Juarez’s Inside Work Kept Nery Plata From Reclaiming the WBC Crown
Lourdes Juarez retained the WBC light flyweight championship against Yesica Nery Plata on October 18, 2025, at the South Padre Island Convention Center in Texas. Two judges favored Juarez 96–94, while the third scored the ten-round main event of MVP Prospects 16 even at 95–95.
The returning challenger immediately presented a difficult test
Nery Plata was competing after a twenty-two-month absence and sought to regain a championship she had previously held. She began quickly rather than taking several rounds to settle into the contest.
Her jab and body attacks helped her work effectively at distance. Juarez answered with greater volume and pressure, looking to bring exchanges into the closer ranges where she could do her best work.
Neither boxer established an uncontested advantage
The fighters traded competitive rounds, with Nery Plata landing cleanly outside and Juarez finding success inside. The contrasting approaches made the two-minute rounds difficult to separate.
Juarez remained composed through a seventh-round shove and avoided being drawn into an uncontrolled brawl. She continued pursuing the exchanges that supported her case on the scorecards.
A majority decision completed a second successful defense
The final verdict gave Juarez the narrow victory and improved her record to thirty-nine wins and four defeats. Nery Plata suffered her third professional loss.
Juarez had won the vacant 108-pound title against Yesenia Gomez in November 2024. This defense kept that championship with her after an all-Mexican contest in which both athletes had sustained periods of effective offense.
Sources
- WBC: official title result and contrasting tactics
- The Ring: championship fights and main-card report
- NY Fights: event report and performances
- WBC: championship background
Article Tags
Lourdes Juarez, Yesica Nery Plata, Boxing
