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5'2" featherweight Rhonda Luna from Rowland Heights, California was
born on April 24, 1978. She was an accomplished softball player at the
University of California, and saw boxing as a way to keep her competitive juices
flowing.
She now balances boxing training in the evenings with a daytime career as a high
school English teacher and softball coach in suburban Los Angeles. She prepared
for her career as a pro boxer by gaining extensive amateur experience. She had
14 amateur bouts and twice won the National Blue and Gold Tournament before
turning professional. "I think I paid my dues in the amateur level," says
Luna.
She made her pro debut on her 25th birthday,
April 24, 2003 at the Marriott Hotel in Irvine, California, winning a four-round unanimous decision over Rosa Ponce
of El Cajon, who was also making her pro debut.
On
June 19, 2003 at Olympic Auditorium in Los Angeles, California, Rhonda (127 lbs)
won by a third-round TKO over pro debut fighter Mayra Trevino (124½ lbs) of Orosi.
On
August 8, 2003 at Sports Arena, Pico Rivera, California, Rhonda won a four-round unanimous decision over Miriam Rosario of México City, México (fighting out of Los Angeles)
who fell to 2-2-0 (0 KO).
On
October 30, 2003 at Marriott Hotel in Irvine, California, Rhonda won a four-round unanimous decision
over unranked Kimberly Reed of Granada Hills, California, who fell to 1-9-1 (0 KO).
vs. Amber Gideon in March 2004
© Copyrighted photo by Photojournalist
J.P. Yim
On
March 25, 2004 at Grand Olympic Auditorium in Los Angeles, California, a crowd
estimated at 2800 saw Rhonda (127 lbs)
win a six-round unanimous (60-54,59-55,58-56)
decision over Amber Gideon (124½ lbs) of Chicago, Illinois. They traded on even terms at first, with Luna landing from
longer range while Gideon tried to work inside and smother Luna's punches. As
the fight progressed both fought in flurries, matching the other's tempo. Luna
worked Gideon's body effectively and set up hooks and uppercuts but Gideon
replied with a right that landed effectively at times. Gideon began to tire in
the later going, allowing Luna to seal the win despite taking some hard rights
from the Chicagoan. (For more photo coverage of the fight, see
Photo Gallery #159
on the WBAN Member Site).
Gideon, a 2002, 2001 and 2000 USA Boxing national champion who
reached the 60-kg semifinals in the 2001 AIBA world championships, fell to 1-1-0
(0 KO) with the loss. "I'm disappointed in myself, I thought I could do a lot better. She didn't fight
the way I expected her to fight," said Luna, who prepared for the fight with
sparring against Mia St. John,
Mariana Juárez and recent Golden Glove champion
Danny Martinez. "She threw me off with her lunging. The best thing I can say is at least I won though I didn't perform to my
capabilities, and I know now I can go six rounds."
Gideon, 33, was optimistic despite the loss. "I knew coming into the fight this was her hometown, I
couldn't leave any doubt that I beat her or I wasn't going to win. I
thought it was a hard fight, Rhonda is a good fighter, she was very aggressive. I thought I gave a good show.
People have been coming up to me to tell me I did well. That makes me happy ...
it's not going to stop me from fighting other people in their home town. I don't
want to be that kind of fighter."
 On June 19, 2004 at
the Home Depot Center in Los Angeles, Rhonda won a
four-round unanimous (40-36 on every score-card) decision in a toe-to-toe battle
with Lisa Martin of Oceanside, California.
Luna came out throwing jabs to the head and
body, then unleashed a steady stream of lead rights to back Martin up in the
opening round. The two exchanged hard rights and effective combinations in
the second round, with the crowd cheering them on. Luna came out aggressively to start the third, throwing punches from all angles and snapping
Marti's head back with powerful hooks. Despite this, Martin held her ground and
traded, and neither was significantly hurt. Both landed well in the fourth, but
Luna had been busier, especially at the ends of the rounds, and she won a clear
decision. Despite this, she said the wasn't satisfied with her
performance. “I can do better,” said Luna. “I’m learning but I know I
can do better and should do better.” (See the full
fight report
by WBAN ringside reporter Mara Castillon). Martin, who won a bronze medal in the
2002 U.S. Amateur National championships in Scranton, Pennsylvania, fell to 1-2
(0 KO) with this loss.
On September 30, 2004 at the Grand Olympic Auditorium in Los Angeles,
California, a crowd estimated at 1000 saw Rhonda win a four-round unanimous
(40-36) decision over Cindy Christian from Oklahoma. (Read the fight report
here.)
Luna was the aggressor throughout the fight and controlled the action with her
combination punching and defense. Her left hook snapped Christian;s head back
several times. Christian fell to
0-2-1. "I was pleased the way I fought," said Luna, "I wasn't wild and
I was much more aggressive. I was surprised she lasted so long, she was a game
fighter."
vs. Betty Stephens in December 2004
© Copyrighted photo by Photojournalist
J.P. Yim
On December 16, 2004 at the Olympic Auditorium in Los Angeles, California,
Rhonda won a six round unanimous (60-54) decision over Betty Stephens of Utah in
a featherweight bout. Rhonda remained undefeated at 8-0-0 (1 KO) while Stephens
fell to 3-2-0 (0 KO). (For more photo coverage of the fight, see
Photo Gallery #231
on the WBAN Member Site).
"She was tough just like all my opponents are," said Luna, who
fought cautiously in the third and fourth rounds of her second six-round
contest. "I let it play with my mind," said Luna, "I started
thinking maybe I should keep some reserves. I need a little bit more practice
fighting more rounds." Luna's trainer Victor Valenzuela had slapped her
across the face a couple of times to wake her up. "I almost hit him back,"
laughed Luna. Valenzuela said they had prepared Rhonda to go to the body and
worked on her firing straighter punches. "We worked hard on those things,"
said Valenzuela, "very few women attack the body." Luna stepped up
her pressure in the fifth and sixth rounds and Stephens responded by going toe
to toe with her in a rousing finish that had the crowd cheering them both on.
On February 16, 2005 at the Marriott Hotel in Irvine, California,
Rhonda won a hard-fought six-round 60-54,59-55,58-56 unanimous decision over
Margarita Espinosa of Los Angeles. Espinosa, in just her second pro bout,
pressured Luna by rushing in with body punches throughout the fight while Luna
opened up with her jab and fired combinations when inside Espinosa's reach. Both
were willing to trade at close quarters, often exchanging head-snapping shots.
The non-stop aggression of this bout prompted fans to shower the ring with money
after it was over. "I thought I gave the people a good fight," said
Luna, "when you're undefeated, everybody comes at you." Espinosa
said the crowd felt she won the fight. "Didn't you hear them?" she said.
"Everyone thought I won the fight. At least a draw." Luna's trainer
Victor Valenzuela said "these fighters have nothing to lose so they come at
her strong." Espinosa and Luna split the reported $190 dollars thrown
into the tin by the excited fans. Espinosa slipped to 1-1.
On April 28, 2005 at the Marriott Hotel in Irvine, California, Rhonda won a
six-round split (58-56,59-55,55-59) decision over Sosadea Razo of Santa Rosa,
California. Luna improved to 10-0-0 (1 KO) while Razo slipped to 2-5-0 (1 KO).
Rhonda battles Cindy Serrano for the WIBA title
© Copyrighted photo taken by Durell Wambolt
On December 10, 2005, at the Turning Stone
Casino in Verona, New York Rhonda (125¼ lbs) fought to a ten-round split
draw (96-94 Serrano, 98-92 Luna, 95-95) with Cindy Serrano (125¾ lbs) of
Brooklyn, New York for the vacant WIBA World Featherweight title. Rhonda
Luna is now 10-0-1 (1 KO) while Cindy Serrano is 12-0-1 (7 KO's).
According
to WBAN correspondent Rick McLean, who
said this was the best women’s match
he had ever seen, "Round one started out
fast and furious with Luna moving straight ahead at Serrano looking to land
bombs early on. Serrano, on the other hand looked very calm and composed,
she was definitely prepared for this bout and rushed nothing in the opening
round.
Serrano moved back and took her time counter punched Luna effectively with
solid straight right and left hands. Cindy moved her head well, snapped out
very nice jabs and went downstairs to the body well. What was very
impressive from both women was the constant body work throughout the match.
They were not just head hunting but were cognizant of the fact that they had
to work the body in order to slow each other down. Luna kept the pressure on
Serrano and also landed solid combinations to the body however she was
unable to land clean punches to the head."
"The second, third, and fourth rounds started off the same as the first
with Luna coming straight ahead and moving Serrano back. Serrano landed
stiff left jabs and straight right hands that kept Luna off balanced and
slowed her forward progress. Cindy also landed impressive counter left hooks
to Luna’s head and body. Luna kept the pressure on Serrano and started to
find her way in and landed strong right hands to the head. The crowd
was chanting Cindy! Cindy! and by the end of the fourth round Luna had
significant swelling under her right eye and it looked as though it would
only be a matter of time before the eye closed."
"In the fifth, it was evident that Luna had found a hole in Serrano’s
defenses and made adjustments to exploit it because from that round on Luna
controlled the pace and momentum of the bout. The adjustment was to start
moving her head more and to start landing lead right hands which set up
openings for the left hook to the head. This allowed Luna to finally get
Serrano pinned on the ropes where she was able to land harder punches. Once
pinned on the ropes Serrano was unable to effectively counter like she had
been doing through out the bout. Serrano had a confused look on her face
periodically during the round."
"Rounds six through eight followed the same pattern as Luna’s punches
were starting to get through. Now Serrano was backing up and looking hurt
instead of effectively counter punching like she was earlier on. However,
Serrano stood in there and traded with Luna and landed devastating straight
rights and left hooks to Luna’s head but it looked like it was not having
any effect on Luna because she kept moving forward and kept pressing the
action. Both women were still going downstairs and landing excellent right
and left hooks to the body. By round 9, Serrano no
longer had a cocky and confident look on her face. Instead she had a pained
and concerned look on her face as well as a badly swollen left cheek. The
crowd was no longer chanting Cindy! Cindy!, but instead were just going wild
because these women were giving their all inside the ring. Luna was still
slipping punches well and landing solid right hands. Serrano blocked many of
Luna’s best punches and countered with her own hard punches. However she did
not look like the aggressor and this is what could have cost her rounds on
the judges score cards."
"Round 10 was a
total slugfest where both Luna and Serrano stood toe to toe and punched with
everything they had left. Both women were definitely going for the knockout
and very little defense was shown in this round. Both boxers raised their
arms after the round feeling they had won the match. Even before the
decision was given the announcer stated that there would be a rematch
between the two at Turning Stone Casino in the future. The bout was ruled a
draw and the audience erupted into boos."
On April 1, 2006 in Maywood, California, Rhonda won a
six-round unanimous (60-54,60-54,59-56)
decision over Lina Ramirez of Mexico. Luna, the more
skillful of the two, warded off the wild punching Ramirez, countering with
effective combinations. Rhonda improved her record to 11-0-1
(1 KOs) while Ramirez fell to 4-7-1 (1 KOs).
On February 8, 2007 at
the Marriott in Irvine, California, Rhonda Luna set the stage for an
upcoming world title challenge with a hard fought majority
(59-54,57-57,60-54) six-round decision over Sosadea Razo of Los Angeles.
Fans throw over $200 into the ring to show their appreciation for the two
females, who traded punches for the entire six rounds. Razo, with her
looping punches, bloodied Luna’s nose in the second round, but Luna’s right
cross consistently found the mark and by the third round Razo’s right side
was swelling. Both fighters staggered each other in the fifth and sixth
rounds with toe-to-toe exchanges. With the win, Luna goes to 12-0-1 (1 KO)
while Razo fell to 6-7-1 (1 KO).
Rhonda battles Kelsey Jeffries
© Copyrighted photograph by Mary Ann Owen
On March 22, 2007 at the Isleta Casino near Albuquerque, New Mexico,
Kelsey Jeffries (123 lbs) of Gilroy, California
won a ten-round split (97-93,94-96,96-94) decision over Rhonda (124 lbs)
defending her IFBA Featherweight world title. This was a non-stop action
bout, with Luna the heavier hitter starting the fight strongly, and Jeffries
throwing the sharper and quicker punches, warming up as the bout progressed.
Both threw nice combinations, effective jabs and body shots. In the fourth
round, Luna developed a large lump on her forehead, which got larger as the
fight continued. Jeffries had begun to find a home for her straight right
and showed excellent use of footwork and angles to penetrate Luna's defense.
The seventh round was one of the most “brawling rounds” of the fight, with
the two exchanging puches ferociously at the end of the session. Jeffries
pressed the action in the eight and ninth and the tenth was a barn-burner as
both unleashed everything left in their arsenal of solid punches. Jeffries
improved her record to 37-9-1 (3 KOs) with the win while Luna suffered her
first pro loss in falling to 12-1-1 (1 KO). (For coverage of the
weigh-in, and fight photos by Mary Ann Owen and Patricia Butaud, see
MPEG/Photo Galleries #419 and #420
on the WBAN Member Site).
Rhonda
says
that her amateur experience was an essential precursor to her pro career.
“You have to get grounded in
the sport before you just jump into it, especially to jump right into the
professional level. I couldn’t imagine myself doing that had I not had the
amateur experience. Just the idea of feeling comfortable in the ring,
understanding the art of the sport - which is not the idea that a lot of people
think, where it’s just stepping in the ring and throwing a lot of punches. The
amateur experience gave me so much more of the feeling of being comfortable in
the ring, knowing what to look for, and things of the sort. Sparring is one
thing, hitting the bag and doing the mitts is another thing. But when you get in
an actual fight, it’s a completely different story. I couldn’t imagine not
having that amateur experience.”
"Before, I would travel to L.A., East L.A., Chino and South El Monte to spar,
now people come over here", says Luna.
Her sparring partners now include such experienced
pro fighters as Mia St. John and Fredia Gibbs.
“I really like Rhonda Luna,”
says St. John, "she’s a good tough fighter.” Luna says that she often
works with St.
John and seeks her advice when preparing for a fight. “Mia has a lot of experience,” said Luna,
"she knows what to do in the ring. With other girls I end up hurting them. They’re too easy to hit.”
 Rhonda
is trained by Victor Valenzuela, who trained former WBO Junior Welterweight
champion Zack Padilla. Valenzuela
says of his female
charge:
“She looks real good. We have to get experienced fighters for her because she’s too tough for most girls,
she hurts other girls who come to spar with her. Not many women do that.
"She has her own style. I can tell she has it,” adds Valenzuela.
Rhonda's boxing career is managed by her brother Jacob, who says
“We don’t want to just throw her in with anybody, not at this point,
we’re taking our time. She’s young.”
"I know that my
future is inside the classroom", says Luna, "however, my goal is to
become a future world champion. I'm hoping I can win a couple of world titles. I
know that I need to work extremely hard at what I need to do. I'm taking things
slowly and each fight one at a time. My timetable inside the ring will be as
long as I am able to fight."
Luna fights for Oscar De La Hoya's Golden Boy Promotions
and says she is looking forward to fighting Mexican champion
Laura Serrano in
the future.
Other Rhonda Luna links
To check out fight reports, complete up-to-date boxing records, with huge digital photos you can go to
the WBAN Records Member Site
Page last updated:
Friday April 11, 2008 |
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