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©Copyrighted photo by Mary Ann
Owen
June 18, 2005 - Maywood Activity Center,
Maywood, CA
Report by David Avila
Heather Percival, 119, faced eighth-ranked
Valeria Flores and emerged
victorious at the Maywood Activity Center on Saturday with a steady
boxing performance.
In her first six round fight Percival showed the 1,200 people why she is one
of the fastest-rising female fighters in the junior bantamweight division
with a skillful display of defense and precision.The judges scored the fight
59-55 and 60-54 twice for Percival.
Percival used her stick and move strategy to near perfection in beating the
aggressive Flores (6-3) in a six round bout held at 123 pounds. Both
fighters came in with six wins but Percival was able to land more accurately
and that proved the difference.
“She was very aggressive and very strong,” said Percival (6-1). “One of the
toughest I’ve faced.”
From the first round it was apparent that Percival was going to keep a
prescribed distance with the heavier Flores who weighed more than four
pounds than the Fontana fighter.
Moving side to side and sticking a precise jab, Percival controlled the
first two rounds easily by firing three-punch combinations ending with a
left hook. It landed every time.
In the fourth round Flores seemed to figure out Percival’s timing and
combinations while closing the distance. With 20 seconds left the San
Antonio fighter opened up with a six-punch combination that had Percival
covering along the ropes.
It seemed the momentum would swing toward Flores as she moved in quicker,
but she tired slightly as Percival rallied with her own combinations at the
end of the round..Flores opened up the final round with a right-hand, left-hand combination
but Percival landed a crisp one-two followed by a jolting right counter.
Flores was never hurt but her stamina seemed to fail her as Percival had a
little more gas.
“It seemed I fought backwards the whole fight,” said Percival. “But I had to
fight that way because she was heavier and strong.” Flores wants a rematch
-“I wish I had more time to train for this fight,” Flores said. “I’ll fight
her again if she comes to Texas.”
Percival enjoyed the fight and the exposure to a longer distance.
“Fighter someone like her was great experience,” Percival said.
March 26, 2005 - Laughlin, Nevada
 WBAN
Record Member's MPEGS/Photo gallery #249
Bloodied, battered and disappointed, Elena Reid suffered her
first loss in several years.
Before more than 1,000 people at Harrah's Hotel and Casino, Reid was stopped
by technical knockout by New York's Alicia Ashley in a bantamweight bout
scheduled for eight. Referee Jay Nady stopped the fight because of a cut
over Reid's right eye at 1:04 in the seventh.
Though Reid was the favorite coming into the fight, Ashley was the bigger,
faster and more experienced fighter and showed it.
Using her longer reach and deftly moving side to side, Ashley popped Reid
with jabs and landed some stiff left hands. It was a left hand that caused a
cut over Reid's eye in the sixth round.
"I hurt her in the third round," said Ashley (11-5-1), who usually fights at
a heavier weight and has fought champions such as
Chevelle Hallback. "After
that, she didn't want to come in any more."
Reid tried to work inside but found herself walking into left hands. And
when she backed out, Ashley would catch her again with left hands.
"I wanted to show people I could box," said Ashley. "But after I hurt her I
didn't have to move."
The first two rounds Ashley moved quickly around the ring, changing
direction whenever Reid closed in. Both fought out of a left-handed stance.
"I don't think because we're both left-handed that it caused a problem,"
said Ashley. "It's just like two orthodox fighters fighting each other."
Ashley was correct. It was more her handspeed and reach that befuddled Reid
who could not figure out how to effectively attack the rapidly moving
Ashley.
Reid suffered her first loss since losing to Layla McCarter several years
ago. "I'm a little disappointed," said Reid (16-2-5). "I have to go back to
the gym and improve." Ashley felt her amateur experience proved the decisive
factor in winning the fight.
"I'm a boxer. I never go into a fight thinking I'm going to stop someone,"
said Ashley. "I'm a boxer. I know people don't like to see boxers, but
that's what I am." In a featherweight bout, Fontana's
Heather Percival was the underdog against
Michigan's Jennifer Salinas (5-1) who is tutored by famed trainer Floyd Mayweather Sr. But she proved to be more skilled and won by unanimous
decision. "I landed the straighter shots," said Percival (6-1). "I
guess I have the better trainer."
Percival, who is trained by Larry Ramirez, moved side to side giving angles
to the hard rushing Salinas. The judges scored the fight 40-36 for Percival.
"This was a great win because she was supposed to be the better fighter,"
said Percival. "She was aggressive but it's not always the aggressive
fighter that wins. It's the fighter who connects the most."
From the first round, Percival found holes in Salinas defense. And when
Salinas closed in too fast, she was met with wicked right hands.
In the second round Salinas began to land more punches to the body, but so
did Percival. During the following rounds Percival seemed to have more
energy and began landing three-punch combinations. Occasionally, Salinas
would land a solid right hand, but it wasn't enough. In a junior middleweight bout, Texan
Akondaye Fountain (5-0) won by
technical knockout over Shelly Burton (6-2) of Montana.
Burton pressed the fight but kept getting caught with left and right
counters. It was a fight decided by Fountain's ability to slip and counter.
In the seventh round, Burton rushed Fountain with a fussilade of punches
that caught her off-guard. But when she tired, referee Robert Byrd stopped
it. The crowd booed.
A match between super middleweights ended in a six-round draw between
Asa Sandell (2-0-1) of Sweden and
Yolanda Swindell (3-2-1) of Texas.
December 4, 2004 -
Emerald Queen Casino, in Tacoma, Washington
On the undercard,
Jeannine Garside, 122.5, of Windsor, Canada,
won her pro debut when she defeated
California's Heather Percival, 119, now 4-1-0 (0KO)
with a unanimous decision in a
four round bout. Both Garside and Percival formerly come from the
amateurs. Margaret Sidoroff wrote the following, "Jeannine's next
bout is scheduled for next weekend in New York against
Hagar Shmoulefeld of
Israel. Hagar is a veteran of the professional ring and has fought 10 round
title bouts and will be conditioned to fight many rounds. This should prove
to be a great test for Garside. " Photographer, Mike Blair, who
was ringside at the event, told WBAN, "The fight was one of the best of the
night. Garside was quicker, stronger and simply too tough for Percival.
Percival fought pretty well, but she just could not find a way to slow
Garside."
October 22, 2004 -Santa Ynez,
California
Heather Percival won by UD4 over
Elizabeth Cervantes.
September 24, 2004 in Montebello,
California
Heather Percival won by UD4 over
Reiko Muruyama.
August 27, 2004 - Burbank Hilton Convention Center, Burbank, California
Fontana’s Heather Percival tangled with
Compton’s Tracy Carlton in a rematch
at the Burbank Hilton Convention Center on Friday. Despite a few notable
changes it was the same outcome. Percival (2-0), looking trimmer at 125
pounds, used a steady stream of snapping jabs with slick foot movement to
keep the stronger Carlton from setting up her punches. “My corner said
she was going to come after me and to keep my defense tight,” said Percival,
who is trained by Larry Ramirez and son Frank Ramirez. “I used my jab to set
her up.” In the previous fight held several months ago in
Montebello, Carlton (1-5) managed to use her strength to contain Percival in
the corners of the ring while releasing bludgeoning punches. This time
Percival slipped away effortlessly and left a left hook as a reminder that
things had changed. After four rounds the judges scored it
40-36, 39-37 twice for Percival. There were no knockdowns. “They
called us three days ago to see if we would fight her,” said Ramirez, who
formerly worked on the 1988 U.S. Olympic boxing team. “We knew what to
expect and they knew what to expect.” The slight change was Percival’s
combination punching and adept movements to get out of range once she landed
her punches. “She sparred a lot with Mariana Juarez and Rhonda
Luna,” said Ramirez of the junior bantamweight and featherweight contenders
out of Southern California. “She really picked up a lot.” Percival,
quickly nodded in agreement that sparring with the two ring savvy female
fighters added to her arsenal. “You can’t help but learn more
when you spar against those girls,” said Percival. Despite a
five-pound weight advantage, Carlton was unable to penetrate Percival’s
defense set up by a stinging jab. “We knew she was overweight but we
didn’t care,” said Percival. “I’m looking forward to my next fight.”
Report by Mara Castillon
June 18, 2004 - Quiet Cannon Country Club, Montebello,
California
Fontana’s Heather Percival returned to the ring after
several years and defeated the lean and tough
Tracy Carlton.
It was Percival’s pro debut. She had formerly been a top ranking amateur but
left boxing for personal reasons.
Percival (1-0), who fights out of the Fontana Boxing Club and is trained by
Larry and Frank Ramirez – father and son team – began the first round
circling left and right behind a stiff steady jab. Though Carlton was the
taller fighter, Percival’s jab found its mark repeatedly. At the end of the
round Carlton landed two counter rights.
The second round saw Carlton (1-3) use her counter right to open the stanza.
The jolting shots snapped Percival’s head back but when Carlton tried to
follow up, the Fontana fighter moved left or right and pivoted out of the
danger zone like a seasoned pro.
Percival landed several one-twos that snapped Carlton’s head back. Angered
by the punches, Carlton chased her opponent and landed a solid right hand
that may have won her the round.
In the third round Carlton began using her height to avoid the jabs and
leaned back to avoid punches. Percival adjusted her jabs and began following
with rights that found Carlton’s head repeatedly, Though the Compton fighter
was hit many times she never wavered in trying to land one of her own. On
occasion she rocked Percival with punches that had some snap to them.
The final round saw Percival go back to the jab with Carlton countering with
rights. But not enough punching by Cartlon told the story for the judges.
Percival won her first pro fight by scores 40-36 twice and 39-37.
“She had been away for three years,” said Larry Ramirez trainer. “She had a
lot of good sparring with Mariana Juarez and Rhonda Luna. That’s what makes
a difference. It’s the sparring.” Report by Mara Castillon
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