Women’s strawweight Guadalupe Medina hopes to show improved conditioning for her upcoming fight, according to her trainer, Edgar Jasso.
Medina of Maywood, California, faces Mexico’s Rubi Gutierrez on Friday at the Chumash Casino in Santa Ynez, California in an eight-round bout.
Medina, 10-0 (2 KOs), is nearing title contention, but in two of her last three fights, the bouts became closer at the end of the fight than the team expected. She defeated Katherine Renee Lindenmuth by majority decision and, last time out against Maria Micheo Santizo, the fight got competitive in the later rounds.
“We got to the bottom of what had caused her to fatigue in past fights,” Jasso said. “It wasn’t her fault, but now we believe we have a solution.”
Gutierrez, 5-2-1, is a tough, physical fighter who made her US debut in her last fight, losing a unanimous decision in May to Brook Sibrian. Jasso anticipates a competitive night.
“We are in a tough fight,” Jasso admitted. “So, knowing we can go the eight rounds with a solid pressure fighter [is important].”
Against the 19-year-old Gutierrez, Jasso explained how they have trained to prepare the 21-year-old Medina for the fight, while offering thoughts on her win over Santizo.
“In her last fight, she did well, but in the last two rounds she eased up a little bit,” Jasso said. “I had her spar 10 rounds four or five times this camp, and she has looked good.”
The looming question for Medina lingers. Is a title shot close? With an unbeaten record, and a division that isn’t as deep as others, Medina – even as an up-and-comer – is on the verge of a title opportunity. She is currently ranked No.5 by the WBO.
“She should be ready in the next few fights,” Jasso said. “I think every fight will tell us a little bit more.”