Maribel Zurita | |
---|---|
Statistics | |
Rated at | lightweight |
Height | 5 ft 0 in (1.52 m) |
Nationality | American |
Born |
San Antonio, Texas, USA |
14 January 1979
Stance | Orthodox |
Boxing record | |
Total fights | 11 |
Wins | 8 |
Losses | 3 |
Maribel "Little Thunder" Zurita (born January 14, 1979) is an American boxer. She is the WIBA Light Flyweight World Champion and former IFBA Flyweight World Champion in women's boxing. She fights out of San Antonio, Texas and was trained by Tony Ayala Sr.
Zurita's professional debut was on July 31, 2001 at Sunset Station in San Antonio, Texas, easily winning a four-round decision over debut fighter Anna Mora. According to a ringside report from Esteban Erik Stipnieks, "Maribel quickly won over the fans and dominated the fight. It was four rounds of Maribel flaunting her amateur background. Mora made it interesting by holding on and making an occasional counter but this fight was made for Zurita."
On October 26, 2001 at Frank Erwin Center in Austin, Texas, WIBF Americas Junior Flyweight champion Juana (Jay) Vega of Austin won a four-round unanimous decision over Zurita in a flyweight bout. Vega improved to 5-0 (2 KO) while Zurita slipped to 1-1.
On January 25, 2002 at Randy's Ballroom in San Antonio, Zurita and debut fighter Gracie Olivarez of Houston fought to a majority draw over four rounds.
On January 31, 2002 at Roy Wilkins Auditorium in St. Paul, Minnesota, Zurita won a four-round unanimous decision over Shannon Brown.
On May 3, 2002 at Randy's Ballroom in San Antonio, Zurita won a unanimous four-round decision over Gracie Olivarez in a closely fought bout carried live on ESPN2's Friday Night Fights.
On June 21, 2002 at Sunset Station, a standing-room-only crowd of about 2,000 watched WIBF Americas Junior Flyweight champion Juana (Jay) Vega advance to 6-1-0 (1 KO) with a six-round unanimous decision over Zurita.
On August 16, 2002 at Sunset Station, Zurita won a four-round unanimous decision over Terri Moss of Athens, Georgia. Zurita worked her way inside on the taller fighter.
On November 14, 2002 at American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida, Patricia Martinez of Miami won a unanimous (40-36) four-round decision over Zurita in a flyweight bout. Martinez thrived on trading with Zurita, bloodied her nose in the opening round and continued to control the fight. Zurita's record slid to 4-3-1 (0 KO).