# Marcela Acuña

Marcela Eliana Acuña (born 16 October 1976) is an Argentine professional boxer and part-time politician. She has held multiple super bantamweight world titles, including the IBF title since 2018; the WBA title from 2006 to 2008; the WBC title twice between 2008 and 2010; the WBO title from 2013 to 2014; the IBF title from 2016 to 2018; and the WBA interim featherweight title in 2016.

## Early life

Acuña enjoyed boxing from a very early age. At the age of seven, she visited a boxing gym for the first time. Her first trainer, Ramon Chaparro, would many years later become her husband.
Marcela Acuña became an accomplished martial arts fighter before she decided to box for money. At the age of twelve, she had earned a black belt and she became South America's champion in her division by the age of fourteen. She made sixteen successful title defenses.
She had to retire from karate due to pregnancy. In 1995, she and Chaparro had their first son. After some time away from combat sports, Acuña decided that she would return, only this time, she would compete in boxing.

## Professional boxing career

Acuña made her professional debut on 5 December 1997 against Christy Martin in Pompano Beach, Florida, on an undercard that was headlined by Johnny Tapia's world championship defense against Puerto Rico's Andy Agosto and which was shown nationally across the United States. Acuña was dropped in round ten, but she rose and finished the bout on her feet. Despite losing a unanimous decision by scores of 100-90 and 99-90 (twice), Acuña's performance was hailed by many fans and critics alike, considering that this was her first professional boxing bout.
In just her second professional fight she met Lucia Rijker on 25 September 1998, at Ledyard, Connecticut, for the vacant IBO super lightweight title. Acuña was knocked out in five rounds.
After losing her first two fights, Acuña stepped away from boxing.

### Return to boxing

Acuña returned to boxing in 2001, and she and her rival, Jamillia Lawrence of New Jersey, made Argentine boxing history when they participated in the first ever women's boxing fight to be sanctioned by the Argentine boxing commission. Acuña got her first win, with a four-round split decision over the American at Buenos Aires, on 12 February of that year.
On 1 June, she obtained a six-round unanimous decision win over Luz Marina Sanabria Ledesma of Colombia, at Formosa.
Twenty eight days later, she got her first knockout win, when she defeated Uruguay's Andrea Pereyra in only two rounds.
On 11 August, she returned to Buenos Aires, to defeat Yolanda Marrugo, dropping her twice, on her way to a six-round unanimous decision.
On September 21, she fought at Carlos Monzón's birthplace, Santa Fe, when she was rematched with Pereyra. Acuña knocked out Pereyra in five rounds, and Pereyra required hospitalization after this fight. Acuña was awarded the "La Opinion's 80th anniversary" trophy that night.
On 12 October she knocked out Ana Dos Santos in two rounds, for her last appearance of 2001.
Her first fight of 2002 was preceded by much media hype. She was challenged by famous fitness instructor Patricia Quirico, who herself was making her professional debut when she boxed Acuña.
If for nothing else, the fight was widely expected because Quirico was a well known personality with developed body strength, who helped fan interest for the fight develop when she began to threaten Acuña through the media. Although she was 40 years old already, she seemed to feel an authentic dislike towards Acuña, and fans across Argentina spoke about the fight on the weeks prior to the event. The fact Quirico had participated in twenty three exhibition matches, as well as in karate and baseball also helped fan interest grow.
They met on 19 January 2002, at Buenos Aires. Acuña scored one of the quickest knockouts in boxing history, when she landed a right to Quirico's chin right after the first bell rang, and followed it with a left that sent Quirico to the floor. Quirico was counted out and Acuña officially won the fight at fourteen seconds of round one. The win earned her the Argentine Featherweight title.
On 1 March she had to fight one of her closest friends, Carmen Montiel, to defend her Argentina title. Acuña outpointed Montiel over ten rounds.
Next, she would have had her second world title try, on 6 April against Panama's Damaris Pinock Ortega, for the vacant WIBA title. The 2002 Argentine economic crisis, however, forced for the fight to be postponed.
On 29 June she and Montiel had a rematch, and Acuña again prevailed, by an eight-round unanimous decision.

### World championships

Acuña then lost weight, going down all the way to the Super Bantamweight division to get her second try at becoming a world champion. In what was the first ever women's boxing world championship fight to be staged in Argentina, Acuña lost a split decision to champion Alicia Ashley.
Acuña then decided to take another two-year lay-off, but she had also decided to stay around the Super Bantamweight division's weight limit, because she wanted to fight in that division from there on. And when she returned for the second time, on 21 February 2003, she knocked out former Regina Halmich challenger Lourdes Gonzalez in two rounds to win the Argentine Super Bantamweight title.
On 10 May she fought in a place where boxing matches are rare: Tierra del Fuego, where she knocked out Ana Davila Ferreira in two rounds.
Then came a rematch with Ashley. On her third world title try, Acuña lost to Ashley for the second time, this time by a ten-round unanimous decision, on 14 June.
On 22 August she and her friend Carmen Montiel met for the third time, and Acuña again beat Montiel on points, this time in six rounds. This victory set up the stage for Acuña's fourth world title try.
On 6 December, she and Panamanian Pinock Ortega finally got to meet, and Acuña became world champion when she knocked out Ortega in the sixth round for the vacant WIBA Super Bantamweight title.
On 26 May 2004, she made her first world championship defense, knocking out Daysi Padilla in the first round. Padilla, who had former world champion Ricardo Cardona at her corner, also required a short stay at a hospital.
On 11 September 2004, Acuña knocked out Ana Camilla Santos in the third round of a non-title bout.
On 22 January 2005, she knocked out Maria Elena Miranda in three rounds to win the WIBA's vacant world Featherweight title, at Formosa.
In May 2019 she fought former world champion Jackie Nava to a draw.
In October 2023 she lost to former world champion Sarah Mahfoud, via unanimous decision.

## Professional boxing record

| 66 fights | 53 wins | 10 losses |
| By knockout | 20 | 1 |
| By decision | 33 | 9 |
| Draws | 3 | 3 |
| No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round, time | Date | Location | Notes |
| 66 | Draw | 53–10–3 | Natalia Josefina Alderete | SD | 8 (8) | 2024-04-12 | Club Defensores de Villa Lujan, San Miguel de Tucumán, Argentina | |
| 65 | Loss | 53–10–2 | Sarah Mahfoud | UD | 10 (10) | 2023-10-07 | Royal Arena, Copenhagen, Denmark | For WBC Silver featherweight title |
| 64 | Win | 53–9–2 | Lucrecia Belen Arrieta | UD | 10 (10) | 2023-07-21 | Amerian Hotel Casino Gala, Resistencia, Argentina | |
| 63 | Win | 52–9–2 | Natalia Josefina Alderete | UD | 8 (8) | 2023-03-10 | Estadio Pedro Estremador, Bariloche, Argentina | |
| 62 | Loss | 51–9–2 | Débora Dionicius | UD | 10 (10) | 2022-12-23 | Club Sarmiento, Resistencia, Argentina | For vacant WBO super-bantamweight title |
| 61 | Win | 51–8–2 | Laura Soledad Griffa | UD | 10 (10) | 2022-09-24 | Club Ferrocarril Midland, Libertad, Argentina | Won vacant Argentine featherweight title |
| 60 | Loss | 50–8–2 | Débora Dionicius | UD | 10 (10) | 2021-11-20 | Estadio Luna Park, Buenos Aires, Argentina | For interim WBO featherweight title |
| 59 | Win | 50–7–2 | Natalia Josefina Alderete | UD | 6 (6) | 2021-09-25 | Complejo Termal Vertiente de la Concordia, Concordia, Argentina | |
| 58 | Draw | 49–7–2 | Jackie Nava | MD | 10 (10) | 2019-05-25 | Estadio de Beisbol Agustin Flores Contreras, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico | |
| 57 | Win | 49–7–1 | Yenifer Rodriguez | KO | 5 (10) | 2018-12-14 | Club Atletico Independiente, La Rioja, Argentina | Retained IBF super-bantamweight title |
| 56 | Win | 48–7–1 | Mayerlin Rivas | SD | 10 (10) | 2018-10-19 | Polideportivo Delmi, Salta, Argentina | Retained IBF super-bantamweight title |
| 55 | Win | 47–7–1 | Laura Soledad Griffa | UD | 10 (10) | 2018-08-10 | Polideportivo Fray Mamerto Esquiú, Catamarca, Argentina | Won vacant IBF super-bantamweight title |
| 54 | Loss | 46–7–1 | Daniela Romina Bermúdez | UD | 10 (10) | 2018-04-13 | Microestadio Municipal, Hurlingham, Argentina | Lost IBF super-bantamweight title |
| 53 | Win | 46–6–1 | Shannon O'Connell | UD | 10 (10) | 2017-06-16 | Ce.De.M. N° 2, Caseros, Argentina | Retained IBF super-bantamweight title |
| 52 | Win | 45–6–1 | Yésica Marcos | KO | 10 (10) | 2016-12-16 | Parque Industrial de Desarrollo Productivo, Cuartel V, Argentina | Won vacant IBF super-bantamweight title |
| 51 | Win | 44–6–1 | Brenda Karen Carabajal | UD | 10 (10) | 2016-09-09 | Ce.De.M. N° 2, Caseros, Argentina | Retained WBA featherweight title |
| 50 | Win | 43–6–1 | Mayra Alejandra Gomez | UD | 10 (10) | 2016-05-07 | Estadio F.A.B., Buenos Aires, Argentina | Won interim WBA featherweight title |
| 49 | Win | 42–6–1 | Edith Soledad Matthysse | UD | 10 (10) | 2014-08-23 | Sociedad Alemana de Gimnasia, José León Suárez, Argentina | Retained WBO super-bantamweight title |
| 48 | Win | 41–6–1 | Estrella Valverde | TKO | 6 (10) | 2014-03-28 | Anfiteatro Municipal, Villa María, Argentina | Retained WBO super-bantamweight title |
| 47 | Win | 40–6–1 | Halanna Dos Santos | UD | 10 (10) | 2013-10-25 | Club Salto Uruguayo, Salto, Uruguay | Won vacant WBO super-bantamweight title |
| 46 | Win | 39–6–1 | Melissa Hernández | UD | 10 (10) | 2013-07-13 | Club Defensores de Villa Lujan, San Miguel de Tucumán, Argentina | |
| 45 | Win | 38–6–1 | Edith Soledad Matthysse | UD | 10 (10) | 2013-05-10 | Auditorio Presidente Néstor Kirchner, Tapiales, Argentina | |
| 44 | Draw | 37–6–1 | Yésica Marcos | SD | 10 (10) | 2013-01-25 | Teatro Griego Juan Pablo Segundo, San Martín, Argentina | For WBA & WBO super-bantamweight titles |
| 43 | Loss | 37–6 | Carolina Duer | UD | 10 (10) | 2012-12-21 | Club Universitario, La Plata, Argentina | |
| 42 | Win | 37–5 | Betiana Patricia Vinas | TD | 9 (10) | 2012-08-17 | Club Caja Popular, San Miguel de Tucumán, Argentina | Retained WBC Silver super-bantamweight title |
| 41 | Win | 36–5 | Maria Elena Villalobos | UD | 10 (10) | 2012-05-19 | Salón de los Bomberos Voluntarios, General Villegas, Argentina | Won vacant WBC Silver super-bantamweight title |
| 40 | Win | 35–5 | Rosilete Dos Santos | TKO | 10 (10) | 2010-08-20 | Estadio Cincuentenario, Formosa, Argentina | Retained WBC super-bantamweight title |
| 39 | Win | 34–5 | Maria Elena Villalobos | UD | 10 (10) | 2010-04-10 | Ce.De.M. N° 2, Caseros, Argentina | Retained WBC super-bantamweight title |
| 38 | Win | 33–5 | Alicia Ashley | MD | 10 (10) | 2009-08-20 | Estadio Luna Park, Buenos Aires, Argentina | Retained WBC super-bantamweight title |
| 37 | Win | 32–5 | Jackie Nava | UD | 10 (10) | 2009-04-30 | Estadio Luna Park, Buenos Aires, Argentina | Retained WBC super-bantamweight title |
| 36 | Win | 31–5 | Alejandra Oliveras | UD | 10 (10) | 2008-12-04 | Estadio Luna Park, Buenos Aires, Argentina | Retained WBA super-bantamweight title; Won WBC super-bantamweight title |
| 35 | Win | 30–5 | Paulina Cardona | RTD | 5 (8) | 2008-10-10 | Ce.De.M. N° 2, Caseros, Argentina | |
| 34 | Win | 29–5 | Danielle Bouchard | UD | 10 (10) | 2008-07-03 | Estadio Luna Park, Buenos Aires, Argentina | Retained WBA super-bantamweight title |
| 33 | Win | 28–5 | Anays Cecilia Gutierrez | RTD | 3 (10) | 2008-05-15 | Sociedad Española, San Luis, Argentina | |
| 32 | Win | 27–5 | Adriana Salles | UD | 8 (8) | 2008-02-04 | Hotel & Casino Conrad, Punta del Este, Uruguay | |
| 31 | Win | 26–5 | Claudia Andrea Lopez | UD | 8 (8) | 2007-10-27 | Ce.De.M. N° 2, Caseros, Argentina | |
| 30 | Win | 25–5 | Maria del Carmen Potenza | TD | 6 (10) | 2007-06-29 | Club Sportivo America, Rosario, Argentina | |
| 29 | Win | 24–5 | Yazmín Rivas | UD | 10 (10) | 2007-04-20 | Andes Talleres Sport Club, Godoy Cruz, Argentina | Retained WBA super-bantamweight title |
| 28 | Win | 23–5 | Maria del Carmen Potenza | MD | 10 (10) | 2007-01-27 | Hotel & Casino Conrad, Punta del Este, Uruguay | |
| 27 | Win | 22–5 | Maribel Santana | RTD | 2 (10) | 2006-12-15 | Ce.De.M. N° 2, Caseros, Argentina | Retained WBA super-bantamweight title |
| 26 | Win | 21–5 | Paola Esther Herrera | TKO | 1 (10) | 2006-10-14 | Estadio Luna Park, Buenos Aires, Argentina | Retained WBA super-bantamweight title |
| 25 | Win | 20–5 | Anays Cecilia Gutierrez | UD | 10 (10) | 2006-08-12 | Ce.De.M. N° 2, Caseros, Argentina | Won inaugural WBA super-bantamweight title |
| 24 | Loss | 19–5 | Sharon Anyos | UD | 10 (10) | 2005-10-22 | Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre, Broadbeach, Australia | For inaugural WBC featherweight title |
| 23 | Win | 19–4 | Yolis Marrugo Franco | UD | 8 (8) | 2005-06-24 | Club Gimnasia y Esgrima, Ituzaingó, Argentina | |
| 22 | Win | 18–4 | Nerys Rincon | RTD | 2 (10) | 2005-05-14 | Ce.De.M. N° 2, Caseros, Argentina | Retained WIBA featherweight title |
| 21 | Win | 17–4 | Maria Andrea Miranda | TKO | 3 (10) | 2005-01-22 | Estadio Cincuentenario, Formosa, Argentina | Won vacant WIBA featherweight title |
| 20 | Win | 16–4 | Miura Davila Ferreira | TKO | 3 (4) | 2004-09-11 | Polideportivo Municipal Carlos Cerutti, Córdoba, Argentina | |
| 19 | Win | 15–4 | Monica Sabino Barbosa | TKO | 4 (8) | 2004-07-02 | Club Caja Popular, San Miguel de Tucumán, Argentina | |
| 18 | Win | 14–4 | Daysi Padilla | TKO | 1 (10) | 2004-05-26 | Estadio Luna Park, Buenos Aires, Argentina | Retained WIBA super-bantamweight title |
| 17 | Win | 13–4 | Damaris Pinock Ortega | TKO | 6 (10) | 2003-12-06 | Estadio Luna Park, Buenos Aires, Argentina | Won vacant WIBA super-bantamweight title |
| 16 | Win | 12–4 | Maria del Carmen Montiel | UD | 6 (6) | 2003-08-22 | Ciclista Juninense, Junín, Argentina | |
| 15 | Loss | 11–4 | Alicia Ashley | UD | 10 (10) | 2003-06-14 | Estadio Republica de Venezuela, Bolívar, Argentina | For WIBF super-bantamweight title |
| 14 | Win | 11–3 | Miura Davila Ferreira | TKO | 5 (6) | 2003-05-10 | Polideportivo Carlos Magalot, Río Grande, Argentina | |
| 13 | Win | 10–3 | Lourdes Noemi Gonzalez | TKO | 2 (10) | 2003-02-20 | Estadio Republica de Venezuela, Bolívar, Argentina | Won vacant Argentine super-bantamweight title |
| 12 | Loss | 9–3 | Alicia Ashley | SD | 10 (10) | 2002-11-15 | Orfeo Superdomo, Córdoba, Argentina | For vacant WIBF super-bantamweight title |
| 11 | Win | 9–2 | Maria del Carmen Montiel | UD | 8 (8) | 2002-06-29 | Río Gallegos, Argentina | |
| 10 | Win | 8–2 | Maria del Carmen Montiel | UD | 10 (10) | 2002-03-01 | Club Olimpia, Paraná, Argentina | Retained Argentine featherweight title |
| 9 | Win | 7–2 | Patricia Alejandra Quirico | KO | 1 (10) | 2002-01-19 | Estadio F.A.B., Buenos Aires, Argentina | Won vacant Argentine featherweight title |
| 8 | Win | 6–2 | Ana Dos Santos | KO | 2 (6) | 2001-10-12 | Estadio Cincuentenario, Formosa, Argentina | |
| 7 | Win | 5–2 | Andrea Venecia Pereira | KO | 5 (6) | 2001-09-21 | Club Sportivo Ben Hur, Rafaela, Argentina | |
| 6 | Win | 4–2 | Yolis Marrugo Franco | UD | 6 (6) | 2001-08-11 | Estadio Malvinas Argentinas, Mendoza, Argentina | |
| 5 | Win | 3–2 | Andrea Venecia Pereira | TKO | 2 (4) | 2001-06-30 | Club Rivadavia, Necochea, Argentina | |
| 4 | Win | 2–2 | Luz Mariana Sarabia | UD | 6 (6) | 2001-06-02 | Estadio Cincuentenario, Formosa, Argentina | |
| 3 | Win | 1–2 | Jamillia Lawrence | SD | 4 (4) | 2001-04-28 | Estadio F.A.B., Buenos Aires, Argentina | |
| 2 | Loss | 0–2 | Lucia Rijker | KO | 5 (10) | 1998-09-25 | Foxwoods Resort Casino, Ledyard, Connecticut, U.S. | For vacant IBO light-welterweight title |
| 1 | Loss | 0–1 | Christy Martin | UD | 10 (10) | 1997-12-05 | Amphitheater, Pompano Beach, Florida, U.S. | |

## Politics

In 2009 she was fourth on the Peronist list running for city council in Tres de Febrero Partido.