Former WBO female flyweight champion Kenia Enriquez (13-1, 6KO) of Tijuana, Mexico, is all set to come back after nearly a six month hiatus away from the ring. Enriquez will be facing the always tough Lorena “Ratoncita” Arias (3-7-1) in a junior flyweight six rounder as one of the featured fights on Friday, August 28th, in her hometown of Tijuana. The fight card, which also features female fighter Amaris Quintana, will take place at the Mezzanine Hall and is presented by Borizteca Promotions.
“Fortunately and thanks to my promoter Bobby DePhilippis, I fought six times in less than fifteen months,” The twenty-one year old Enriquez explained. “I took some time off but also had some false starts for a fight in Las Vegas. Now I’m ready to come back and what better place but my hometown.”
The WBC#9/IBF#2/WBA#6 ranked Enriquez is coming off a hard fought controversial split decision loss to veteran Melissa McMorrow last February. Suffering her first loss as a professional, Enriquez relinquished her title with the loss.
“It was a tough fight, we knew Melissa is a tough competitor with a lot of experience. I don’t take anything away from her, she fought her fight,” Kenia says with a smile. “There were some behind the scene issues with the promoter of the event and the sanctioning body which my team and I weren’t too happy with but now that is in the past. I am looking to win a title in my division next.”
For her flyweight title defense against McMorrow, the popular Enriquez weighed in at 109.5 pounds, two and a half pound under the limit and only a pound and a half over junior flyweight. “I’m a natural junior flyweight. I went up to flyweight to win the title but my team and I have decided to stay 108 pounds and go for a belt there. I think I can even make strawweight.”
First the charismatic Enriquez must face Arias from Tepic, Nayarit, Mexico. The southpaw Arias has faced the likes of WBA champ Anabel Ortiz, IBF champ Nancy Franco and highly ranked Isabel Millan.
“Records can be deceiving, many of her losses have come at higher weight classes,” she says about her next opponent. “She’s experienced and she comes to fight. We can’t take any opponent lightly. I’m working hard to put on show in Tijuana.”
