Kenia Enriquez More than Ready for World Title Shot!

In boxing, a belt is not an accessory but an identity. Once a career is over, success is not measured in a win/loss record, money in the bank, magazine covers or possessions but in how many world titles were collected.  Ever since Tijuana’s Kenia Enriquez (12-0, 6 KO) laced up the gloves at the tender age of thirteen the dream has been the same.

To capture the world title.

Things since then might have changed, different trainers, different gyms, different scenery but the goal has never changed.  Friday, November 21st, after two years and twelve fights as a professional Enriquez gets her first opportunity for a world title when she faces the much more experienced Ana “La Bronca” Arrazola (20-10-3, 13KO) of Mexico City for the vacant World Boxing Organization female flyweight title in a bout scheduled for ten rounds.

In Kenia’s eyes, the title comes right at the perfect time. “At first my plan was to wait until next year to look for a shot at the title but thanks to my promoter Bobby DePhilippis the opportunity is here. I am ready. My whole life has led to this. All those early mornings, running all those miles, all those afternoons in the gym, sparring, working the bags, the years of learning from my father, my last trainer Gerardo Espinoza and nowDon Romulo Quirarte, it has led to this.”

This year has been the busiest of Enriquez budding career with tonight’s fight her fifth of the year. She began in January stopping Selene Lopez in the first round with a barrage of punches. Last year Enriquez defeated Selene’s sister, Karely, via a dominating decision in her first six rounder. In her U.S. debut back in February Enriquez sent Florida’s Noemi Bosques to the canvas in the first of six rounds on her way to a dominating unanimous decision. Since then Bosques captured the NBA flyweight title.

In April Enriquez won her first belt, the vacant NABF light flyweight title, with a seventh round stoppage of former world champion Jolene Blackshear. Despite Jolene’s experience Kenia was just too precise with her right hand a too strong for the former IFBA title holder. After a five-month hiatus Kenia came back in September to face the veteran Mayela “Cobrita” Perez, the current WBC Silver strawweight champion, who she defeated with a shutout eight round unanimous decision. It was the first time she had the legendary Mexican trainer Don Romulo Quirarte in her corner.

“Perez has been my toughest opponent yet. She had a really nuanced skill set,” Kenia mentioned. “It felt great having Don Romulo and his sons in my corner, it felt like we had been working together a lot longer. It is no secret they have a world of experience and that is going to help when we go against the best in the world.”

If Kenia sounds confident of her capturing the title, is because she is. “Those that know me know that I am not cocky. I give my opponents my utmost respect but I have prepared myself like never before for this fight. I have always been very disciplined but I have taken my preparation up a notch for November 21^st. From the miles I run, to my work in the gym to my sparring has been longer and tougher. I can’t be any more prepared.”

Standing in her way will be Mexico City’s Arrazola, a southpaw, who comes into the ring with more than double the fights Enriquez has as a pro. Arrazola has faced a number of current or former world champions like the aforementioned Mayela Perez, Ibeth “La Roca” Zamora, Jessica “Kika” Chavez, Anahi Torres, Yesica “Tutti” Bopp, Susi Kentikian, Katia Gutirrez and Naoko Shibata among others.

“Her record is impressive. She has fought many of the fighters we see on TV right now in Mexico, on Televisa and Azteca,” Enriquez said. “I want to join those names but first I must beat Arrazola who I am sure wants that title. She is coming off from a loss for the IBF title so I am sure she is happy she is getting another opportunity. She is a southpaw but that doesn’t bother me since my sister is one too and I have been sparring her as well as Sandra Robles. I’ve never had trouble with southpaws.”

Surprisingly Enriquez is relatively calm weeks before her the biggest step so far in her two-year career. “I trust my preparation. Of course I feel some anxiousness but not much more than usual before I fight. I am sure that as it gets closer I will be a little nervous but not because I am worried of the result but just because I want to fight.”

The fight marks the first world title fight in San Diego in nearly ten years and the first female world title in “America’s Finest City”, a fact that is not lost for the young lady.

“In a short year San Diego has become like a second home for me,” Kenia says with a smile. “I love fighting here, I feel that the fans have really accepted me and I appreciate that. When I first dreamed of winning the world title I always felt that it would be for my city, Tijuana, a city that has seen many world champions like Erik Morales, Jackie Nava and Antonio Margarito but not I also want to share it with San Diego because they deserve it too.”