramatic and exiting clash between us. I am very proud that I will represent my country Russia and I hope that IBF Intercontinental belt will find residence in the glorious Russian city of St. Petersburg!”
“I am very excited about what’s to come. I look forward to visiting Estonia and soaking up some of its culture while proudly representing Canada,” said Olivia Gerula. “I know Elena has an impressive amateur record and an undefeated professional record, but I don’t believe she has ever been in the ring with a fighter of my quality and experience, so I expect to shake things up.”
Gerula’s co-promoter Dmitriy Salita, along with Russian-based Alexander Nevskiy Promotion Group, says the Gerula fight will prove a lot about Gradinar’s transition to the professional ranks.
“This will be the toughest test of Elena’s young career,” said Salita. “Olivia Gerula has fought and beaten many top-level female fighters in the division. I am looking forward to a great fight and, with a victory, the continued development of our future world champion.”
boxing, women's boxing

Amanda Serrano Sends an Ultimatum to All World Champions in her Division

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New York – Two-time world champion,  Amanda ‘The Real Deal’ Serrano from Carolina, Puerto Rico, but now living in Brooklyn, will be fighting on February 17 in Manhatthan for the vacant WBO World female featherweight title against former world champion, Olivia Gerula of Canada.
The ambitious Puerto Rican lefty wants to become the undisputed world champion in the featherweight division, and has a message to the current title holders.
“Right now, I’m only focused on Olivia, but at the same time I’m very confident about bringing that belt to Brooklyn and Puerto Rico on February 17,” said Amanda Serrano, who is promoted by DiBella Entertainment.
“Once I get that beatiful belt, we will be looking to unify. There is Jennifer Han, who is the IBF world champion, Soledad Matthysse is the WBC and WBA champion, and she is fighting Jelena Mrdjenovich. I want the winner!”
“Unifying all four featherweight titles is the only thing we care about. If we fail to make that happen, I will go down to 122 to fight for another world title, and become a four division legitimate world champion just like Miguel Cotto”.
Serrano (26-1-1, 19 KO) vs. Gerula (17-15-2, 3KO) showdown will take place at the famed B.B. King Blues Club and Grill marking the first world title fight in the club’s history.
On August 15, 2014, Serrano traveled to Argentina to face WBO Lightweight World Champion Maria ‘Tily’ Maderna, who at that time, had three successful title defenses, but could not handle the aggressiveness of the Puerto Rican power puncher, and decided to give up in the sixth round.
Serrano’s first title reign came in September 2011, when she knocked out Kimberly Connor in the first round to become the IBF World Champion at the super featherweight division in a bout held in Brooklyn.