Para Draine Wins by a Split over Marilyn Salcido – by Mary Lehman

On December 18, 2002, in front of sold out crowd at the Marriott Hotel in Irvine , CA , Para Draine of Spokane, Washington beat Marilyn Salcido of Rialto , California by a split decision to win the IFBA junior bantamweight title.   The “ Battle of the Ballroom” fights at the Marriott have been around for about 18 years but this was their first title fight – and the women rose to the occasion and delivered a memorable and hard-fought battle for the fans.  Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions, with Roy Englebrecht, have been consistent supporters of women’s boxing and staging this title fight was proof of their commitment.

Prefight: Both Para Draine and Marilyn Salcido have great teams behind them.  Salcido’s team invited us up to Marilyn’s room a few hours before the fight.  Marilyn was relaxing with her Mom, Dad and little brother.  Marilyn seemed very calm, although this would be her first 10-round fight.  Marilyn was confident that her tough training at Big Bear, where she routinely would spar 15 rounds, would give her all the stamina needed to win the belt that night.

Marilyn and Para had fought a few months earlier to a draw in the preliminary rounds of this bantamweight “tournament.”  When asked what she planned to do different this time, Marilyn explained she would move more and keep her left hand up to protect against Para Draine’s right hand which had found its home in the prior fight a bit too often for Marilyn’s taste.

Round 1:  Salcido is by far the crowd favorite.  The fans are more excited about this bout than any other on the card.  When the bell rings, both fighters touch gloves and begin rather tentatively.  Draine is using her reach advantage.  Salcido  tries an overhand right and misses, but she is the more aggressive fighter.  Round to Marilyn.

Last night in front of sold out crowd at the Marriot Hotel in Irvine , CA , Para Draine of Spokane, Washington beat Marilyn Salcido of Rialto , California by a split decision to win the IFBA junior bantamweight title.   The “ Battle of the Ballroom” fights at the Marriot have been around for about 18 years but this was their first title fight – and the women rose to the occasion and delivered a memorable and hard-fought battle for the fans.  Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions, with Roy Englebrecht, have been consistent supporters of women’s boxing and staging this title fight was proof of their commitment.

Prefight: Both Para Draine and Marilyn Salcido have great teams behind them.  Salcido’s team invited us up to Marilyn’s room a few hours before the fight.  Marilyn was relaxing with her Mom, Dad and little brother.  Marilyn seemed very calm, although this would be her first 10-round fight.  Marilyn was confident that her tough training at Big Bear, where she routinely would spar 15 rounds, would give her all the stamina needed to win the belt that night.

Marilyn and Para had fought a few months earlier to a draw in the preliminary rounds of this bantamweight “tournament.”  When asked what she planned to do different this time, Marilyn explained she would move more and keep her left hand up to protect against Para Draine’s right hand which had found its home in the prior fight a bit too often for Marilyn’s taste.

Round 1:  Salcido is by far the crowd favorite.  The fans are more excited about this bout than any other on the card.  When the bell rings, both fighters touch gloves and begin rather tentatively.  Draine is using her reach advantage.  Salcido  tries an overhand right and misses, but she is the more aggressive fighter.  Round to Marilyn.

Round 2: Draine lands a good right hand.  Both fighters are finding their range and rhythm.  Salcido is the busier fighter but she’s moving around the outside of the ring and does not press Draine.  No clear winner.

Round 3: Again Salcido is the busier fighter, but consistently moves away after throwing a few punches.  Draine presses forward and controls the fight.  Round to Draine.

Round 4: Salcido is more consistently busy.  Draine runs hot and cold in the round.  But when she’s hot, she can land a good right hand.  Her height advantage makes her the physically stronger fighter although Salcido, as confirmed by the later rounds, is in better condition.  No clear winner.

Round 5:  Draine continues the pressure by keeping Salcido moving on the outside.  Draine shows, despite her significant height advantage, she can fight on the inside as well or better than Salcido.  This gives Salcido few options to dominate.  Draine starts to take over the fight.  Both fighters take punches.  Marilyn takes some strong right hands from Draine.  Round to Draine.

Round 6:  Salcido keeps moving around the ring and backwards, letting Draine control the fight.  When they engage, Salcido throws the most punches and has good defense, but her punches lack the crispness of the earlier rounds.

Draine uses her reach to advantage and lands some good right hands.  At one point, Salcido spins Draine and, for the first time, controls the center of the ring.  Salcido  seems to be more effective aggressively taking the center, but she doesn’t stay there long.  Draine comes back with the pressure and wins the round.

Round 7:  More of the same. Salcido circles the ring, Draine pushes forward and looks to land her strong right hand.  Fighters start to tie each other up.  Draine starts to look a little tired.  Draine lands a flush right uppercut when Salcido is on the inside.  Draine has found the right distance to use her reach advantage and avoid most of Salcido’s punches. Round to Draine.

Round 8: Draine land flush right hand right at the beginning of the round.  Salcido comes inside and Draine lands an uppercut.  Salcido can take a punch and she stays just as busy as she was in the first rounds.  Salcido lands a good right hand herself.  The crowd starts to chant “Marilyn.”  But it’s not enough to let Marilyn win the round.

Round 9:  Both fighters ratchet up the intensity.  Salcido is in better shape, however, and by mere activity, starts to dominate the round.  Salcido wants to win this fight too.  Salcido shows a lot of courage- she gets hit with a strong right but keeps coming in throwing bunches of punches.

Draine swings wildly on a left hook, loses her balance, and falls to the canvas.  She smiles to the crowd, then the fight continues.  Draine tries to tie Salcido up.  Draine looks tired and Salcido is as scrappy as ever.  Round to Salcido.

Round 10 (final round):  The crowd is screaming for Salcido.  Salcido is putting on the pressure., Draine sucks it up and they go toe-to-toe.  The crowd loves it. Draine lands a hard right hand that wobbles Salcido but Salcido, on pure guts and determination, just keeps coming forward pressing the fight.  Draine is tired and lets Salcido dominate.  Round to Salcido.

Post-fight: The crowd goes crazy with appreciation.  Both fighters are lifted in the air by their corners.  It seems to be another close fight.  The judges’ decisions are read: A split decision: 99-91 for Draine; 96-94 for Salcido; and 98-92 for Draine.  Rick Kulis awards Draine the beautiful white IFBA belt.

After the fight, Para Draine was all smiles.  She was a gracious winner- stating that Marilyn was a great fighter.   Para also admitted she felt a bit sluggish in this fight (her trainer stated she had been ill the weeks before).  But like all champions, she pushed through and did what was necessary to win without excuses.  Para ’s team stated she would like to unify the belts and then move up in weight to win those belts as well.

A great night for women’s boxing.