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Holly Holm may be the biggest name in women's boxing in New Mexico, but another leading contender from up north is one fight away from getting the chance to bring home yet another world title.
Espanola's Monica Lovato, rated No. 1 in the World Boxing Council's super flyweight division, is looking at a title shot in May or June - provided she wins Jan. 27.
Lovato headlines Romero Promotions' third card at Sky City Casino in Acoma. She'll fight for the vacant North American Boxing Federation super flyweight title, while, at the same time, attempting to erase the sole blemish on her record.
The 29-year-old Lovato (8-1, 4 KOs) will take on Westminster, Calif.'s Julie Rubalcava (4-0, 1 KO) in an eight-round title fight. The showdown was originally the co-main, but was upgraded earlier this week to main-event status after promoter Juan Romero was unable to secure a suitable foe for Socorro's Joaquin Zamora (12-2-1, 10 KOs) for a state or regional belt.
"It's been my dream to win a world title," says Lovato. "The NABF is a legit title and a steppingstone toward that goal. If I win, I could get a shot at the WBC champion Ana Marie Torres (14-2-1, 10 KOs) in Mexico City in May or June.
"But even though the NABF title is important, there's another reason why this fight with Rubalcava is important."
In June 2004, Lovato lost to Rubalcava by unanimous decision in a four-rounder in Irvine, Calif.
The chance for vengeance outweighs the belt, says Lovato.
"To me, the fight's more important. I need to fight her again and get that off my shoulders."
At the time, Lovato was in between trainers and desperate for a fight.
"I wasn't 100 percent at the time," she says. "My head was not in it, and I wasn't comfortable with my team. Julie and I went at it, but I could have done 10 times better.
"Still, I thought I won that fight. I was the aggressor, always coming forward, and she was the counterpuncher. It was a close fight but, of course, she was the hometown girl."
This time around, however, Lovato will be the hometown girl. But, local judges or not, Lovato is not planning on the fight going the distance.
"Even here, I don't plan on leaving it up to the judges," she says. "I've improved so much since then, and I'm confident that I can stop her."
Since losing to Rubalcava, Lovato has won all her fights.
Rubalcava went to 4-0 that year, but then dropped out of the picture and has not fought in more than two years now.
"I know she had a couple fights fall through," says Lovato, "but I'm a little curious why she hasn't fought in so long."
Lovato is no stranger to fights falling through. She hasn't fought since July but has had several bouts scratched on short notice.
"It's really, really frustrating," says Lovato. "But I'm putting 2006 behind me. I plan on making 2007 my best year and will try to bring home as many titles as I can."
If Lovato wins a world title this year, she'll be the seventh New Mexican to win a women's world title belt (eighth if you count Denver's Terri Cruz, who was born in Raton), and one of three currently holding belts in New Mexico.
Holm holds two world titles, at 147 and 154, and Albuquerque's Jackie Chavez has the 122-pound belt from the International Female Boxing Association.
Speaking of Chavez . . .
"I'd agreed to fight her on Jan. 27, originally," says Lovato. "I gave up 2 pounds, then 4, then 7, but she turned it down because her trainer was out of town."
Chavez is scheduled to defend her belt March 23 on the triple-title card headlined by Holm at Isleta.
That fight, too, was offered to Lovato.
