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Photo by Ed Diller/DiBella Entertainment
Noemi Bosques knows Heather Hardy is the favorite going into the fight, and she’s okay with that. She told me in an exchange over e-mail that the fight is huge for her career and that she’s knows she’s a big underdog, “In size, in record, [and] coming into [Hardy’s] hometown.”
As far as what to anticipate Friday, Bosques says, “Fans should expect to see sweet foot movement, maybe some salsa dancing?” Most who don’t know Bosques, or even those who have heard of her, don’t know that outside the ring she has a great sense of humor. “I’m a jokester, love to laugh and have a great time. I work just as hard as I play though, especially inside the ring.”
It’s a relief that despite her joking tendencies, Bosques is taking the fight seriously. “Heather always comes in tremendous shape, and has a record of 12-0, which speaks for itself. I have prepared by also coming in the greatest shape of my life,” said Bosques.
Both Bosques and Hardy recognize that their fight on the PBC card means a great deal to women fighters. Bosques calls it “huge exposure for two great women warriors with big stories behind them,” while Hardy says for female boxers, “We’re taking little steps” (via Ring News 24).
Getting to be on the PBC card has been a long time coming for Hardy, who isn’t afraid to call out the structural inequities women deal with as professional fighters. In an interview with RingNews24, she says, “ESPN, Showtime, HBO, Pay-Per-View all have anti-female boxing policies where they won’t let females fight. When a promoter looks at a woman, they see a dead end.”
She admits though, that there has been progress.
[otw_shortcode_quote border=”bordered” border_style=”bordered”]“This fight is going to be streamed live on SpikeTV.com. It’s not the first female fight that’s been streamed live, but it’s a pretty recognizable station. And it’s PBC, it’s Al Haymon. And I’ve already gotten the attention of Al, not to say anything other than my promoter has told him about me… Having that door opened where networks will consider females fighting, so she’s given a shot…I think we have a real chance riding on what Ronda Rousey is doing.”[/otw_shortcode_quote]
Aside from all the drama, Hardy is looking forward to her bout with Bosques, and had nothing but positive things to say about her opponent. “I think she’s really great for women’s boxing. She’s an exciting fighter. She does a really nice job promoting herself, and I think her and I are on the same page as far as what it’s going to take to get this game for women advanced.”
Even though she’s the favorite, Hardy still feels she has something to prove after her last fight against Renata Domsodi, which resulted in a no-contest due to an accidental headbutt in round two. At the final press conference, Hardy explained, “There was a really unfinished feeling after my last fight, I was disappointed. I expected more from my opponent. I wanted to put on a show for fans to remember.”
