Poland and the United States Both Claim Three Victories on the Opening Day of the Women’s International Dual Series

(OXNARD, CALIF.) – The first-ever Women’s International Dual Series opened competition on Wednesday night at the Oxnard PAL Gym in Oxnard, Calif. Nine bouts were contested on the evening with the United States and Poland both earning three victories and Canada, Spain and Hungary each claiming one win.

The United States’ Queen Underwood (Seattle, Wash.) kicked off the competition in dominating fashion, recording the only stoppage of the night in a third round win over Hungary’s Pikacs Mercedesz. Two U.S. flyweights earned opening day wins as well with 2010 National PAL Champion Christina Cruz (New York, N.Y.) and Alex Love (Monroe, Wash.) claiming victories over Yasmina Musa Amakhtari of Spain and Vivian Mizsei of Hungary respectively.

Former World Champions Karolina Michalczuk of Poland and Maria Kovacs of Hungary both opened the event with first day victories as well. Michalczuk defeated the United States’ Cynthia Moreno (Phoenix, Ariz.) by a 34-20 margin while Kovacs won a 19-9 decision over Team USA’s Alyssa DeFazio (Phoenix, Ariz.).

Laila Ali, a women’s boxing legend and the daughter of the great Muhammad Ali paid the women and visit and spent time with the competitors to encourage them as they prepare for the event and the journey toward London.

The International Amateur Boxing Association (AIBA) published the first women’s rankings on Thursday and four U.S. boxers were included in the international rankings, which are based upon the recent Women’s World Championships in Barbados. Underwood, 2010 Light Welterweight World Championships bronze medalist Cashmere Jackson, 2010 Welterweight World Champion Andrecia Wasson (Centerline, Wash.), and 2010 Women’s World Championships heavyweight bronze medalist Denise Rico (Los Angeles, Calif.) were all included in the historic list.

Dual competition will continue on Thursday at 6 p.m. PT with nine bouts of top women’s boxing action.

Women’s International Dual Series Wednesday Results

112 lbs/51 kg: Christina Cruz, New York, N.Y./USA, dec. Yasmina Musa Amakhtari, Spain, 7-4

132 lbs/60 kg: Debbie Richards, Canada, dec. Caroline Barry, Colorado Springs, Colo./USA, 15-7

165 lbs/75 kg: Tamara Fabiana Garcia Zaragoza, Spain, dec. Lisbet Vargas, Portland, Ore./USA, 7-6

112 lbs/51 kg: Karolina Michalczuk, Poland, dec. Cynthia Moreno, Phoenix, Ariz./USA, 34-20

132 lbs/60 kg: Karolina Graczyk, Poland, dec. Mikaela Mayer, Crest Hill, Calif./USA, 13-6

165 lbs/75 kg: Lidia Fidura, Poland, dec. Kalita Marsh, Smithfield, N.C./USA, 18-1

112 lbs/51 kg: Alex Love, Monroe, Wash./USA. dec. Vivien Mizsei, Hungary, 16-5
132 lbs/60 kg: Queen Underwood, Seattle, Wash./USA, stopped Pikacs Mercedesz, Hungary, RSC-3

165 lbs/75 kg: Maria Kovacs, Hungary, dec. Alyssa DeFazio, Phoenix, Ariz./USA, 19-9

USA Boxing, as the national governing body for Olympic-style boxing, is the United States’ member organization of the International Amateur Boxing Association (AIBA) and a member of the United States Olympic Committee (USOC).