Galina Ivanova came within one scorecard of the IBF world title in Toluca. On 30 November 2013, she fought Janeth Pérez over ten rounds for the vacant bantamweight belt. Two judges favoured Pérez; one scored it for Galina.
Pérez left as champion. For us, the night remains an important part of our work with Galina after her 2012 comeback — a world title opportunity fought for until the final bell.
Pérez: a former world champion
Pérez came from Zapopan, Jalisco, and fought under the nickname “Cuisilla”. Her professional journey began in November 2008. Among those who trained her in her early years was Óscar “Chololo” Larios — a Mexican boxer with world championship experience of his own.
Janeth won the WBA bantamweight title in July 2011 with a seventh-round stoppage of Yolis Marrugo, then made three successful defences. In less than five years as a professional, she had won a world title, defended it and experienced losing it.
Another title chance for both fighters
Pérez lost her WBA title to Irma García in January 2013 and lost their rematch in April. A July win over María Elena Villalobos put her back on course before the IBF opportunity against Ivanova.
For Galina, the Toluca bout followed her professional comeback in 2012 and the opportunities we had been developing together. At Agustín Ramos Millán Hall, she faced a former champion hoping to win another belt in front of her home crowd. With the IBF title vacant, both women entered as challengers.
Exchanges into the closing minutes
Pérez had success with her right hand early on, while the southpaw Ivanova looked to land her left. Galina increased the pressure over the final three rounds, and both fighters traded punches through to the closing bell.
The three cards offered different readings of the ten rounds. One favoured the Bulgarian, two favoured Pérez, who received the vacant IBF world belt. For Galina, it was a full-distance loss — a hard ending to a fight in which she remained in contention until the final bell.
The story beyond the final bell
A title fight is the culmination of months of work, much of which disappears into a brief result on a record. For us and Galina, Toluca followed a comeback, renewed activity and the effort to secure a world-title opportunity in Mexico.
The belt left with Pérez. Ivanova’s ten rounds remain part of that comeback story — with the ambition that brought her to Mexico and the effort to turn the opportunity into victory until the very end.
Galina Ivanova vs Janeth Pérez · IBF World
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