Marcela Acuña


Marcela Eliana Acuña 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.

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, 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.
In May 2019 she fought former world champion Jackie Nava to a draw.
In October 2023 she lost to former world champion Sarah Mahfoud, via unanimous decision.

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
66Draw53–10–3Natalia Josefina AldereteSD8 2024-04-12Club Defensores de Villa Lujan, San Miguel de Tucumán, Argentina
65Loss53–10–2Sarah MahfoudUD10 2023-10-07Royal Arena, Copenhagen, DenmarkFor WBC Silver featherweight title
64Win53–9–2Lucrecia Belen ArrietaUD10 2023-07-21Amerian Hotel Casino Gala, Resistencia, Argentina
63Win52–9–2Natalia Josefina AldereteUD8 2023-03-10Estadio Pedro Estremador, Bariloche, Argentina
62Loss51–9–2Débora DioniciusUD10 2022-12-23Club Sarmiento, Resistencia, ArgentinaFor vacant WBO super-bantamweight title
61Win51–8–2Laura Soledad GriffaUD10 2022-09-24Club Ferrocarril Midland, Libertad, ArgentinaWon vacant Argentine featherweight title
60Loss50–8–2Débora DioniciusUD10 2021-11-20Estadio Luna Park, Buenos Aires, ArgentinaFor interim WBO featherweight title
59Win50–7–2Natalia Josefina AldereteUD6 2021-09-25Complejo Termal Vertiente de la Concordia, Concordia, Argentina
58Draw49–7–2Jackie NavaMD10 2019-05-25Estadio de Beisbol Agustin Flores Contreras, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
57Win49–7–1Yenifer RodriguezKO5 2018-12-14Club Atletico Independiente, La Rioja, ArgentinaRetained IBF super-bantamweight title
56Win48–7–1Mayerlin RivasSD10 2018-10-19Polideportivo Delmi, Salta, ArgentinaRetained IBF super-bantamweight title
55Win47–7–1Laura Soledad GriffaUD10 2018-08-10Polideportivo Fray Mamerto Esquiú, Catamarca, ArgentinaWon vacant IBF super-bantamweight title
54Loss46–7–1Daniela Romina BermúdezUD10 2018-04-13Microestadio Municipal, Hurlingham, ArgentinaLost IBF super-bantamweight title
53Win46–6–1Shannon O'ConnellUD10 2017-06-16Ce.De.M. N° 2, Caseros, ArgentinaRetained IBF super-bantamweight title
52Win45–6–1Yésica MarcosKO10 2016-12-16Parque Industrial de Desarrollo Productivo, Cuartel V, ArgentinaWon vacant IBF super-bantamweight title
51Win44–6–1Brenda Karen CarabajalUD10 2016-09-09Ce.De.M. N° 2, Caseros, ArgentinaRetained WBA featherweight title
50Win43–6–1Mayra Alejandra GomezUD10 2016-05-07Estadio F.A.B., Buenos Aires, ArgentinaWon interim WBA featherweight title
49Win42–6–1Edith Soledad MatthysseUD10 2014-08-23Sociedad Alemana de Gimnasia, José León Suárez, ArgentinaRetained WBO super-bantamweight title
48Win41–6–1Estrella ValverdeTKO6 2014-03-28Anfiteatro Municipal, Villa María, ArgentinaRetained WBO super-bantamweight title
47Win40–6–1Halanna Dos SantosUD10 2013-10-25Club Salto Uruguayo, Salto, UruguayWon vacant WBO super-bantamweight title
46Win39–6–1Melissa HernándezUD10 2013-07-13Club Defensores de Villa Lujan, San Miguel de Tucumán, Argentina
45Win38–6–1Edith Soledad MatthysseUD10 2013-05-10Auditorio Presidente Néstor Kirchner, Tapiales, Argentina
44Draw37–6–1Yésica MarcosSD10 2013-01-25Teatro Griego Juan Pablo Segundo, San Martín, ArgentinaFor WBA & WBO super-bantamweight titles
43Loss37–6Carolina DuerUD10 2012-12-21Club Universitario, La Plata, Argentina
42Win37–5Betiana Patricia VinasTD9 2012-08-17Club Caja Popular, San Miguel de Tucumán, ArgentinaRetained WBC Silver super-bantamweight title
41Win36–5Maria Elena VillalobosUD10 2012-05-19Salón de los Bomberos Voluntarios, General Villegas, ArgentinaWon vacant WBC Silver super-bantamweight title
40Win35–5Rosilete Dos SantosTKO10 2010-08-20Estadio Cincuentenario, Formosa, ArgentinaRetained WBC super-bantamweight title
39Win34–5Maria Elena VillalobosUD10 2010-04-10Ce.De.M. N° 2, Caseros, ArgentinaRetained WBC super-bantamweight title
38Win33–5Alicia AshleyMD10 2009-08-20Estadio Luna Park, Buenos Aires, ArgentinaRetained WBC super-bantamweight title
37Win32–5Jackie NavaUD10 2009-04-30Estadio Luna Park, Buenos Aires, ArgentinaRetained WBC super-bantamweight title
36Win31–5Alejandra OliverasUD10 2008-12-04Estadio Luna Park, Buenos Aires, ArgentinaRetained WBA super-bantamweight title;
Won WBC super-bantamweight title
35Win30–5Paulina CardonaRTD5 2008-10-10Ce.De.M. N° 2, Caseros, Argentina
34Win29–5Danielle BouchardUD10 2008-07-03Estadio Luna Park, Buenos Aires, ArgentinaRetained WBA super-bantamweight title
33Win28–5Anays Cecilia GutierrezRTD3 2008-05-15Sociedad Española, San Luis, Argentina
32Win27–5Adriana SallesUD8 2008-02-04Hotel & Casino Conrad, Punta del Este, Uruguay
31Win26–5Claudia Andrea LopezUD8 2007-10-27Ce.De.M. N° 2, Caseros, Argentina
30Win25–5Maria del Carmen PotenzaTD6 2007-06-29Club Sportivo America, Rosario, Argentina
29Win24–5Yazmín RivasUD10 2007-04-20Andes Talleres Sport Club, Godoy Cruz, ArgentinaRetained WBA super-bantamweight title
28Win23–5Maria del Carmen PotenzaMD10 2007-01-27Hotel & Casino Conrad, Punta del Este, Uruguay
27Win22–5Maribel SantanaRTD2 2006-12-15Ce.De.M. N° 2, Caseros, ArgentinaRetained WBA super-bantamweight title
26Win21–5Paola Esther HerreraTKO1 2006-10-14Estadio Luna Park, Buenos Aires, ArgentinaRetained WBA super-bantamweight title
25Win20–5Anays Cecilia GutierrezUD10 2006-08-12Ce.De.M. N° 2, Caseros, ArgentinaWon inaugural WBA super-bantamweight title
24Loss19–5Sharon AnyosUD10 2005-10-22Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre, Broadbeach, AustraliaFor inaugural WBC featherweight title
23Win19–4Yolis Marrugo FrancoUD8 2005-06-24Club Gimnasia y Esgrima, Ituzaingó, Argentina
22Win18–4Nerys RinconRTD2 2005-05-14Ce.De.M. N° 2, Caseros, ArgentinaRetained WIBA featherweight title
21Win17–4Maria Andrea MirandaTKO3 2005-01-22Estadio Cincuentenario, Formosa, ArgentinaWon vacant WIBA featherweight title
20Win16–4Miura Davila FerreiraTKO3 2004-09-11Polideportivo Municipal Carlos Cerutti, Córdoba, Argentina
19Win15–4Monica Sabino BarbosaTKO4 2004-07-02Club Caja Popular, San Miguel de Tucumán, Argentina
18Win14–4Daysi PadillaTKO1 2004-05-26Estadio Luna Park, Buenos Aires, ArgentinaRetained WIBA super-bantamweight title
17Win13–4Damaris Pinock OrtegaTKO6 2003-12-06Estadio Luna Park, Buenos Aires, ArgentinaWon vacant WIBA super-bantamweight title
16Win12–4Maria del Carmen MontielUD6 2003-08-22Ciclista Juninense, Junín, Argentina
15Loss11–4Alicia AshleyUD10 2003-06-14Estadio Republica de Venezuela, Bolívar, ArgentinaFor WIBF super-bantamweight title
14Win11–3Miura Davila FerreiraTKO5 2003-05-10Polideportivo Carlos Magalot, Río Grande, Argentina
13Win10–3Lourdes Noemi GonzalezTKO2 2003-02-20Estadio Republica de Venezuela, Bolívar, ArgentinaWon vacant Argentine super-bantamweight title
12Loss9–3Alicia AshleySD10 2002-11-15Orfeo Superdomo, Córdoba, ArgentinaFor vacant WIBF super-bantamweight title
11Win9–2Maria del Carmen MontielUD8 2002-06-29Río Gallegos, Argentina
10Win8–2Maria del Carmen MontielUD10 2002-03-01Club Olimpia, Paraná, ArgentinaRetained Argentine featherweight title
9Win7–2Patricia Alejandra QuiricoKO1 2002-01-19Estadio F.A.B., Buenos Aires, ArgentinaWon vacant Argentine featherweight title
8Win6–2Ana Dos SantosKO2 2001-10-12Estadio Cincuentenario, Formosa, Argentina
7Win5–2Andrea Venecia PereiraKO5 2001-09-21Club Sportivo Ben Hur, Rafaela, Argentina
6Win4–2Yolis Marrugo FrancoUD6 2001-08-11Estadio Malvinas Argentinas, Mendoza, Argentina
5Win3–2Andrea Venecia PereiraTKO2 2001-06-30Club Rivadavia, Necochea, Argentina
4Win2–2Luz Mariana SarabiaUD6 2001-06-02Estadio Cincuentenario, Formosa, Argentina
3Win1–2Jamillia LawrenceSD4 2001-04-28Estadio F.A.B., Buenos Aires, Argentina
2Loss0–2Lucia RijkerKO5 1998-09-25Foxwoods Resort Casino, Ledyard, Connecticut, U.S.For vacant IBO light-welterweight title
1Loss0–1Christy MartinUD10 1997-12-05Amphitheater, Pompano Beach, Florida, U.S.