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It is often metaphorically said
that athletes or teams with big
local followings has a whole
city or area behind him, her or
it, but in the case of World
Boxing Federation Womens World
Strawweight Champion Anne Sophie
Da Costa, this is literally the
case ahead of her title defense
on November 9 against Mexico’s
Yesenia Martinez Castrejon.
Born and raised in Reims,
France, Da Costa (15-0, 7 KOs)
turned professional in December
2012 in her home town. After
fighting regularly in Reims, the
November 9 bout will be her
tenth time as a professional,
she now has a loyal fan base
that always turns up to support
her when she enters the ring.
But besides the fans, the actual
city of Reims has embraced Da
Costa to such a degree that its
council has decided to
financially support her title
defense against Castrejon,
recognizing her accomplishments
and importance to the community.
In economically challenging
times, this is truly a
significant pat on the back.
Working as a teacher
specializing in children with
learning disabilities, Da Costa
took her boxing career to a new
level in October 2012 when she
won a clear unanimous decision
over Thailand’s Teeraporn
Pannimit to win the vacant WBF
World title.
She returned to action the
following December, stopping
Hungarian Bettina Granasi in two
rounds of a non title fight, and
was scheduled to make her first
title defense last June in Reims.
However, the fight was cancelled
when Da Costa suffered a hand
fracture during sparring in
Germany with current WBF World
Super Flyweight champion Raja
Amasheh.
Now fully healed and back in top
shape, the big home-coming of
the local world champion is
highly anticipated in Reims, and
at least on paper it looks like
Da Costa will get a stern
challenge from the very
experienced 24-year-old Yesenia
Martinez Castrejon (15-12, 9
KOs).
Castrejon has no less than eight
championship bouts under her
belt, three of which were failed
attempts at world championships,
and has shared a ring with some
of the best in the world from
Strawweight to Flyweight. She
has fought in front of hostile
crowds before, so going to
France will not intimidate her
the slightest:
“Anne Sophie may have the
support of her entire community,
but that will make no difference
on Saturday”, said Castrejon
before departing Mexico. “As the
saying goes, when we are in the
ring it is only the two of us
and the crowd cant fight for
her!”
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