Kazakhstan’s Angelina Lucas (11-1, 5 KOs) defeated Argentina’s Debora Anahi Lopez (21-3-1, 1 KO) on Sunday, October 6, 2024, at the historic Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok in a 10-round junior bantamweight -match pointed out.
The opening bell in Bangkok signaled an aggressive start for Lucas, who immediately pushed forward and showed no intention of engaging in a feel-out process. However, Lopez opted to box from the outside, countering on the back foot and trying to keep the relentless Lucas at bay. Despite Lucas’ efforts to close the distance and work on the inside, the match soon turned messy, with frequent turnovers and exchanges ending in punches.
Both fighters, known for their limited knockout power – Lucas with five stoppages in 11 wins and Lopez with just one in 21 wins – have turned to rough tactics. The fight had its share of fouls, with both boxers guilty of rabbit punches, strikes on the break, and excessive holding. Referee Jerrold Tomeldan initially showed leniency, but by round six and after several warnings, he docked Lopez a point for taking a punch to the back of the head.
Lopez had flashes of success, especially with overhand rights that caught Lucas when she jumped inside. However, Lopez’s timing and rhythm were off, probably because it was her first fight in over a year – a tough assignment to shake off the ring rust.
After 10 rounds of scrappy action, the judges delivered a unanimous decision in favor of Lucas, with scorecards reading 97-92 and 95-94 (twice). The win marks Lucas’ continued rise in the sport, adding a high-profile win in front of her Thai fans.
Lucas is active and popular in Bangkok and continues to build momentum, but there is still room for growth if she wants to compete at the top level of the division. For Lopez, it’s been a tough return after a year out of the ring, and while she’s had her moments, she’ll need to regroup for future opportunities. Both fighters have shown grit, but their performances suggest more development is needed to reach the division’s elite.
Sirimongkhon Iamthuam (left) lands a hook on Matt Floyd (right) – Photo by Wasim Mather
27-year-old Lucas, widely known as “Barbie” to her 2.4 million Instagram followers, has become a familiar face in Thailand, with this marking her fifth fight in the capital this year. As her biggest fight of 2024, Lucas entered the ring with rising expectations, bolstered by her growing reputation in the sport.
Lopez, 29, brought a wealth of experience to the competition. A former WBO flyweight world champion, she captured the vacant title in 2019 by unanimous decision over Colombia’s Niorkis Carreno (25-4, 20 KOs). Lopez successfully defended her crown once before losing the belt to fellow Argentine Tamara Elisabet Demarco (11-7) in 2022. Her next big opportunity came in 2023 when she unsuccessfully challenged Ring women’s bantamweight champion Dina Thorslund (22-0, 9 KOs). for the WBO bantamweight title, succumbing to a stoppage in the eighth round.
In other action, Sirimongkhon Iamthuam (99-5, 62 KOs) made a remarkable return to the ring at the age of 47, defeating undefeated Australian Matt Floyd (13-1, 9 KOs) in a light heavyweight bout pack.
In a close 12 round fight, Sirimongkhon secured a split decision victory, showing that age is just a number for the Thai veteran as he added another chapter to his storied career.
