Fiesty female boxing champ Irma “La Guerita” Sanchez proved to be a knockout among Chapala area sports enthusiasts during her special guest appearance Sunday, December 16 at the kick off for a local futbol rapido tournament.
The contest was held at La Cristiana Park to mark the inauguration of two newly installed artificial turf pitches created for practicing the popular sport better known to English speakers as arena soccer or six-a-side football.
Sanchez is the reigning world champion in the World Boxing Federation Women’s Flyweight division. The petite 25-year-old Guadalajara native has racked up an impressive record in her six-year career as a professional pugilist, winning 25 out of 31 fights, including a 2010 bout to earn the WBC Silver light flyweight title.
She entertained a hoard of fans, posing with them for photographs and scribbling her autograph on their T-shirts, caps, backpacks and sports paraphernalia. Tottering onto one of the fields in spike heels, she gamely slammed the first ball into the goal, standing by as Chapala Mayor Joaquin Huerta and his predecessor Jesus Cabrera followed suit.
Construction of the futbol rapido pitches at the park and another built on the western outskirts of Ajijic were initiated during the Cabrera administration with a 3.4- million-peso purse allotted by the federal congress.
Sanchez – a strong supporter of social causes and efforts to open up opportunities for budding athletes – congratulated the local government for promoting sports activities for local youth.
Huerta said that his government will give impetus to opening up a local boxing academy as well as broadening the range of athletic programs available to his youngest constituents. He also pledged to seek opportunities to line up Chapala as a host venue for top notch sporting competitions and events.