Someone once asked me the strange question: "Why did the chicken
cross the road?" Of course I had no idea, but Elizabeth Aguillón
could perhaps have told him, because she keeps doing it herself; and
the road 'La Paloma' ('The Dove') Aguillón insists on crossing is
Mexican boxing's equivalent of the
Mulsanne straight.
In February, Yasmín Rivas was conducting a few practice laps for her
own 24 heures du Mans – a ten-round world title fight with
Marcela Acuña – when La Paloma decided inexplicably to get
in her way. Elizabeth Aguillón, making a tardy entry into the
professional ranks at the age of 29, had no business being anywhere
near Rivas, who's been fighting professionally since the age of 13
and at 19 is already a fighter of world class. When the youngster
hit the accelerator towards the end of the first round, 'The Dove'
froze like a rabbit in her headlights, and Rivas – by now full
throttle – left her twitching in the gutter and roared off towards
the
Hump with nary a backward glance. A photo taken seconds before
the knockout captures the look of panic on Aguillón's face as Rivas
comes at her with all cylinders firing. It's the look of a fighter
who's forgotten everything she's learned in the gym. She has no
guard. She's closing her eyes as Rivas sets her up with the jab. And
we know the rest: "It's always the same with these Mexicans,"
commented Acuña. "A straight left to the face [a hard one, from the
look of it, that tilts the whole head backwards] followed by a
[vomit-inducing] hook to the liver."
Rivas KO 1.
Last night, to show us how much she'd learned about road safety from
that incident, (absolutely zilch!), Aguillón made the same mistake
with Susana 'la Toloquita' Vásquez, the 19-year-old bantamweight
champion, another of the
sports-prototypes of the Mexican circuit. After a long staredown
at the weigh-in on Friday, ("an exchange of looks that could melt
ice"), the young champion promised she would "make it spectacular".
Spectacular it was. "I'm bringing everything to this fight,"
Aguillón had told journalists, "because I want that title and I'm
ready for tomorrow." She, too, had promised that those who came to
the fight would not regret it.
Now that they know she's alright they won't; but for long moments
last night, the crowd itself was in a state of shock.
Aguillón had come to get Vásquez, about that there's no doubt. She
went looking for her from the opening bell, and kept after her
throughout the first round; but the champion was simply too good for
her. With superior footwork and greater skill, Vásquez "had a field
day", we're told, halting the crude charges of the challenger with
seismic right crosses that made her shudder each time they smashed
into her face. Aguillón was lucky (if that's the word) to survive
the round.
She was hurt, though, and Vásquez knew it. In the second, the roles
of hunter and hunted were reversed, as the 19-year-old went all-out
for the kill. Already weakened, and perhaps dazed, too, the older
woman was in no state to resist her. A fluid, pitilessly accurate,
combination from the champion culminated in a fulminating right –
the 'head shot' – that knocked her clean out. 'The Dove' fell in the
most spectacular fashion, like a rhino hit by a Win Mag, and the
referee called for help from the ring physicians without even
bothering to count.
After attending to her for several minutes, the doctors decided
Aguillón was OK, and she got up, to generous applause from
spectators – who were doubtless hugely relieved.
Her dreams, of course, had been shattered. But whose haven't at some
time? The dreams of boxers are shattered under bright lights that
give the shards an eerie majesty, like icebergs, or diamonds from a
fallen crown. It's Act Five of King Lear compressed into ten
seconds, as the hero – betrayed not by his daughters but his own
body – struggles pathetically to beat the count. Or in this case,
lies crying on her back, having realized (and none too soon!) that
she just doesn't have it, while doctors fuss above her,
shining torches into her eyes.
Aguillón will never beat Vásquez. She can forget it. But Yasmín
Rivas might. That, if I were her, would be my consolation: "Some day
Rivas will come gunning for that title, and 'La Toloquita'
will get hers!"
*
Date:
1st June 2007d
Venue:
Casino Social de los Fresnos, Tepic (Nayarit)
For the Mexican bantamweight championship
(holder: Vásquez)
Susana 'La Toloquita' Vásquez defeated Elizabeth 'La Paloma'
Aguillón by knockout in the second round
#
# #
#
For Online IWBHF Tickets for
Next Event!
Check Our Next Annual International
Women's Boxing Hall of Fame Event that we have to celebrate hour IWBHF
Inductees and Special Award Recipients!
Next Event, Go Here!
Our Online
WBAN/IWBHF Online Store
Proceeds from the Online Store is to
continue our mission to support the INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S BOXING HALL OF
FAME. The Official collection includes IWBHF and WBAN Merchandise and
Memorabilia from the WBAN Boxing Collection. We will continue to list
items from the collection and merchandise.
