On Tuesday night, Dahnke Ballroom hosted the semifinals of the 23rd annual Baraka Bouts. Fourteen bouts helped decide matchups for the finals to take place in a week’s time. Here’s how each of the contests played out.
Anna “No-Delay” Saadeh def. Bianca “Chili Guava” Storino
In the opening bout of the night, both fighters came out strong, but Saadeh's power and endurance ultimately proved too much for Storino. Saadeh dominated early with relentless swings, forcing Storino to adjust her pace and stay defensive. Though Storino landed several clean hits and showed composure in the ring, Saadeh maintained control through all three rounds and finished strong to secure the win. Saadeh won by unanimous decision.
Mallory “Bing Bang” Turner def. Emma “International Hit” Phelan
Turner started with the first hit and kept the pressure on throughout a close, fast-paced fight. Phelan countered with quick, strategic jabs, refusing to back down. Both boxers showcased speed and endurance, trading momentum in front of an energetic crowd. In the final round, Turner pushed Phelan into the corner and controlled the pace until the bell. Turner won by unanimous decision.
Kylie “Sneaky Pizza” Fuerbacher def. Maisie Jenuwine
Fuerbacher and Jenuwine both fought with poise and balance in a technical matchup. Jenuwine opened with the first hit, but Fuerbacher’s quick movement and bob-and-weave style helped her dictate the rhythm. In later rounds, Fuerbacher increased her offensive pace, forcing Jenuwine to stay on defense. Both gave everything in the final round, drawing cheers from the crowd, but Fuerbacher won by unanimous decision.
Victoria “Southern Belle” Baltz def. Katie “Double Tap” Dobelhoff
Dobelhoff opened strong, landing the first hit and setting a quick tempo. Midway through the round, Dobelhoff suffered a shoulder injury that briefly paused the match but returned determined to fight through the pain. Baltz capitalized on the momentum shift, landing steady shots and maintaining control to the end to take the win by unanimous decision.
Tess “TK-O” Kesler def. Jillian “Red Hot” Skurski
Kesler came out aggressive and never relented, controlling all three rounds. Her speed and sharp combinations forced Skurski onto defense early. Despite Skurski’s efforts to rally late, Kesler’s conditioning and crowd-backed energy gave her a decisive edge. Kesler won by unanimous decision.
Eugenia “Guerrera” Rios def. Peyton “Toothless” Nguyen
Rios and Nguyen delivered one of the most intense bouts of the night. Nguyen opened fast, pinning Rios to the ropes with quick combinations. Rios answered back in Round two, matching Nguyen’s energy and landing solid counters. The final round saw Nguyen pressing forward again, but Rios’ defense and endurance helped her edge out the split decision win.
Kylie “Countdown” Carney def. Ella “E-squad” Jensen
Carney asserted control early, forcing Jensen into a defensive stance in the opening round. Carney’s quick footwork and consistent offensive pressure continued through all three rounds. Jensen protected well and stayed composed but Carney’s pace and precision secured a unanimous victory.
Kiska “The Hitwoman” Porter def. Avary “Sensei” Serpa
Porter came out swinging with power and aggression, setting the tone from the opening bell. Serpa tried to hold her ground, but frequent stoppages slowed her rhythm. Both fighters showed grit in a physical matchup, though Porter’s strength and control in the clinches gave her the advantage through all three rounds giving her the unanimous victory.
Rosie “The Riveter” Binette def. Lindsey “The Beater” Weeter
Binette and Weeter battled through three high-energy rounds. Binette landed several powerful punches early, while Weeter countered with fast responses. Despite a brief pause due to Binette’s nosebleed in round three, she came back swinging, keeping strong contact until the end. Binette won by unanimous decision.
Faustina “Bear” Barcena def. Maddie “Mad-dawg” Orchard
Barcena opened aggressively, landing several quick shots that kept Orchard on the defensive. Both fighters exchanged clean hits through the middle round, showing equal determination. In the final round, Barcena’s speed and footwork helped her finish strong and secure the unanimous victory.
Maribella “The Bomb” Fues def. Maria “Sandman” Souder
Souder started strong, landing a flurry of quick punches, but Fues found her rhythm in the later rounds. Fues responded to Souder’s early attack with powerful counters and steady pressure. After equipment breaks slowed the pace, Fues capitalized on each reset to finish stronger. Fues won by split decision.
Lucy “Alpha” Graceffo def. Lilly “The Linebacker” Nadler
Nadler came out swinging with powerful strikes that initially put Graceffo on defense. Graceffo stayed calm under pressure and grew stronger as the match went on. In the final round, she used her quickness to exploit Nadler’s fatigue, landing sharp and accurate hits to seal the victory. Graceffo won by split decision.
Meghan “The Megalodon” Sharkey def. Marlene “La Dama” Caballero
Sharkey dominated from the start, overwhelming Caballero with relentless speed and precision. Sharkey stayed light on her feet, maintaining control through all three rounds and never allowing Caballero to build momentum. Caballero fought back hard in the final round, but Sharkey’s endurance and power carried her to a unanimous win.
Olivia “The Gentle Giant” Nijim def. Caoilinn “K.O.” Flinn
In the final bout of the night, Nijim and Flinn delivered a thrilling finish to the semifinals. Both fighters traded heavy hits and showed balance between offense and defense. Nijim gained an edge in the closing seconds, landing a series of powerful shots that sealed her victory in a competitive matchup. Nijim won by unanimous decision.
