Flyweight world champion Marlen Esparza (13-1, 1 KO), a Texas-born former Olympian, has re-signed a multi-year, multi-fight promotional contract with Golden Boy Promotions.
Esparza was the first female Golden Boy boxer signed with the company in 2016, and launched her professional career under its banner in 2017 to ultimately become the WBC and WBA flyweight world champion.
Esparza sits atop the flyweight rankings and will be looking to break into other weight divisions.
“In the cutthroat business of boxing, ‘loyalty’ has proven rewarding. I am super excited about my newly structured deal,” said Esparza. “I am with Golden Boy, it has been my first day, I am doing what I love with great compensation and I have opportunities to become an undisputed flyweight and unify in other weight divisions. Thank you, Golden Boy!”
The new contract reflects Golden Boy’s continued investment in elevating women’s boxing. Since Esparza, the company has added several female fighters to its roster, including world champion Yokasta Valle, Arely Muciño and Anabel Ortiz.
“Marlen Esparza has been a vanguard for female boxers and will continue to break through glass ceilings as a woman in sports,” said Golden Boy Chairman and CEO Oscar De La Hoya. “We are extremely proud of how she has developed as a fighter. She has the work ethic, vision and hunger to become a unified world champion and crush other weight classes. Golden Boy is excited to have her and be a supportive partner as she continues her ambitious plans in boxing.”
Esparza, 33, of Houston, Texas, is a decorated amateur who qualified to compete in the 2012 London Olympics, where she became the first American woman to qualify for the Olympics in the first year boxing female debuted as an Olympic event. .
Esparza won the bronze medal in the women’s flyweight division. Since turning pro in 2017, Esparza had a clean resume until she suffered her first and only loss of 2019 against Seniesa “Super Bad” Estrada for the vacant interim WBA flyweight title on the Canelo vs. . Kovalev. That didn’t stop Esparza’s momentum, though, as she came back stronger with back-to-back wins over former world title contender Sulem Urbina and Shelly Barnett.
In 2021, Esparza had a successful year, with a unanimous decision win against Ibeth Zamora Silva for the WBC flyweight world championship and successfully defending her new world championship title against former world champion Anabel “Avispa” Ortiz. On April 9, as part of the Ryan Garcia vs. Emmanuel Tagoe, Esparza faced five division world champion Naoko Fujioka. The fight pitted #1 against #2 in the women’s flyweight division. After 10 rounds, the judges ruled in Esparza’s favor by unanimous decision, crowning her the new WBC, WBA world champion.
Esparza was last seen successfully defending her world titles against tough opponent Eva Guzman (19-2-1, 11 KOs) as the co-main event of Ortiz, Jr. vs. McKinson on August 6.
